Transporter 2 (2005)

Transporter Frank Martin, surfaces in Miami, Florida and is implicated in the kidnapping of the young son of a powerful USA official.

Director:

Louis Leterrier

Writers:

Luc Besson (characters), Robert Mark Kamen (characters)

Stars:

Jason Statham, Amber Valletta, Kate Nauta

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Frank Martin
Alessandro Gassmann	...	Gianni Chellini (as Alessandro Gassman)
Amber Valletta	...	Audrey Billings
Kate Nauta	...	Lola
Matthew Modine	...	Jefferson Billings
Jason Flemyng	...	Dimitri
Keith David	...	Stappleton
Hunter Clary	...	Jack Billings
Shannon Briggs	...	Max
François Berléand	...	Inspector Tarconi
Raymond Tong	...	Rastaman
George Kapetan	...	Dr. Sonovitch
Jeff Chase	...	Vasily
Gregg Weiner	...	Tipov
Gregg Davis	...	Techie at Billings

Storyline

Frank Martin is the best in the business. The ex-Special Forces operative hires himself out as a mercenary "transporter" who moves goods--human or otherwise. Very simple, he delivers, no questions asked. Frank has relocated from the French Mediterranean to Miami, Florida, where as a favor to a friend, Frank is driving for the wealthy Billings family. There's very little that can surprise The Transporter, but young Jack Billings has done just that; Frank has unexpectedly bonded with Jack, age 6, who he drives to and from school. But when Jack is kidnapped, Frank must use his battle-tested combat skills to retrieve the boy and thwart the kidnappers' master plan to release a virus that will kill anyone with whom it comes in contact.

---

Plot Keywords:

sequel | ex soldier | motor car | vehicle | automobile | 

---

Taglines:

The Best In The Business Is Back In The Game.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, sexual content, partial nudity and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

By the clock in the Frank's car, the date on the day of the abduction is 1. 04. 2005 - April's Fools day.

---

Goofs

Immediately after takeoff the pilot says that he needs to return and land because the landing gear of the Gulfstream fails to retract (stuck in the down position) after the car explodes beneath. However during the ensuing fight scene between Frank and Gianni each time you see the outside of the Gulfstream (as it spins out of control) the landing gear is clearly up.

---

Quotes

Gianni Chellini: But nice try, I'm impressed. Took more than a driver to figure this out.
Frank Martin: I haven't figured it all out yet.
Gianni Chellini: Perhaps I can help you! What part are you a little... how you say, "thick" on?
Frank Martin: You. Why?
Gianni Chellini: Oh, well, that's the easy part. It's a business deal, pure and simple. I'm for hire to he highest bidder. And in this case, the highest bidders were the Colombian cocaine cartels that wanted these pesky lawmen off their backs.

---

Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, the actors names appear to be hanging from the ceiling of the parking garage.

---

Alternate Versions

German version is based on the cut US version but without the digital retouching.

---

Connections

Referenced in Hart of Dixie: Hairdos & Holidays (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Painful (Morphium Mix)
Performed by Sin
Remixed by Oomph
(Brunello / Brunello)
(c) PolyGram Editions/Recall Publishing
(p) 1998 Recall Publishing

User Reviews

Silly fun action movie

TRANSPORTER 2 isn't going to win any awards for its story (whatever happened to Luc Besson anyway?), but for a fun action movie it's about as good as 2005 offered. Jason Statham reprises the role of Frank Martin, a driver with impressive skills in or out of his car. The 2nd film is at least as silly as the first, and not quite as corny in the script, making it a very entertaining way to pass 80 minutes.

Obviously the aim of the film is to capture some of the style of "Golden Era" Hong Kong action films, and Jason Statham does a great job with the help of Cory Yuen's choreography, which is very imaginative and clever (though he reuses a few ideas, e.g. the hosepipe from KISS OF THE DRAGON). Unfortunately the film is blighted by "Hollywood-Style" camera work and editing, which detracts from the choreography... westerners still haven't learnt how to shoot a fight scene as well as a Hong Kong crew (despite having 10x the budget available to do it)... too many closeups, shaky camera that goes against the movement of the action and editing which obscures rather than emphasises what's going on. I'd love to see the action scenes re-edited by one of HK's premier action film editors.

Still, small quibbles really since Hong Kong has pretty much stopped making action films this fun anyway, and TRANSPORTER 2 is still plentifully entertaining as it is :)

Details

Country:

France USA Germany

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

2 September 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transporter 2

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,540,720, 4 September 2005

Gross USA:

$43,095,856

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$89,083,229

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production, Current Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1