The Transporter 3 is the final part of the original trilogy about professional transporter Frank Martin, who again finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game. The film, released in 2008, was directed by Olivier Megaton, and produced and written by Luc Besson, already familiar to viewers from the first two parts.
Plot: New mission, new challenges
After the events of the previous films, Frank Martin (Jason Statham) tries to leave his past behind and enjoy life on the French Riviera. However, his peace is disturbed by Jonas Johnson (Robert Knepper), a former soldier of the special forces “Delta”. He offers Frank a task – to deliver Valentina (Natalia Rudakova), the daughter of the Ukrainian Minister of Ecology Leonid Tomilenko, from France to Odessa.
Ecocorp, a waste recycling corporation, has kidnapped Valentina to blackmail her father into issuing a permit to dispose of toxic waste in Ukraine. Frank is forced to agree to the deal, but things are complicated by the fact that he and Valentina are fitted with binary electromagnetic bracelets that explode when they are more than 25 meters away from the car.
The journey through France, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine turns into a dangerous race. Frank must not only save himself and Valentina, but also deal with the mercenaries pursuing them. On the road, mutual sympathy develops between them. With the help of his friend, Inspector Tarconi (Francois Berléand), Frank learns the whole truth about the corporation’s plans and in the finale of the film gets rid of the bracelets, eliminates Johnson and saves Valentina. Cast and filming
- Jason Statham as Frank Martin
- Natalia Rudakova as Valentina
- Robert Knepper as Jonas Johnson
- François Berléand as Inspector Tarconi
The film was shot in several European countries, including France, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia. Natalia Rudakova, who played Valentina, was not a professional actress – she was discovered by chance on the streets of New York, after which Luc Besson gave her a chance to debut in cinema.
Commercial success and criticism
With a budget of €30 million, the film grossed almost $109 million worldwide. Although critics noted that the third part is inferior to its predecessors in originality, dynamic action scenes, Statham’s charisma and spectacular chases made the film successful among fans of the genre.
Conclusion
“Transporter 3” became a logical conclusion to the trilogy about Frank Martin played by Jason Statham. The film offers a gripping story, tense action sequences, and spectacular car stunts, all in keeping with the spirit of its predecessors. Despite a less than stellar critical reception, it found an audience and became a successful finale to the classic franchise.