Transporter 3

Last updated

Transporter 3
Transporter 3 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Olivier Megaton
Written by
Based onCharacters
by Luc Besson
Robert Mark Kamen
Produced by
  • Luc Besson
  • Steve Chasman
Starring
CinematographyGiovanni Fiore Coltellacci
Edited by
Music by Alexandre Azaria
Production
companies
Distributed by EuropaCorp Distribution
Release date
  • November 26, 2008 (2008-11-26)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageEnglish
Budget€26.6 million [1]
($40 million [2] )
Box office$112.9 million [3] [2]

Transporter 3 (French: Le Transporteur 3) is a 2008 French action film directed by Olivier Megaton. It is the final installment in the original trilogy of the Transporter franchise, but not the last movie, since it was succeeded by The Transporter Refueled , also called Transporter 4 (2015). Jason Statham and François Berléand reprise their roles as Frank Martin and Inspector Tarconi. Frank Martin returns to France in order to continue his low-key business of delivering packages without question. Transporter 3 grossed $112.9 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the trilogy.

Contents

Plot

On a cargo ship at sea, two workers open a shipping container to discover barrels of toxic waste, and succumb to the deadly fumes. The ship's captain, aware of the cargo, disposes of their bodies. Meanwhile, having returned from Miami to the French Riviera, Frank Martin is unsuccessfully fishing with his friend Inspector Tarconi, who receives a call about a black Audi A8 that sped through French customs and evaded police. In Odesa, Ukrainian Environmental Agency Minister Leonid Tomilenko receives a threat from corrupt Ecocorp official Jonas Johnson to reopen business negotiations.

That night, the Audi crashes into Frank's home, driven by wounded transporter Malcolm Melville, whom Frank had referred when he declined a previous job. As paramedics take Malcolm away, Frank discovers a passenger in the back seat who warns him not to take her from the car; Frank realizes the metal bracelets she and Malcolm are wearing will detonate if they are too far from the vehicle, but the ambulance explodes, killing Malcolm. Knocked unconscious by one of Johnson's henchmen, Frank wakes up wearing an explosive bracelet, and Johnson forces him to drive a package and Malcolm's passenger, Valentina, to Budapest.

Ecocorp, having arranged a secret deal with Tomilenko to allow the ship full of toxic waste into the country, tells him to expect another seven ships. Given one day to sign Ecocorp's agreement, Tomilenko sends his own agents to learn Frank's destination from the GPS in Malcom's car. While Tarconi researches Johnson's motives, Frank goes off-course to visit his mechanic friend Otto. Johnson's men arrive to order them back on the road and Frank fights them off, but Otto is unable to disarm the explosive transmitter inside the car.

Frank reaches Budapest, but one of Johnson's men steals the Audi with Valentina inside. Chasing them down by bicycle, Frank recovers the car and Johnson redirects him to Bucharest. Pursued by Tomilenko's agents in a black Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Frank manuevers them off a cliff and realizes Valentina is the real package. Taking the car keys, Valentina forces Frank to strip for her, and they have sex. She is revealed to be Tomilenko's daughter, who was drugged in Eivissa and transported by Malcolm for Johnson to blackmail her father.

Johnson redirects Frank and Valentina to Odesa, ambushing them on a bridge. Valentina is captured and her bracelet is removed, while Frank drives into the lake and Johnson leaves him to die. Underwater, Frank uses air from the car's tires to inflate a large plastic bag, buoying the car to the surface where he is rescued by Tarconi and the Ukrainian police. Boarding a train with Valentina, Johnson gives Tomilenko fifteen minutes to sign the contract.

Frank jumps the Audi on top of the train and kills Johnson's men, only to realise that Johnson is too far from the car for him to reach and uncouples the train cabs. Jumping his car into the next cab, Frank subdues Johnson and takes his key, attach the bracelet to Johnson instead, and sends the Audi into reverse. Johnson is killed when the bracelet detonates, and Frank reunites with Valentina. Tomilenko learns from Tarconi that Valentina is safe and tears up the Ecocorp contracts, while the cargo ship is raided by police. Frank and Tarconi return to fishing in Marseilles, joined by Valentina.

Cast

Production

Natalya Rudakova was spotted by Luc Besson on the street as she hurried to her job at a New York City hair salon. He paid for 25 acting lessons over a six-month period, and brought her to audition in Paris, before she received the role. [4] Roger Ebert noted the rarity of leading ladies who are heavily freckled. [5] Shooting was initially expected to last for 16 weeks, in France. It was also filmed in Odesa, Ukraine. [6]

Release

Unlike its predecessors, Transporter 3 was released by Lionsgate Films instead of 20th Century Fox in the United States. On its opening weekend, the film opened at number 7 with $12 million. [7] The film grossed $31.7 million in the United States and in Canada and $77.3 million in other countries, for a total gross of $109 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the Transporter trilogy. [3] Transporter 3 was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on March 10, 2009 in the United States. 1,108,030 units were sold, bringing in $19.7 million in revenue. [8] Icon Films picked up the rights to distribute the film in the UK and Australia. [9]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 40% of 115 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.8/10.The website's consensus reads: "This middling installment in the Transporter franchise is a few steps down from its predecessors, featuring generic stunts and a lack of energy." [10] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [11] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale. [12]

Roger Ebert gave praise to Megaton's direction for sidestepping the shaky cam for more stable visuals and found Statham to be a "splendid action hero," calling it "a perfectly acceptable brainless action thriller, inspiring us to give a lot of thought to complex sequences we would have been better off sucking on as eye candy." [5] Entertainment Weekly 's Lisa Schwarzbaum rated the film a B grade, noting how the plot is similar to previous efforts but said it "makes good on its formula with no pretensions." [13] Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle said, "Transporter 3 is terrifically stupid fun, in the very best (or worst, depending on your tolerance for this sort of thing) sense." [14] The A.V. Club 's Scott Tobias said the movie falls short of the standards set by the first two Transporter films but gave praise to the " Speed -like bracelet gimmick" for delivering on the action scenes and the decent chemistry between Statham and Rudakova, concluding that: "It's enough to pass the time, but just barely." [15] Mike Mayo of The Washington Post called it "the best of the unapologetically ridiculous series", pointing out the "hyperactive editing" in the cartoonish vehicular stunts and fight scenes, concluding that: "Overall, the production has the polish and pace that producer/co-writer Luc Besson's work is known for. Any complaints about the lack of substance are pointless." [16]

Jim Vejvoda of IGN wrote that: "Transporter 3 gets some points for a few cleverly handled action sequences, but the romantic subplot and nods to Crank ultimately undermine the film." [17] Norman Wilner of NOW criticized the premise for lacking the "nice balance between car stunts and gymnastic punch-ups" from previous films and forcing Statham to perform more driving scenes than hand-to-hand combat ones, concluding that: "It's not the best use of his talents." [18] Jeremiah Kipp of Slant Magazine was critical of the filmmakers utilizing the "ultra-slick, sexy-sheen, redundant style of car commercials" for their overall visual aesthetic and Statham's dry humor coming across like Sean Connery's James Bond in Goldfinger . [19] Peter Howell of the Toronto Star criticized the overall plot structure and monotonous pacing for betraying the film's "action status," saying: "You know a series is in trouble when it begins mocking its own premise." [20] James Berardinelli called it "the most frustrating entry into a series that has never set the bar terribly high", commending Statham and the fight scenes he's in but was critical of the nonsensical plot trying to fit in with the action scenes and the car chases coming across as "empty amusement", concluding that: "Transporter 3 is proof that brain-dead action movies can be found in theaters during Oscar season as well as during the summer. Fans of the first two Transporter films will likely find this one diverting, although it is a step in the wrong direction. Others will wonder how a movie this disjointed and poorly scripted could get made." [21]

Rudakova's performance was generally derided by critics. Berardinelli commended her sexual appeal, despite not being "conventionally attractive" for the role, but felt her English delivery came off like "phonetic readings." [21] Vejvoda called it "one of the most grating film debuts of all time," criticizing her romantic scenes opposite Statham as not "particularly charming or sexy." [17] Conversely, Ebert said that "Rudakova is no Bonnie Hunt when it comes to personality. She skulks, pouts, clams up, looks out the window, and yet falls in love with the Transporter. Some perfectionists will no doubt criticize her acting. I say the hell with her acting. Look at those freckles. I can never get enough of freckles." [5] Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle found her to be the "perfect woman" for the film, pointing out her "Dennis the Menace freckles, red hair and semi-crazy behavior," and lacking the "plastic hotness of your primped-up Bond girl." [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Statham</span> English actor (born 1967)

Jason Statham is an English actor and producer. He is known for portraying tough, gritty, or violent characters in various action thriller films, and has been credited for leading the resurgence of action films during the 2000s and 2010s. By 2017, his films had grossed over £1.1 billion, making him one of the industry's most bankable stars.

<i>Collateral</i> (film) 2004 neo-noir action thriller film by Michael Mann

Collateral is a 2004 American neo-noir action thriller film directed and produced by Michael Mann, written by Stuart Beattie, and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. The supporting cast includes Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, Javier Bardem, and Bruce McGill. The film follows Max Durocher (Foxx), a Los Angeles cab driver, and his customer, Vincent (Cruise). When offered a high fare for driving to several locations, Max agrees but soon finds himself taken hostage by Vincent who turns out to be a hitman on a contract killing spree.

<i>The Transporter</i> 2002 film by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen

The Transporter is a 2002 English-language French action film directed by Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier from a screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It is the first installment in the Transporter franchise and stars Jason Statham in the title role, alongside Shu Qi, François Berléand and Matt Schulze. In the film, Frank Martin, a British mercenary driver living in France, finds himself involved in a human trafficking plot.

<i>Ghosts of Mars</i> 2001 film by John Carpenter

Ghosts of Mars is a 2001 American space Western action horror film written, directed and scored by John Carpenter. It was produced by Screen Gems and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It stars Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Pam Grier, Clea DuVall and Joanna Cassidy. Set on a colonized Mars in the 22nd century, the film follows a squad of police officers and a convicted criminal who fight against the residents of a mining colony who have been possessed by the ghosts of the planet's original inhabitants.

<i>Death Race 2000</i> 1975 action film directed by Paul Bartel

Death Race 2000 is a 1975 American dystopian science-fiction action film directed by Paul Bartel and produced by Roger Corman for New World Pictures. Set in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, the film centers on the murderous Transcontinental Road Race, in which participants score points by striking and killing pedestrians. David Carradine stars as "Frankenstein", the leading champion of the race, who is targeted by an underground rebel movement seeking to abolish the race. The cast also features Simone Griffeth, Sylvester Stallone, Mary Woronov, Martin Kove, and Don Steele.

Transporter may refer to:

<i>Transporter 2</i> 2005 French film

Transporter 2 is a 2005 English-language French action film directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen. It is the sequel to The Transporter (2002) and the second installment in the Transporter franchise, followed by Transporter 3 (2008) and The Transporter Refueled, also called Transporter 4 (2015). It stars Jason Statham as Frank Martin, with Alessandro Gassmann, Amber Valletta, Kate Nauta, François Berléand, Matthew Modine, and Jason Flemyng. In the film, Frank Martin (Statham) is tasked with protecting the young son of politician Jefferson Billings (Modine) from an international drugs cartel.

<i>The Italian Job</i> (2003 film) 2003 film by F. Gary Gray

The Italian Job is a 2003 American heist action film directed by F. Gary Gray and starring an ensemble cast consisting of Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. Inspired by the 1969 British film, but with an original story, the plot follows a motley crew of thieves who plan to steal gold from a former associate who double-crossed them. Despite the shared title, the plot and characters of this film differ from its source material; Gray described the film as "an homage to the original."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Ayer</span> American filmmaker

David Ayer is an American filmmaker known for making crime films that are set in Los Angeles and deal with gangs and police corruption. His screenplays include Training Day (2001), The Fast and the Furious (2001), and S.W.A.T. (2003). He has also directed Harsh Times (2005), Street Kings (2008), End of Watch (2012), Sabotage (2014), and The Beekeeper (2024). In 2016, he directed the superhero movie Suicide Squad from the DC Extended Universe, and then the urban fantasy film Bright (2017) for Netflix. He has twice collaborated with actor Shia LaBeouf: first with the World War II drama Fury (2014), then the crime thriller The Tax Collector (2020). He has also collaborated with his friend Cle Shaheed Sloan who has appeared in four of his films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">François Berléand</span> French actor (born 1952)

François Berléand is a French actor.

<i>Transporter</i> (franchise) French action-thriller film series

Transporter is a French action thriller film franchise, comprising four films released between 2002 and 2015, and a television series. Jason Statham plays Frank Martin in the first three movies, a professional freelance courier driver. Chris Vance portrays Martin in the sequel television series, and Ed Skrein portrays him in the fourth film, a reboot.

<i>Death Race</i> (2008 film) Film by Paul W. S. Anderson

Death Race is a 2008 dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, and Joan Allen.

<i>Truth in 24</i> 2008 film

Truth in 24 is a 2008 documentary film edited, written and directed by Keith Cossrow and Bennett Viseltear detailing Audi's preparation for the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team is followed through several races prior to Le Mans, including the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1000km of Monza. Neither race results in victory for Audi heading into Le Mans. The focus shifts to Le Mans itself, documenting the buildup to the race and the ultimate result of the race.

<i>Date Night</i> 2010 film by Shawn Levy

Date Night is a 2010 American romantic action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and written by Josh Klausner. The film stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey in lead roles, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Common, and Mark Wahlberg in supporting roles. The plot revolves around a case of mistaken identity in New York City, where a bored married couple's attempt to rekindle their romance on a glamorous night out spirals into an unexpected, dangerous adventure.

<i>Transporter: The Series</i> 2012 multi-national TV series or program

Transporter: The Series is an action-thriller television series, a spinoff of the Transporter film series created by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, with Chris Vance taking over the role of Frank Martin for the series. It was co-produced by the French Atlantique Productions and the Canadian boutique entertainment company QVF, Inc. The series was broadcast by M6, RTL Television, The Movie Network, and Movie Central. Originally, HBO and Cinemax were involved, but they dropped out in 2013.

<i>Parker</i> (2013 film) 2013 film by Taylor Hackford

Parker is a 2013 American action thriller film directed by Taylor Hackford and written by John J. McLaughlin. Starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, the film is adapted from Flashfire, the 19th Parker novel written by Donald Westlake under the pen name Richard Stark. Primarily set in Palm Beach, Florida, Parker marked a departure for Hackford, who hoped to make it his first film noir. The film, produced on a $35 million budget, was conceived following Westlake's 2008 death, when producer Les Alexander secured the rights to it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Skrein</span> British actor and rapper

Edward George Skrein is an English actor, filmmaker, and rapper. He rose to recognition as the supervillain Francis Freeman / Ajax in the superhero comedy film Deadpool (2016). He also starred in the films The Transporter: Refueled (2015), Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Midway (2019), Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (2023) and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver (2024).

<i>The Other Woman</i> (2014 film) 2014 film by Nick Cassavetes

The Other Woman is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Nick Cassavetes, written by Melissa K. Stack, and starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Kinney, and Don Johnson. The film follows three women—Carly (Diaz), Kate (Mann), and Amber (Upton)—who are all romantically involved with the same man (Coster-Waldau). After finding out about each other, the trio take their revenge on him.

<i>The Transporter Refueled</i> 2015 film

The Transporter Refueled is a 2015 action thriller film directed by Camille Delamarre and written by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, and Luc Besson. It serves as a reboot and the fourth film in the Transporter franchise. It stars Ed Skrein as Frank Martin, alongside Ray Stevenson, Loan Chabanol, Gabriella Wright, Tatjana Pajković, Yu Wenxia, Radivoje Bukvić, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Anatole Taubman, and Noémie Lenoir. In the film, Frank finds himself caught up in a bank heist and kidnapping plot orchestrated by Anna (Chabanol).

<i>Hobbs & Shaw</i> 2019 film by David Leitch

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is a 2019 buddy action comedy film directed by David Leitch from a script by Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce. It is the first spin-off film in the Fast & Furious franchise and the ninth installment of the franchise, taking place after the events of The Fate of the Furious and before the events of F9. It stars Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, alongside Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Eiza González, Cliff Curtis, and Helen Mirren. In the film, Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw join Shaw's sister Hattie to take down Brixton Lore, a cybernetically enhanced terrorist, who is threatening the world with a deadly virus.

References

  1. ↑ "The Transporter III (2008)". JP's Box-Office. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Transporter 3 (2008) - Financial Information". The Numbers .
  3. 1 2 "Transporter Movies". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Jason Statham – Statham's Love Interest Was Plucked From Obscurity". Contactmusic.com . 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Ebert, Roger (25 November 2008). "Your special delivery sometimes may be forced to leave the road". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020– via RogerEbert.com.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg
  6. ↑ Hayhurst, David (25 February 2008). "Statham revs up 'Transporter 3'". Variety . Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  7. ↑ "Weekend Box Office Results from November 28–30, 2008". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  8. ↑ "Transporter 3 (2008) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  9. ↑ "Icon hijacks 'Transporter 3'". Variety. 12 June 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "Transporter 3". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 28 December 2020. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Transporter 3". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Home". CinemaScore . Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  13. ↑ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (25 November 2008). "Transporter 3". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. ↑ Savlov, Marc (28 November 2008). "Transporter 3 - Movie Review". The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  15. ↑ Tobias, Scott (25 November 2008). "Transporter 3". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  16. ↑ Mayo, Mike (26 November 2008). "Transporter 3". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  17. 1 2 Vejvoda, Jim (26 November 2008). "Transporter 3 Review". IGN . Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  18. ↑ Wilner, Norman (26 November 2008). "Transporter 3". NOW . Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. ↑ Kipp, Jeremiah (23 November 2008). "Review: Transporter 3". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  20. ↑ Howell, Peter (26 November 2008). "Transporter 3: A love story of a man and his car". Toronto Star . Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  21. 1 2 Berardinelli, James. "Transporter 3". Reelviews. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  22. ↑ Hartlaub, Peter (26 November 2008). "Movie review: 'Transporter 3' stays in low gear". San Francisco Chronicle . Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.