Taken
Taken is a 2008 English-language French action-thriller film directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.
Taken is a 2008 English-language French action-thriller film directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. Starring Liam Neeson as retired CIA operative Bryan Mills, the film follows his desperate rescue mission after his daughter is kidnapped in Paris. The film was widely released in Canada and became popular with Canadian audiences, bolstered by Neeson's international star appeal.
Plot
The film centres on Bryan Mills, a former CIA operative whose teenage daughter Kim is kidnapped while visiting Paris with a friend. Using his specialised skills and contacts, Mills tracks the kidnappers through Europe, uncovering a network of Albanian human traffickers. The story follows his determined, often violent, quest to rescue his daughter before she is sold into the sex trade.
Cast
Liam Neeson plays Bryan Mills, with Maggie Grace as his daughter Kim and Famke Janssen as his ex-wife Lenore. Supporting roles include Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, and others.
Production and release
Taken is a French production filmed primarily in France, including Paris, with additional filming in Los Angeles. It was released internationally in 2008 and had a wide North American release in 2009. The screenplay was written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, and the film was directed by Pierre Morel.
Reception and legacy
Taken was a commercial success and is credited with helping to establish Liam Neeson as a major action star. Its dialogue and premise became widely recognisable in popular culture, particularly the line “I will find you, and I will kill you.” The film launched a franchise with two sequels: Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014).
Key facts
- The film follows Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative, after his daughter Kim is kidnapped in Paris.
- It was written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Pierre Morel.
- Liam Neeson plays Bryan Mills, with Maggie Grace as Kim and Famke Janssen as Lenore.
- The story centers on a rescue mission involving Albanian human traffickers.
- Taken launched a film franchise with two sequels: Taken 2 and Taken 3.
Taken was widely released in Canada and became popular with Canadian audiences as part of the action-thriller market, especially through its association with Liam Neeson, who was born in Northern Ireland and later became a major international star frequently featured in Canadian media.
Frequently asked questions
What is the movie Taken about?
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What is the famous line from Taken?
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References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taken_(film)Supports: Director, writers, cast, premise, and French production background.
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/Supports: Plot summary, cast, runtime, and sequel count in FAQ.
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/faq/Supports: That the script was original, sequel count, and cast information.
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/takenSupports: Synopsis, genre, and the film’s premise as a rescue story involving human trafficking.