Taking Lives (2004)

Director: D.J. Caruso

Cast: Angelina Jolie as Illeana, Ethan Hawke as Costa, Kiefer Sutherland as Hart, Gena Rowlands as Mrs. Asher, Olivier Martinez as Paquette, Tchéky Karyo as Leclair, Jean-Hugues Anglade as Duval, Paul Dano as Young Asher, Justin Chatwin as Matt Soulsby, André Lacoste as Cashier, Billy Two Rivers as Car Salesman, Richard Lemire as Québec City Cop, Julien Poulin as Québec City Inspector, Marie-Josée Croze as Medical Examiner, Christian Tessier as Interrogation Officer

Taking Lives is entertaining but predictable from director D.J. Caruso
whose admirable in making this thriller but there are flaws that weigh
it down. Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke are good as the two leads.
Oliver Martinez, Tcheky Karyo, Jean-Hugh Anglade, and Gena Rowlands are
effective as the supporting characters but they lack screen time and
development because most of the focus is on Jolie. Kiefer Sutherland is
solid in a brief extended appearance before being written out of the
movie rather quickly. The rest of the cast are okay in their roles but
no one stands out. The movie does have a little suspense but it doesn't
pay off because the eventual twist I sort of saw coming. There's a
little action including a chase that's well executed but the movie
could've used more of it. If there was more suspense, action, character
development, and a different twist besides the one they went with the
film would've have been that bad. Taking Lives starts off decent but
after a while it becomes kind of obvious who the killer is and after
the reveal there's no more suspense. The pacing was a little slow at
times which didn't help either. Lucikly Caruos kept the running time
down to 103 minutes so it's not a total waste of time. Overall despite
it's flaws Taking Lives is an okay thriller with a little suspense,
action, and solid performances by the cast who make this movie worth
watching at least once but after it's over you can't help but feel a
little disappointed.