French cinema industry doesn’t look very likely to threaten Hollywood’s global hegemony, but, on ocassions, some French film makers appear that they could give big American studios run for their money. The most notable among them is Luc Besson, producer whose films in past four decades or so have successfully distilled main ingredients of Hollywood’s blockbuster formula and used to to create not only very popular films, but also very popular franchises. One of those, that looks like a serious competitor to Hollywood’s Fast and Furious behemoth, has started with The Transporter, 2002 action film directed by Corey Yuen (and uncredited Louis Letterier).
The plot is set on French Riviera where the protagonist Frank Martin (played by Jason Statham), former member of elite British SAS forces, lives a good life, which is supported by providing transport services to various shady characters. His business is faced on three rules – never changing the deal, never used names and never looking what is in the trunk. One day Martin gets himself in the trouble when he breaks the third rule and realises that his car is transporting young and beatiful Chinese woman Lai Kwai (played by Shi Qu). He nevertheless delivers her to designated destination, but soon afterwards becomes target of the assassins led by man named Wall Street (played by Matt Schulze). Martin is now forced to run for his life while taking his “package” with him. In the meantime, the case brings attention of Martin’s old friend, police inspector Tarconi (played by François Berléand) and Martin finds himself caught between rock and hard place. To make things worse, it turns out that Lai Kwai knows more about what is going on than she cares to admit.
Role of Frank Martin represents one of the most iconic performances of Jason Statham, although it didn’t actually require much of the acting ability. British actor possesses charisma and presence that is quite enough to make him more than serious match for the likes of Vin Diesel (with whom he would together in the last five films of Fast and Furious cycle). Statham’s casting appears well-matched with the choice of Hong Kong film maker Corey Yuen as film’s director. Yuen fills the film with number of spectacular action scenes that feature car chases, fistfights and shoot outs. All that is complemented by picturesque setting of French Riviera and beauty of glamorous Taiwanese actress Shu Qi. Unfortunately, all that visual splendour can’t compensate for the rather uninspired script written by Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, plot elements that don’t make much sense and Matt Schulze playing caricature rather than serious villain. Many would wonder why notable French character actor François Berléand agreed to take part in this, but it is his presence alone that makes The Transporter look like a real film instead of assembly-line product. After hour and half, viewers would likely remember more scene in which Martin and Tarconi discuss content of Marcel Proust’s novels rather than any action scene. Despite those shortcomings, Statham’s ascending star power made The Transporter into international box office hit and led to two sequels, 2010s television series starring Chris Vance in Frank Martin’s role and 2015 reboot The Transporter Refueled in which Martin was played by Ed Skrein.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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