Transporter 2
Transporter 2 is a 2005 action thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, serving as the sequel to the 2002 film The Transporter.[1][2] The story centers on professional driver and mercenary Frank Martin (Jason Statham), who relocates to Miami and takes a job as a chauffeur for a U.S. senator's family, only to become involved in rescuing the senator's young son, Jack (Hunter Clary), after he is kidnapped by Gianni Chellini (Alessandro Gassmann), a ruthless leader of an international drug cartel who infects the boy with a deadly virus as part of a larger extortion plot.[1][2] The film features a supporting cast including Amber Valletta as Audrey Billings, Matthew Modine as Senator Jefferson Billings, Alessandro Gassmann as Gianni Chellini, and Kate Nauta as the villainous Lola.[2] Produced by EuropaCorp and TF1 Films Production in association with Canal+ and EuropaCorp, it was theatrically released in the United States on September 2, 2005, by 20th Century Fox, with a runtime of 88 minutes and a PG-13 rating for sequences of violence and action.[2][1] Budgeted at $32 million, the movie earned $43.1 million at the North American box office and received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus praises it as "a stylish and more focused sequel to The Transporter, the movie is over-the-top fun for fans of the first movie."[1][2]Production
Development
Following the commercial success of The Transporter (2002), development on its sequel commenced with screenwriters Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen returning to craft a narrative that deepened protagonist Frank Martin's character, transitioning his role from a neutral transporter of illicit goods to a more involved protector of a specific family.[3] This evolution aimed to add personal stakes while retaining the core action-thriller elements established in the original.[3] The directorial duties shifted from Corey Yuen, who had co-directed the first film, to Louis Leterrier, previously the artistic director on that project and a protégé of Besson; this marked Leterrier's debut as a feature director on a major Hollywood production.[4] Produced primarily by Besson's EuropaCorp alongside TF1 Films Production and Current Entertainment, the project had a budget of $32 million.[5][6] Key script revisions relocated the story from the gritty European locales of the predecessor to sunny Miami, Florida, to create a visually vibrant contrast and facilitate heightened, colorful action set pieces such as elaborate car chases.[3] The principal screenplay was completed by early 2004, following initial sequel discussions in the wake of the original's release.[3]Filming
Principal photography for Transporter 2 commenced in July 2004 and concluded in October 2004, with the majority of filming taking place in Miami, Florida, to embody the film's vibrant, sun-drenched urban environment.[7] The production utilized various Miami locales to capture the high-energy action, including South Beach and downtown areas for street-level sequences, as well as studio facilities like Greenwich Studios for controlled environments.[8] Additional second-unit work occurred in France to handle transitional and supplementary shots, reflecting the film's French production roots.[8] Key action sequences were shot at prominent Miami sites, such as the vicinity of Miami International Airport, where the climactic airplane confrontation was staged using a combination of practical sets and location work to simulate the tense, confined space.[9] Interior scenes, including upscale residential and hotel environments, drew from Miami's iconic architecture, though specific venues like the InterContinental Miami were employed for establishing shots overlooking Biscayne Bay.[10] Car chase sequences traversed public roads in Miami Beach and surrounding streets, emphasizing the city's coastal and metropolitan backdrop without extensive set builds.[2] Stunt coordination was led by Phil Culotta for the American unit and Michel Julienne for the French elements, prioritizing practical effects to heighten authenticity in the film's vehicular and combat set pieces.[11] The standout mid-air car rotation, where protagonist Frank Martin's vehicle spins to dislodge a bomb, was executed practically using a crane-lifted rig that rotated the Audi A8 in controlled suspension, avoiding reliance on CGI for the core motion.[12] Wire-assisted fight choreography incorporated martial arts influences, with performers like Thong Bui contributing to the fluid, high-impact brawls that defined the series' style.[13] Lead actor Jason Statham performed many of his own stunts, including driving maneuvers and jumps.[14] Filming faced environmental hurdles typical of Miami's summer climate, including intense heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and disruptive hurricanes that forced the crew to adapt schedules and secure equipment amid high winds.[15] High-speed chases on public thoroughfares required meticulous coordination with local authorities to limit disruptions, often relying on quick setups and minimal road closures to maintain momentum.[7] These conditions tested the production's resilience but contributed to the raw, immediate feel of the action. Cinematography, supervised by Mitchell Amundsen with Steadicam operation by Pierre Morel, employed handheld and mobile camera techniques to convey the frenetic pace of pursuits and fights, preserving the gritty, immersive realism established in the franchise.[13] Morel's second-unit direction in France ensured seamless integration of international footage, using dynamic tracking shots to escalate visual tension without over-dependence on digital enhancements.[16]Plot
Frank Martin (Jason Statham), a professional chauffeur and former Special Forces operative, has relocated from France to Miami, Florida. As a favor to a friend, he agrees to temporarily serve as the personal driver for the family of U.S. Senator Jefferson Billings (Matthew Modine) and his wife Audrey (Amber Valletta). Their young son, Jack (Hunter Clary), quickly bonds with Frank during school runs in Frank's Audi A8.[2] Audrey develops an attraction to Frank and attempts to seduce him at their home, but he rebuffs her advances, adhering to his professional code. Meanwhile, Inspector Emilien Tarconi (François Berléand), Frank's ally from the French police, arrives in Miami for a visit. During one of Jack's medical appointments, the doctor and receptionist are replaced by impostors working for a criminal organization. A fierce fight ensues in the doctor's office, where Frank dispatches several henchmen, including the seductive and deadly mercenary Lola (Kate Nauta).[1] Despite Frank's efforts, Jack is kidnapped by Lola and the group's leader, Gianni Chellini (Alessandro Gassmann), a operative for a Colombian drug cartel targeted by Senator Billings' anti-drug policies. Under sniper fire, Frank is forced to hand over Jack. The kidnappers demand a ransom, which the senator pays, and Jack is returned. However, unbeknownst to the family, the boy has been injected with a deadly, highly contagious virus engineered to kill those around him unless an antidote is provided to the cartel.[2] Suspected by the police of involvement in the kidnapping, Frank teams up with Tarconi to investigate. They track down Dr. Dimitri (Keith Ferguson), one of the impostor doctors, and interrogate him about the virus and antidote. Frank eliminates Dimitri but loses one of two antidote vials during a high-speed chase. He retrieves the remaining vial and administers it to Jack, saving the boy.[1] Determined to stop the cartel, Frank infiltrates Gianni's mansion, where he engages in a brutal fight with Lola, ultimately killing her. He then pursues Gianni, who flees in a private jet. Using a Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, Frank races to the airport and boards the plane mid-takeoff, causing it to crash. In the wreckage, Frank paralyzes Gianni with a makeshift injection to extract the location of the second antidote vial before alerting authorities. The Billings family receives the antidote, averting a public health disaster, and Frank departs Miami, ready for his next assignment.[2]Cast
- Jason Statham as Frank Martin[2]
- Amber Valletta as Audrey Billings[2]
- Alessandro Gassmann as Gianni Chellini[2]
- Kate Nauta as Lola[2]
- Matthew Modine as Jefferson Billings[2]
- François Berléand as Inspector Tarconi[2]
- Jason Flemyng as Dimitri[2]
- Hunter Clary as Jack Billings[2]
- Keith David as Stappleton[2]
- Shannon Briggs as Max[2]