NOVEMBER 15 2008
AMERICANWAY 87
What JasonStatham’s roles lack in variety, theymake up for
in over-the-top action. By Jessica Jones
Stuntman
British actor
JASON STATHAM
first appeared on the
big screen as the ruggedly handsome wise guy in
Guy Ritchie’s pair of crooked crime capers,
Lock,
Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
and
Snatch
. Since
then, Statham’s carved out a niche for himself in
Hollywood, starring almost exclusively in big-budget
actionflicks (and their sequels). Thismonth, he stars
opposite
Prison Break
’s Robert Knepper in
Trans-
porter 3
, another fast-paced, shoot-’em-up thriller.
For thosewho are having trouble differentiating be-
tween theworks of this “Action Jackson,”we offer a
guide tohelp youunderstandStatham’s hot— if not
particularly diverse— career.
TheTransporter
(2002)
Cellular
(2004)
Transporter 2
(2005)
Crank
(2006)
War
(2007)
DeathRace
(2008)
Stathamplays FrankMartin, an
ex-special-forces operatorwho discovers that
the “package” he is delivering is awoman
who’s been kidnapped. Frankmust save her
life by trackingdown themenwho kidnapped
her and killing them at any cost.
This time, Stathamplays the badguy, Ethan, a
violent gang leaderwho kidnaps awoman and
is looking to take her husband and son hos-
tage aswell. A young surfer and the chief of
police uncover Ethan’s plot andmust hunt him
down before he destroys an innocent family.
Statham reprises his role as FrankMartin,
who has takenwhat he thinks is an
easy assignment of driving awealthy boy to
and from school.When the boy is
kidnapped andpoisonedwith a deadly
virus, Frankmust chase down the
gang leader to secure the antidote.
FBI agent JackCrawford (Statham)
is on the hunt for traitorous assassinRogue,
who Jack believes killed his former partner.
Rogue discovers that Jack is actually a
double agent.When Jack finally faces off
withRogue, he, too, makes a startling
discovery about Rogue’s true identity.
JensenAmes (Statham), a reformed
ex-con, iswrongly accused ofmurder
and sent back to the pen. The onlyway he
can earn his freedom is to compete in a
brutal street-racing competition.When
Jensen learns that hewas set upby prison
officials, he seeks (what else?) revenge.
Stathamplays ChevChelios, a hitmanwho
gets injectedwith a poison thatwill kill him if
his heart rate drops too low. To stay alive, he
must engage in adrenaline-pumping activities
as he seeks vengeance and a life-saving
antidote. A sequel is planned for next year.
Wall Street
(Matt Schulze),
amercenarywhowants
Frank dead
Ryan (Chris Evans),
the youngmanwho gets
caught in the crossfire, and
BobMooney (WilliamH.
Macy), the police chief
working to catchEthan
Gianni Chellini
(AlessandroGassman),
the kidnapping
gang leader
Rogue (Jet Li),
the Japanese assassin
MachineGun Joe
(TyreseGibson), Jensen’s
toughest competitor, and
Hennessey (JoanAllen),
the prisonwardenwho
ensnares Jensen
Verona (JoséPablo
Cantillo), the rival gangster
who poisons him
Lai (Qi Shu),
the hostage
DanaBayback
(ValerieCruz),
Ethan’s
coconspirator
Lola (KateNauta),
a gun-wielding
assassin in lingerie
Kira (DevonAoki),
an agent involved
with the Japanese
crime organization
ElizabethCase
(NatalieMartinez),
a female inmate
and Jensen’s
navigator
Eve (Amy Smart),
Chev’s girlfriend
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
revenge,
damsel in distress
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
damsel in distress,
kidnapping
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
revenge,
poison,
kidnapping
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
revenge,
mistaken identity
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
revenge
Gunplay,
physical violence,
car chase,
revenge,
sex,
poison
Transporter 3
THEMOVIE
THEPLOT
THEOPPONENT THEBABE THETHEMES
