Target (1985)

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Howard Berk (writer)
Don Petersen (writer)

Release Date:

8 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Nothing exciting ever happened in Chris' family. But within 48 hours, his mother will be kidnapped, His father will be forced to reveal a secret past and he will find himself at the center of an adventure he never dreamed could happen to him. [US Theatrical]

Plot:

Chris Lloyd does NOT get along with his father Walter. Walter is too careful, cautious, and boring to Chris...

Plot Keywords:

Fire | Subway | Tied To Chair | Border Crossing | Spy

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Walter Lloyd / Duncan (Duke) Potter
Matt Dillon	...	Chris Lloyd / Derek Potter
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Donna Lloyd
Randy Moore	...	Tour Director
Ilona Grübel	...	Carla (as Ilona Grubel)
Tomas Hnevsa	...	Henke
Jean-Pol Dubois	...	Glasses
Robert Ground	...	Marine Sergeant
Véronique Guillaud	...	Secretary American Consulate
Charlotte Bailey	...	Receptionist
James Selby	...	Ross
Ray Fry	...	Mason
Josef Sommer	...	Taber
Jacques Mignot	...	Madison Hotel Clerk
Robert Liensol	...	Cafe Vendor

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:14 | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

CBS Entertainment Production

Goofs:

Continuity: The pencil at the Duke's ear after sneaking to the attaché's office at the US embassy changes position with every cut.

Quotes:

Chris Lloyd: You speak French?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Arthur Penn (1995)

Soundtrack:

That Old Black Magic

Interesting plot, average entertainment, with an excellent Hackman performance.

I'm a huge Gene Hackman fan and I remembered seeing this film many years ago and thinking it was quite cool, and when I saw the title in the paper again, I thought I would find out how right I was.

Well Hackman is once again excellent. He has such a natural and believable way about him in his roles that I find it hard not to be drawn into his character. He's definitely one of those actors who always plays himself, but it doesn't matter as his ability and style just carry it off without a thought. A truly great actor in my mind.

Matt Dillon is also very good, although his younger trademark look of startled deer is ever present.

The plot itself is a good one, in that Hackman plays Dillons father, a boring and very dull man with an equally dull job, in his sons eyes anyway. What quickly transpires is that he is not the speed limit sticking man that his son first thought, he is actually a ex CIA agent.

This change is done very well, with a short set piece in an airport. With the smallest of physical changes, Hackman flips from average father to confident and action ready agent. You can see it in his manner, and it shows his excellent capability as an actor.

The rest of the movie reveals the story as father and son are pulled deeper and deeper into his life, revealing the true extent of his agent activities. His son quickly realises that this is not the father he knew, and quickly grows from off-handedness to total rejection and then to acceptance again.

It is an interesting movie, and the plot is quite good with some interesting action sequences. Where it fails are some of the other actors and the hectic pace of the movie, it seems as though either in filming or editing that crucial parts of the movie have been missed or removed.

Big shame, but it is still good to watch for a Sunday afternoon movie. I think this may kick off my <i>watch every Gene Hackman movie</i> campaign.