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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 20352
Released: June 14, 2005 |
| Our Price: $8.20 |
| Used Price: $7.51 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In TARGET, Chris Lloyd (Dillon) does NOT get along with his father Walter. Walter is too careful, cautious, and boring to Chris, and never tries anything new, and Chris had to live by the same standards when he was growing up. But when his mother is kidnapped while in Europe, to Chris's confusion, Walter suddenly turns into a man of action and springs to life.
Description of Target:
Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon play a typical (if unlikely) father and son, at odds over the usual generational stuff. Then Gayle Hunnicutt, as the wife and mother, disappears--and suddenly Sonny Boy discovers something he never knew about stuffy old Dad: that he's actually a retired government agent who's pretty handy with a gun and more than willing to waste whoever gets in his way as he tries to get his wife back alive. They bounce around Europe in pursuit, with the kid getting in Dad's way, in a plot that winds up chasing its own tail. Hackman and director Arthur Penn were much more effective a decade earlier when they made Night Moves. --Marshall Fine
Target Reviews:
Gene Hackman....need I say more? 
2009-06-24 - Loved the movie! I really like European themed American movies...I know that sounds weird but this one fits the bill. (Also see the movie Gotcha!--another mid-80's spy/action movie and one of my all-time favorites.) I am a big fan of Gene Hackman and he does a good job--granted it is was a small budget film but it shows that a decent story and good acting can offset those constraints. We have seen a similar story several times before and since but this movie just does a good job of keeping you involved and interested. Highly recommend buying the movie. I watch it at least twice a year.
Good Hackman Film
2008-07-26 - I like all Gene's movies. Worth buying or going to see, whatever.
In the sense of the old mail-order catalog [good, better, best] I am
taking "better" , to save something back I may need later.
Good first exposure (for me at least) of Matt Dillon. Wife liked it too,
it is R rated but nothing excessive.
Dick Norman
Outstanding thriller!
2008-02-06 - Somehow I missed this movie back in '85, but just saw it on cable. GOT to have a copy of it! This is escapism at it's best. Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon are super. They make a great father-son team. I'm old enough to remember "the cold war", so could relate to the plot. WATCH THIS MOVIE!
Ok spy thriller with Hackman 
2007-11-24 - If it wasn't for Hackman's presence in this film this movie would be largely criticized for it's ineptitude to build suspense, lack of villains and rather shoddy directing. Even with Hackman in it "Target" is still an average spy flick.
Take for example the first kill in the flick in which Hackman's character dodges a would be assassin in the airport. He flings a cart at him while
the idiot shoots another agent (it's supposed to be suspenseful but looks comical). The aftermath of this scene is quite hilarious as you can see Hackman's character clearly stealing the man's wallet yet nobody does anything. The other (unintentional) funny scene involving the German agent attempting to get the attention of Hackman's character is also largely played for laughs. Another thing I had trouble is that if Hackman's character is such a great agent then why during one key (involving a hit on him) does he look like bafoon? Well that was probably
Penn's attempt to bridge the father and son relationship.
The last half do get better already. The main killer in the movie is scary looking but his other counterparts just come off as idiots. Matt Dillon and Hackman have good chemistry here. Dillon as Chris Lloyd aka Mr. Potter does a good job of going through the range of emotions (anger, sadness, confusion) of a kid whose just found his Dad has a really dangerous job.
Director Arthur Penn has directed many fine movies in his career including "The Miracle Worker: Helen Keller Story" and "Little Big Man" but his later works are just average and don't give good enough proof of the guy's brilliance. On the bright side, it's not as violent as other spy films of it's genre and it's a film that probably is meant for fathers and sons to enjoy.
One of my favorite movies
2007-06-04 - Ever since this movie came out, it has been one of my favorites. I watch it once a year or so, and enjoy it each time. This is an action/suspense movie with spy elements as well. The balance between action and suspense scenes is just right and the interaction between the father (Gene Hackman) and son (Matt Dillon) is very entertaining along the way - the son finds out the father isn't such an old fuddy-duddy after all!
The movie does start out pretty slowly, but the beginning does a good job of introducing the main characters and sets up the tense yet humorous relationship between father and son.
The plot of the movie is very good except that the ending, while being exciting and suspenseful, is a bit contrived (a little suspension of disbelief is needed here). The acting, with the exception of a couple minor characters, is also top-notch. The characters are believable and seem natural.
Finally, I'd just like to mention that this movie has a couple of great car chases that are a blast to watch, and seem plausible, unlike some movies where the chase scenes are totally unrealistic. Plus the fact that they are in Europe, with European vehicles makes them feel different than the standard fare.
The DVD itself has no special features, but the price is right. The video and audio quality are good (typical 80's movie quality), and are better than my laserdisc copy and much better than my old VHS copy. However, they did leave in the film change markers; so you have been warned if that bothers you.
