Overview: Angelina Jolie stars as a hardass special agent investigating a string of murders in which the killer steals the identity of his victims. Hence the title. While it offers a few jumps (mostly arms popping out and grabbing you, much as could be found in a rural haunted house), Taking Lives is essentially formulatic and predictable. I watched it with two friends who are self-proclaimed wusses and even they only flinched twice.
What's Good: The performances. Although the only Angelina Jolie film I actually liked was Girl, Interrupted, she's a decent actress who did well as usual. Martinez is cute as a French-Candadian FBI (or something similar) agent working on the case. And sue me -- because I seem to be the only person left on this earth that still likes Ethan Hawke. And despite how sure I was that I knew the 'twists' the entire time (I turned out to be right, mind you), there were a few moments of doubt. I'm usually pretty cynical of suspense and up to speed on things (Secret Window? Pshaw. I totally saw that coming.), there were a few red herrings I fell for.
What's Bad: Did I mention how predictable it is? Also, the ending is totally unrealistic. There's a lot of holes in the 'plan', but I won't go into it for fear of spoilers.
See It If: You like Angelina Jolie. You like Angelina Jolie naked. (i.e. you are male.) The video store is out of Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.
What's Good: The performances. Although the only Angelina Jolie film I actually liked was Girl, Interrupted, she's a decent actress who did well as usual. Martinez is cute as a French-Candadian FBI (or something similar) agent working on the case. And sue me -- because I seem to be the only person left on this earth that still likes Ethan Hawke. And despite how sure I was that I knew the 'twists' the entire time (I turned out to be right, mind you), there were a few moments of doubt. I'm usually pretty cynical of suspense and up to speed on things (Secret Window? Pshaw. I totally saw that coming.), there were a few red herrings I fell for.
What's Bad: Did I mention how predictable it is? Also, the ending is totally unrealistic. There's a lot of holes in the 'plan', but I won't go into it for fear of spoilers.
See It If: You like Angelina Jolie. You like Angelina Jolie naked. (i.e. you are male.) The video store is out of Se7en and Silence of the Lambs.