IMDb >
Taking Lives (2004)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsTaking Lives (2004) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 33 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 13 NEW) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
19 March 2004 (USA) moreTagline:
He would kill to be you.Plot:
An FBI profiler is called in by French Canadian police to catch a serial killer who takes on the identity of each new victim. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
3 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(40 articles)
Exclusive Badass Clip from Recon 2023: The Gauda Prime Conspiracy (From Dread Central. 4 November 2009, 1:57 AM, PST)
Pine & Caruso In Talks To Make ‘Money’
(From Screen Rant. 14 October 2009, 12:49 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Creepy, sinister and moody. But SE7EN it ain't... more (281 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Angelina Jolie | ... | Illeana | |
| Ethan Hawke | ... | Costa | |
| Kiefer Sutherland | ... | Hart | |
| Gena Rowlands | ... | Mrs. Asher | |
| Olivier Martinez | ... | Paquette | |
| Tchéky Karyo | ... | Leclair | |
| Jean-Hugues Anglade | ... | Duval | |
| Paul Dano | ... | Young Asher | |
| Justin Chatwin | ... | Matt Soulsby | |
| André Lacoste | ... | Cashier | |
| Billy Two Rivers | ... | Car Salesman | |
| Richard Lemire | ... | Québec City Cop | |
| Julien Poulin | ... | Québec City Inspector | |
| Marie-Josée Croze | ... | Medical Examiner | |
| Christian Tessier | ... | Interrogation Officer |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence including disturbing images, language and some sexuality.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
103 min | USA:109 min (unrated version)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Japan:R-15 | Ireland:18 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:18A | Canada:R (director's cut) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hong Kong:III (director's cut) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 (director's cut) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | USA:Unrated (director's cut)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Screenwriters Nicholas Kazan, Hillary Seitz and David Ayer worked on revisions for Jon Bokenkamp's script. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Costa is Waiting for Hart in the bar, the bartender offers a refill and Costa is holding his empty glass (with ice in it). In the next shot, his glass is back on the bar and is full. moreSoundtrack:
Shaved moreFAQ
What are the differences between the R-Rated theatrical version and the Unrated version of the movie?more
more (281 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Taking Lives (2004) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Basic Instinct | American Psycho | The Fugitive | Sin City | Magnum Force |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Mystery section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
















Despite my love of Angelina Jolie, I must say that Taking Lives wasted a lot of good opportunity.
Given that they invented an entirely new lead character, we can't really compare this to the book, so let's look at it as a movie of it's own right.
Jolie plays Illeana Scott, a somewhat strange FBI agent who is called up to Canada to investigate the grisly murders of several young men, all whom have had their identities stolen by the killer. New to the scene is witness James Costa, Ethan Hawke, who soon grows to have an attachment to Scott.
At turns formulaic and down right rip off (the credits are far too similar to be called a homage to SE7EN), Taking Lives is a very enjoyable piece of work.
Beautifully shot, the film wallows in its moods. It knows that it can be creepy, but it wears it out on its sleeves.
Angelina is on top form as Scott, although its a shame that the movie does stoop to the need for quick-sex-scene-with-unnecessary-titty-shot.
Ethan Hawke is bearable as Costa, although he and Jolie have very little chemistry.
Other players, Olivier Martinez, Gena Rowlands, Tcheky Karyo and Jean Hughes-Angalade are also quite good.
The film does have its highs: excellent cinematography, creepy sinister mood, two fantastic adrenaline-jump moments that I never saw coming. But it also has one FATAL flaw, and that is that anyone who has seen any piece of film or television before will be able to guess who the killer is. Still, a fun movie nevertheless.
7/10 If you get the chance to see it in the cinema, watch people's reactions to the 'scissors-scene'. I was amazed to see hoe genuinely horrified even the most hardened viewers in my cinema were.