"Target", from writers Howard Berk and Don Petersen, is an intelligent spy thriller that conjures up memories of the best war time efforts, yet never quite gets into enthralling or gripping gears, suffering as it does from a rather obvious conclusion.
Gene Hackman is one of my favourite screen personas, and even though he is not at his best here, he is still good. Matt Dillon's turn is one of his best, Josef Sommer reprises a familiar role while a promising Gayle Hunnicut doesn't get to do enough.
Director Arthur Penn is unable to maximise the potential of this clever premise. Though in some scenes he does well, at times surprising and even thrilling us, "Target" simply lacks a touch of class. Perhaps in other hands (Lumet or Pollack) this could have been something.
Wednesday, October 22, 1997 - Video
Gene Hackman is one of my favourite screen personas, and even though he is not at his best here, he is still good. Matt Dillon's turn is one of his best, Josef Sommer reprises a familiar role while a promising Gayle Hunnicut doesn't get to do enough.
Director Arthur Penn is unable to maximise the potential of this clever premise. Though in some scenes he does well, at times surprising and even thrilling us, "Target" simply lacks a touch of class. Perhaps in other hands (Lumet or Pollack) this could have been something.
Wednesday, October 22, 1997 - Video