Taken (2008/I)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Pierre Morel

Writers (WGA):

Luc Besson (written by) &
Robert Mark Kamen (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Die Zeit für Rache ist gekommen. (The time for revenge has come.)

Plot:

A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been forced into the slave trade.

Plot Keywords:

Chase | Stepfather | Human Trafficking | Agent | Surveillance

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Liam Neeson	...	Bryan Mills
Famke Janssen	...	Lenore
Leland Orser	...	Sam
Radivoje Bukvic	...	Anton (as Rasha Bukvic)
Mathieu Busson	...	Undercover agent
Holly Valance	...	Sheerah
Katie Cassidy	...	Amanda
Xander Berkeley	...	Stuart
Nicolas Giraud	...	Peter
Maggie Grace	...	Kim
Jon Gries	...	Casey
Marc Amyot	...	Pharmacist
Rubens Hyka	...	Leka
Arben Bajraktaraj	...	Marko
Camille Japy	...	Isabelle
Michel Flash	...	Gio
Fani Kolarova	...	Prostitute
Goran Kostic	...	Gregor
Christophe Kourotchkine	...	Gilles
Valentin Kalaj	...	Vinz
Nabil Massad	...	Sheik Raman
Jalil Naciri	...	Ali
Edwin Kruger	...	Jean-Claude's Assistant
Olivier Rabourdin	...	Jean-Claude
Anca Radici	...	Ingrid
Christy Reese	...	Paper Shop Clerk
Nathan Rippy	...	Victor
Opender Singh	...	Singh
Helena Soubeyrand	...	Girl with the Jacket
Tommy Spahija	...	Nezir
Anatole Taubman	...	Dardan
Bertrand Treuil	...	Taxi Driver
George Hertzberg	...	Security Stuart's Mansion
David Warshofsky	...	Bernie
Ivette Gonzalez	...	Maid
Gérard Watkins	...	St-Clair
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Abernathy	...	Airport traveler (uncredited)
Michael Finn	...	Airport Pilot (uncredited)
Dan Flood	...	Airport Traveler (uncredited)
Katrina Forrest	...	Maid (uncredited)
Ivette Gonzales	...	Maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Pierre Morel

Writing credits (WGA)
Luc Besson		(written by) &
Robert Mark Kamen		(written by)

Produced by
Luc Besson	....	producer
Didier Hoarau	....	executive producer
Franck Lebreton	....	line producer (as Frank Lebreton)
Michael Mandaville	....	line producer: USA

Original Music by
Nathaniel Mechaly

Cinematography by
Michel Abramowicz

Film Editing by
Frédéric Thoraval

Casting by
Ferne Cassel
Nathalie Cheron

Production Design by
Hugues Tissandier

Art Direction by
Gilles Boillot
Nanci Roberts

Costume Design by
Olivier Bériot		(as Olivier Beriot)

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	key hair stylist
Sarah Ault	....	makeup artist: US
June Brickman	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles
Diane Mahmoudi	....	hair stylist
Patricia Messina	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles
Jackie Sachen	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles

Production Management
Gregory Barrau	....	unit production manager
Marie-Odile Bertot	....	executive in charge of production
David Deshayes	....	unit production manager: Recce

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marion Angebaud	....	trainee assistant director
Craig Borden	....	first assistant director: USA
Mathilde Cavillan	....	second assistant director
Deborah Chung	....	second assistant director: USA
Mohamed Delhamar	....	trainee assistant director (as Mohamed Belhamar)
Heather I. Denton	....	second assistant director: USA (as Heather Denton)
Cristina Freitas	....	assistant director
Mathieu Giovanardi	....	trainee assistant director
Christie Lehuède	....	trainee assistant director
Jean-Loup Mangin	....	trainee assistant director
Samantha Mialet	....	assistant director
Guillaume Morand	....	trainee assistant director
Eric Navech	....	trainee assistant director
Jérôme Raffaelli	....	first assistant director: second unit
Frédéric Rober	....	trainee assistant director
Fabien Vergez	....	first assistant director
Jianne Whelton	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
P. Scott Bailey	....	on-set dresser: US (as Patrick Bailey)
Gilles Boillot	....	first assistant production designer
Scott E. Bruza	....	on-set dresser: US (as Scott Bruza)
Peggy Casey	....	buyer: US
Karine Caumeil	....	assistant to production designer
Brendon Cowsill	....	set dresser: Los Angeles unit
Tiffany Cowsill	....	set dresser: Los Angeles unit
Carine Demongueres	....	assistant art director
Brian Ferguson	....	set dresser
Claire Kaufman	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Dana MacDuff	....	property master: Los Angeles
Donn Markel	....	propmaker
William F. Matthews	....	swing gang: US (as William Mathews)
Tim Scheu	....	leadman: Los Angeles
Lee Thomson	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Mike Ortiz	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Adrien Arnaud	....	adr editor
Eric Bautista	....	sound utility
Damien Berger	....	boom operator
Thomas Bernard	....	sound recordist
Martin Boissau	....	sound
Christophe Bourreau	....	foley artist
Vincent Cosson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dominique Delguste	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathan Goc	....	assistant sound editor
Loïc Gourbe	....	sound recordist
François-Joseph Hors	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sébastien Jeannot	....	sound editor
Maud Lombart	....	dialogue editor
Samuel Potin	....	recording engineer: Digital Factory
Alexandre Widmer	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Jean-Claude Dauphinot	....	special effects technician
Grégoire Delage	....	special effects coordinator
Georges Demétrau	....	special effects supervisor
Sara Helminger	....	special effects assistant
Charles-Axel Vollard	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Anita Lech Bedez	....	digital artist
Adrien Borzakian	....	digital artist
Lohengrin Braconnier	....	assistant colorist
Arnaud Damez	....	digital artist
Roxane Fechner	....	visual effects supervisor
Elodie Glain	....	visual effects coordinator

Stunts
Alain Barbier	....	stunts
David Forax	....	stunts
Philippe Guégan	....	stunt coordinator
Vincent Haquin	....	stunts
Gregory Loffredo	....	stunts
Philippe Morel	....	stunts
Brieann Rich	....	stunt driver
Nicholas Rich	....	stunt driver
Christophe Roblin	....	stunt driver
Thierry Saelens	....	stunts
Olivier Schneider	....	fight choreographer
Bertrand Shafer	....	stunt driver
Kamal Temal	....	stunts
Frédéric Vallet	....	stunt driver
Mark Vanselow	....	stunt double: Liam Neeson

Camera and Electrical Department
Carl Bartels	....	director of photography: second unit
Carl Bartels	....	lead camera operator
Frédéric Beaugendre	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Rodolphe Begard	....	additional electrician
Stéphane Birzin	....	key grip
Christophe Boissy	....	electrician
Katie Boyum	....	Steadicam operator: Los Angeles unit
Stéphanie Branchu	....	still photographer
Ashley Carpenter	....	camera loader
Sébastien Courtain	....	additional electrician
Justin Daly	....	electrician
Nicole Danyluck Thompson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Laurent Dexpert	....	additional electrician
Nabil Dridi	....	additional electrician
Yannick Esteffe	....	additional grip
Vincent Gallot	....	focus puller
Thomas Gally	....	electrician
William Gally	....	gaffer
Philippe Garnier	....	additional grip
Manuel Gaspar	....	electrician
Arnaud Gervet	....	additional second assistant camera
Danny Gonzalez	....	lighting technician
Brad Grimmett	....	Steadicam operator: Los Angeles unit
Joe Guzman	....	grip
Carl Helder	....	grip
Jan Gagnaire Hochstein	....	grip
Brian A. Hoffman	....	set videographer: Los Angeles
Jean-Baptiste Jay	....	flight head technician
Kyle Kovacs	....	electric: US
Brett Laumann	....	chief lighting technician: Los Angeles
Erwann Le Pogam	....	additional grip
Laurent Martin	....	additional grip
Ethan McDonald	....	second assistant camera
Sophie Moulin	....	additional grip
Philippe Mourier	....	grip
Olivier Neveu	....	additional electrician
C. Roy Nigra	....	grip: US (as Nigra C. Roy)
Gil Pannetier	....	camera operator
Claire Pierrard	....	second assistant camera
Don Presley	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Cyrill Renaud	....	camera operator
Vince Rodriguez	....	electrician
Bruno Roza	....	additional grip
Philippe Sebban	....	additional electrician
Zachary Sieffert	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Benjamin Speyer	....	crane technician
Kevin Tiesiera	....	rigging gaffer: Los Angeles
Vincent Tulasne	....	video assist operator
Sam Urdank	....	still photographer
Brian Woronec	....	rigging electrician

Casting Department
Amy De Souza	....	casting associate
Bouchra Fakhri	....	casting assistant
Laurent Soulet	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Safowa Bright-Asare	....	set costumer: US
Betsy Glick	....	costume supervisor: US
Michelle Margolis	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Nicolas Criqui	....	assistant editor
Mickael Dumontier	....	assistant editor
Frederic Jupin	....	digital conformation
Jean-René Nébot	....	digital color timer

Music Department
Antonio Gambale	....	synthesizer programmer
Gisèle Gérard-Tolini	....	conductor
Gisèle Gérard-Tolini	....	orchestrator
Alexandre Mahout	....	music supervisor
Nathaniel Mechaly	....	music arranger
Nathaniel Mechaly	....	music producer
Nathaniel Mechaly	....	orchestrator
Jean-Paul Minali-Bella	....	musician: viola solos
Samuel Potin	....	music editor
Samuel Potin	....	musician: guitar
Lionel Privat	....	orchestrator
Richard Schmoucler	....	musician: violin solos
Michael Wijnen	....	music department head

Transportation Department
Teresa Haney	....	transportation coordinator
Ghislain Le Guisquet	....	picture car coordinator
Eric Miller	....	transportation coordinator
Jimmy Ray Pickens	....	driver: cast
Adam Praw	....	van driver: Los Angeles
Michael Rich	....	production driver
Chris Schimmel	....	driver: honeywagon
Olivier Suffert	....	production driver: Mr Liam Neeson
Christian G. Ervin	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Isabelle Agid	....	production assistant
Adria Badagnani	....	production assistant
Alex Betuel	....	production assistant
Diane Brasseur	....	second script supervisor
Kerry Carter	....	production assistant
Kaine Bennett Charleston	....	stand-in
Laurette Dobson	....	script supervisor: USA
Jessica Fairbanks	....	production assistant
Claire Galloy	....	location scout
Mick Gould	....	technical advisor
Ryan Hintz	....	first assistant accountant
Philip Hoang	....	accounting clerk
Lyal Holmberg	....	location manager
Philippe Letode	....	location scout
Lea Ann Lynch	....	key assistant location manager
Chad Mazero	....	production assistant
Michael Ortiz	....	production assistant
Mike Ortiz	....	production assistant
Isabelle Querrioux	....	script supervisor
William Ramirez Jr.	....	craft service: US (as Billy Ramirez)
Katharine Ratnoff	....	assistant to producer
Nicholas Rich	....	rescue diver
Kelly Safrit-Jones	....	assistant: Mr Neeson, USA (as Kelly Saffrit)
Will Sandoval	....	production assistant
Todd Spears	....	production accountant: USA
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	assistant production coordinator: Los Angeles
Julie Wagner	....	stand-in: Famke Janssen

Thanks
Lala	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Europa Corp. (as EuropaCorp.) (presents)
• M6 Films
• Grive Productions
• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• TPS Star (with the participation of)
• M6 (with the participation of)
• All Pictures Media
• Wintergreen Productions

Distributors

• EuropaCorp. Distribution (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• EuropaCorp. Distribution (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Brazil) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2008) (France) (DVD)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2008) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Les Audis de Vanves  sound post-production (ADR)
• PES Payroll  extras payroll services
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

France

Language:

English | French | Albanian | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG-13 (cut version) | Australia:MA | UK:15 (edited version) | New Zealand:R16 | Ireland:15A | South Africa:16LV | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | Brazil:16 | UK:18 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Chile:Y7 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Norway:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) (DVD rating) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) (uncut version) | Hong Kong:IIB | Denmark:15 | Austria:16 | Iceland:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

The fighting art primarily used in this movie is Nagasu Do (see mickgould.com). Liam Neeson was trained by Mick Gould, who is a senior practitioner of this art and previously taught members of the SAS, including Andy McNab, with whom he later worked on the Michael Mann movie Heat (1995).

Goofs:

Continuity: Bryan's head throughout the movie has no white hair, but at the corrupt French police officer's apartment his hair appears to have white hair roots on forehead sides.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Singh: Mr. Mills, how are you?
Bryan: I'm fine. How are you?
Singh: Very fine. I suppose you want to see it again?
Bryan: You should know why I'm here.
Singh: You know where it is.
Bryan: Oh yeah.

Movie Connections:

References Die Hard (1988)

Soundtrack:

Change

Neeson is the vodka of James Bond's martini

The most thrilling movie I've seen in a long time. Neeson is what we would fear if James Bond went to hell and came back for revenge (I doubt big budget Quantum of Solace will top this). I loved Jason Bourne; but where Bourne is confused for half the movie, Neeson is looking down a barrel of a pistol 3/4 of the time. In a three way spy battle, I would put Neeson edging out Bourne, who would be a step ahead of Bond.

Between the jaw-dropping action sequences was the subject matter of international trafficking, which was pretty miserable to watch. Although homicide is wrong, death was never more satisfying to watch.