Corporate Line: A top FBI profiler, Special Agent Illeana Scott (Angelina Jolie) doesn’t rely on traditional crime-solving techniques to unravel the mysteries of a murderous mind. Her intuitive, unconventional approach often makes the crucial difference between catching a killer and sending a dead-end case to the cold file. When Montreal detectives handling a local homicide investigation reluctantly ask for an outsider’s help to get inside the head of a cunning serial killer, Agent Scott joins the case. With meticulous insight, she theorizes that the chameleon-like killer is “life-jacking” – assuming the lives and identities of his victims. As the pressure mounts to catch the elusive murderer, Agent Scott’s unorthodox methods alienate her from a territorial police team that feels threatened by her uncanny abilities. Her seemingly cold demeanor belies an unparalleled passion for her work, and she’s at her best when she’s working alone. But when an unexpected attraction sparks a complicated romantic entanglement, the consummate specialist begins to doubt her finely-honed instincts. Alone in an unfamiliar city with no one she can trust, Agent Scott suddenly finds herself on a twisted and terrifying journey, surrounded by suspects in a case that has become chillingly personal.
The Good: As a psychological thriller there is definitely some thrills—as in jump out of your seat moments. However there aren’t much psychological thrills—as a matter of fact you won’t need to bring your brain to the theater.
The Bad: Taking Lives is another film in love with serial killers of the Silence of the Lambs ilk. If you know and watch films with Ashley Judd then telling you this movie was tailor made for her might sum up the entire thing. Instead we get the lovely Angeline Jolie. If looks and getting naked made a movie then this might have been worth admission—however it means very little.
What is most disturbing about Jolie is how each character she plays is this lost little puppy hiding behind a stoic façade. Even in Tomb Raider. Or Jolie seems to have this depth and can read minds or spirits of others—either it’s the character or Jolie interjecting unnecessary nuisances. Jolie needs to give us something against her own character. She doesn’t play against cast here either.
Jolie plays a tough FBI profiler—isn’t the FBI supposed to be buttoned up bureaucracy? Then why does Jolie walk into interrogate a suspect with her shirt unbuttoned two or three buttons? Jolie defines her character better than I could; “a headstrong FBI agent who’s not familiar with the rules.” Where have we heard that before? Speaking of the unbelievable. When will we get a film where the cops aren’t a bunch of bumbling idiots? If I was a cop I’d be offended, as a citizen I would be afraid. For example; they go into the room of the suspect, but don’t turn on the lights in complete darkness. Also the just walk in with guns blazing—when have you seen that on Cops? We get the same scene where a victim is wearing a mic however there are no police inside and the mic goes out. Come on!
Frankly: Taking Lives is cookie cutter film making.
+ Charlie Craine
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