Transporter 2
2005 · United States, France · 87 min
- Director
- Louis Leterrier
- Screenplay
- Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
- Producer
- Luc Besson
- Music
- Alexandre Azaria
- Cinematography
- Mitchell Amundsen
- Production company
- TF1, TPS Star, Canal+
Cast
What it is about
Frank Martin is among the best in his line of work: a former special forces soldier who moves cargo, whether objects or people, and never asks questions. After his earlier jobs, he relocates from the south of France to Miami, where he agrees to work as a temporary chauffeur for the wealthy Billings family. He soon builds a good rapport with their young son Jack, who is six, and whom he drives to school each day. What starts as a quiet assignment turns into a race against time when the boy is caught up in a criminal scheme meant to pressure his parents, and Martin has to act quickly and with limited resources to protect him.
How it was made
Directed by Louis Leterrier, the film is the sequel to The Transporter and was a French and American co-production. Luc Besson, who had produced and written the first film, returned to co-write the script with Robert Mark Kamen and handled production through EuropaCorp, aiming for a more ambitious action spectacle than the original. Jason Statham reprises the lead role, joined by Amber Valletta and Kate Nauta, while Alessandro Gassmann plays the main villain. Shooting took place in Florida and was made difficult by tropical storms and hurricanes battering the state. Alexandre Azaria composed the score and Mitchell Amundsen shot the film. The result leans on car chases, choreographed fights and a brisk pace, with action at the center of the story.
Reception and legacy
The film opened in France on August 3, 2005, in the United States on September 2, and in Spain on October 14 of that year. Its opening weekend in the United States brought in more than 16 million dollars, and its total take is usually given as around 43 million domestically and roughly 85 million worldwide, though sources vary slightly. Critical reaction was mixed: on Rotten Tomatoes a little over half of the reviewing critics responded favorably, while Metacritic gave it an average score of 56 out of 100. Roger Ebert awarded it three stars out of four and judged it an improvement on the original, while other critics praised Statham's performance and criticized the screenplay. Its commercial performance led to a third installment in 2008, Transporter 3, which Lionsgate distributed in the United States.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
A provocative remark
Director Louis Leterrier called Frank Martin « the first gay action movie hero ». Later, after rewatching his first two films, he said they « aren't that gay ».
Shooting during hurricane season
The Florida locations forced the crew to contend with tropical storms and hurricanes that hit the state during filming, complicating production.
More films by Louis Leterrier
The Incredible Hulk
Clash of the Titans
Now You See Me
The Transporter
Fast X
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