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Taking Lives
2004 103 min United States of America R 18+
★5.7
Thriller
Director: D.J. Caruso
🎭 Based on
«Taking Lives»
Trailers
Description
Recruited to assist Montreal police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, FBI profiler Illeana Scott knows it's only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. Her most promising lead is a museum employee who might be the killer's only eyewitness.
Budget:
$45M
US Gross:
$32.68M
Worldwide:
$65.47M
Starring
Angelina Jolie
Actor
Ethan Hawke
Actor
Kiefer Sutherland
Actor
Awards
4 nominations total
Key opinion
Taking Lives is a divisive psychological thriller that earns praise for its atmospheric direction, strong lead performances, and effective tension. Critics remain split on the screenplay, however, with many finding the plot mechanics conventional, predictable, or marred by logical inconsistencies.
| Direction | D.J. Caruso successfully crafts an immersive, tense atmosphere that elevates the film beyond a standard crime procedural. | |
| Acting | Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke deliver nuanced, committed performances that ground the film's character dynamics. | |
| Cinematography | The film's cinematography and use of Montreal's aesthetic provide a stylish, noir-inflected visual identity. | |
| Screenplay | The mystery is frequently undermined by an early revelation of the killer's identity, which drains the narrative of suspense for some viewers. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the script are polarized; some appreciate the classic, steady-paced thriller structure, while others dismiss the plot as a collection of absurd conveniences and cliché tropes. | |
| Ending | The climax divides opinion: some viewers find the final confrontation striking and satisfying, while others view it as a generic, uninspired 'Hollywood' conclusion. |