Target (1985)

71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
32% of users liked it
(2,288 ratings)

A businessman and his son are thrust into international intrigue and adventure when their wife/mother is kidnapped while she's vacationing in Paris.

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Arthur Penn
Written By: Don Petersen
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Nov 8, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2004
Studio: LionsGate Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com
A little-known classic thriller in the same vein as "Running on Empty"
Michael Szymanski, Wordmag.com
It's great action and gripping fun.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The plot creaks along and nothing Penn does can align it.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Laughing at this stuff isn't good for the soul.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Pure cable flick stuff all the way, only with the added power of Hackman! (And his sidekick Dillonlad!)
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...[an] engaging and intriguing little thriller.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

i found it slow and boring turned it of about half hour into it!
Stephen M

A generally underappreciated thriller, which is a bit like a cross between "True Lies" and "Frantic". Gene Hackman plays a former CIA agent whose past catches up with him when his wife is kidnapped in Paris. Heretofore dismissed as a boring old fart by his teenage… More
A generally underappreciated thriller, which is a bit like a cross between "True Lies" and "Frantic". Gene Hackman plays a former CIA agent whose past catches up with him when his wife is kidnapped in Paris. Heretofore dismissed as a boring old fart by his teenage son (Matt Dillon), Hackman's exotic past and unsuspected resourcefulness are revealed as they strive to get their loved one back. Yes, it's a bit silly and the plot is alternately predictable and puzzling, so that I was repeatedly either two steps ahead or completely baffled, but the film is lifted by the quality of its performances and its superb use of locations. Dillon delivers a winning blend of surly rebelliousness and vulnerability, and Hackman is extraordinary, lending complexity and credibility to a character who could so easily have seemed ridiculous, in lesser hands. The genuine tenderness of Dillon and Hackman's father-son relationship is highly unusual, giving "Target" a distinctive flavour, unlike that of any other movie I can think of. It isn't another "Night Moves", but it's better than you might expect.
Brian R

Not one of Arthur Penn's best. I'm not sure if it was the director's goal to make this feel like "The French Connection" or "Bullet" but "Target" doesn't hit the bullseye and fails on every level. Not good.
Jim W

Why does it say this is from 2003 ? lol. This movie is pretty old.

Cast
            
            Stephen Baldwin
            
            James Russo
            
            Yorgo Constantine
            
            Gene Hackman as Walter Lloyd

            Matt Dillon as Chris Lloyd

            Gayle Hunnicutt as Donna Lloyd

            Victoria Fyodorova as Lise

            Josef Sommer as Barney Taber

            Guy Boyd as Clay

            Herbert Berghof as Schroeder

            Ilona Grubel as Carla

            Richard Münch as The Colonel

            Ray Fry as Mason

            Jean-Paul Dubois as Glasses

            Jany Holt as proprietress of Pension

            Ric Krause as Howard

            Robert Liensol as Cafe Vendor

            Werner Pochath as Young Agent

            James Selby as Ross

            Jean-Pierre Stewart as Ballard

            Charlotte Bailey as Receptionist

            Robert Ground as Marine Sergeant

            Veronique Guillaud as Secretary at American Consulate

            Thomas Hnevsa as squat man Henke

            Jacques Mignot as Madison Hotel Clerk

            Catherine Réthi as Nurse

            Brad Williams as Forklift Operator

            Ullrich Haupt Jr. as Older Agent

            Randy Moore as Tour Director

            Tomas Hnevsa
            
            Jean-Pol Dubois
            
See full cast