The Transporter (2002)

Frank Martin, who "transports" packages for unknown clients, is asked to move a package that soon begins moving, and complications arise.

Directors:

Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen (as Cory Yuen)

Writers:

Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars:

Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Frank Martin
Qi Shu	...	Lai
François Berléand	...	Inspector Tarconi
Matt Schulze	...	Wall Street
Ric Young	...	Mr. Kwai
Doug Rand	...	Leader
Didier Saint Melin	...	Boss
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Thug 1
Laurent Desponds	...	Thug 2
Matthieu Albertini	...	Thug 3
Vincent Nemeth	...	Pilot
Jean-Yves Bilien	...	Little Thug
Jean-Marie Paris	...	Giant Thug
Adrian Dearnell	...	Newscaster
Alfred Lot	...	Cop 1

Storyline

Ex-Special Forces operator Frank Martin lives what seems to be a quiet life along the French Mediterranean, hiring himself out as a mercenary "transporter" who moves goods--human or otherwise--from one place to another. No questions asked. Carrying out mysterious and sometimes dangerous tasks in his tricked-out BMW, Frank adheres to a strict set of rules, which he never breaks. Rule One: Never change the deal. Rule Two: No names--Frank doesn't want to know whom he's working for, or what he's transporting. Rule Three: never look in the package. Frank's newest transport seems no different from the countless ones he's done in the past. He's been hired by an American known only as "Wall Street" to make a delivery; but when Frank stops along the route, he notices his package is moving. Violating Rule Three, Frank looks inside the bag, finding its contents to be a beautiful, gagged woman. Frank's steadfast adherence to his other two rules--which make up his basic code of survival--also ...

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Plot Keywords:

gunfight | mixed martial arts | tape over mouth | motor car | vehicle | 

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Taglines:

Rules are made to be broken

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the audio commentary of the movie the BMW Frank driver's is a said to be a "rare" V12 model. The total production number for the E38 BMW V12 are: 8,559 750i models, 15,759 750iL models, and 899 L7 models.

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Goofs

Just before Frank's BMW is blown up, his white collar is visible as he walks toward the car. The instant the car explodes and Frank leaves his feet his coat is pulled upward and covers his white collar, and the harness (used to lift him off his feet) is visible under his jacket at shoulder level.

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Quotes

Lai: You're always complaining, except when we make love. Then you say nothing.

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Alternate Versions

Japanese two-disc DVD set features a full bitrate DTS 6.1 sound mix, and restores the bus fight and motorway fights in full.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood's Hottest Car Chases (2010)

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Soundtracks

The Case
(D.J. Pone & Drixxxe)
Performed by D.J. Pone & Drixxxe
Recorded and Mixed at Digital Factory by Bruno Fourrier
Assisted by Fabrice Sauré (as Fabrice Saure)
©EuropaCorp. (SACEM) / Eastory / B.M.G. Publishing (SACEM)
(p)2002 EuropaCorp.

User Reviews

Statham & Style Elevate The Action

I still rate this pretty high even if the last 10 minutes got totally out of hand and went crazy, action-wise. By "out-of-hand," I mainly refer to the usual excessive action and bad guys-keep-missing-good guys-even-from-short range-type mentality. Actually, a lot of the film is that but it's such a fun movie that I didn't care.

Jason Statham is very cool in the lead and it's he that makes this a decent film. I also enjoyed Shu Qi, a very pretty woman; the witty dialog of Francois Berleand and some stylish, tongue-in-cheek directing by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen. Another director whose films are known for their hip styles also co- wrote this: Luc Besson.

Some of the action scenes are outrageous. To Statham's credit, he did most of the action scenes himself. I guess he's a tough guy in real life, too. He's pretty amazing.

A no-brainer-but lots of fun movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France USA

Language:

English French Mandarin

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transporter

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,107,816, 13 October 2002

Gross USA:

$25,296,447

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,928,932

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production, Current Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES (original version) Dolby Digital EX (original version) SDDS DTS (Digital DTS Sound) (English version) Dolby Digital (English version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1