Plot
In order to work off his tarnished driving record, a hip Parisian taxi driver must chauffeur a loser police inspector on the trail of German bank robbers.

Release Year: 1998

Rating: 6.8/10 (28,968 voted)

Director: Gérard Pirès

Stars: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard

Storyline
In Marseilles (France), skilled pizza delivery boy Daniel who drives a scooter finally has his dreams come true. He gets a taxi license. Caught by the police for a huge speed infraction, he will help Emilien, a loser inspector who can't drive, on the track of German bank robbers, so he doesn't lose his license and his dream job.

Cast:
Samy Naceri - Daniel Morales
Frédéric Diefenthal - Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec
Marion Cotillard - Lilly Bertineau
Manuela Gourary - Camille Coutant-Kerbalec
Emma Wiklund - Petra (as Emma Sjöberg)
Bernard Farcy - Commissaire Gibert
Georges Neri - Joe
Guy Quang - Pizza Joe Motorcyclist
Maurice Murcia - Pensioned Taxi Driver
Sabine Bail - Femme Préfecture
Dan Herzberg - Paulo
Sébastien Thiery - Driving Instructor
Eric Bérenger - Butcher (as Eric Berenger)
Philippe du Janerand - Passenger to Airport
Christophe Fesquet - Flic Radar #1

Release Date: 20 November 1998

Filming Locations: Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Box Office Details

Budget: FRF 53,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: £45,337 (UK) (28 November 1999) (53 Screens)

Gross: $138,497 (USA) (22 November 1998)

Runtime: 86 min

Trivia:
When Émilien (Frédéric Diefenthal) is taking his driving lessons, he driving school is called G. Pires, just as the director of the film.

Goofs:
Continuity: In one of the getaways, a gray Honda Accord enters the avenue before the red Mercedes passes by. In the next shot, the same Accord can be seen making a turn from another street, after the Mercedes.

Quotes:
Lilly Bertineau: Flowers! Can we smoke them?

A great film all round!

Rating: 10/10

In my opinion this is the one of the best mainstream French movies in a long while. I know that for many of us subtitled French movies are not regular choices. The film didn't break any UK/USA box office records (presumably as people were put of by its subtitles and french origins) which is a real shame. Well why should you give this one a try? Here goes...

The movie was written and produced by Luc Besson, director of such films as Leon (aka The Professional in the USA), The Fifth Element (with Bruce Willis), Kiss of the Dragon (with Jet Li and Bridget Fonda) and Nikita (aka La Femme Nikita in the USA).

The story follows Daniel, a moped pizza delivery guy who has worked to fulfill his dream of becoming a Marseilles taxi driver. He has tuned and tweaked his own taxi into something a little special... something a little out of the ordinary... I don't want to give the game away so I'll leave it there!

The film is a fast paced thrill ride that crosses the boundaries of action, comedy, romance, farce and buddy movie amongst many other genres. The characters are likeable, the humour is quick and snappy and the driving is fast and furious (some of the best chases seen on screen for a few years). After a short while you barely realise that you are reading the subtitles. The storyline may not be particularly original but it is well executed overall. The soundtrack is funky and fits in perfectly with the film.

It's not Shakespeare, but it never sets out to be Shakespeare. So if you are looking for a nicely shot film, suitable for just about anyone, give it a try.

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