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Target (1985)

Director: Arthur Penn

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

The Lloyds are a typical middle class American family, beset by dullness and young Chris' feelings that his Dad is a staid, materialist cop-out. Typical, that is, until Mom (Hunnicutt) suddenly disappears during a trip to Paris: when father (Hackman) and son (Dillon) follow in search and are welcomed by hails of bullets, all kinds of mysteries erupt, not the least of which concerns Dad's secret past as a CIA agent. Penn's film might seem an altogether ordinary foray into the world of international espionage were it not for his teasing examination of various concepts of 'family', a word much abused throughout to denote not only the Lloyds, but also the several murderous organisations out to destroy them. An uneven film, to be sure, but far more ambitious and intelligent than most spy thrillers.

Author: GA

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • drdatabox said...
    Posted on Nov 23 2007 01:47 The plot has some problems, but the execution is riveting. Step by step, Penn keeps your attention, with continuous attacks on the primaries from all kinds of characters who keep appearing. You wonder if the father can even trust the son, or vice versa. Strap yourself on for the ride.
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Target

Cast & crew

Director: Arthur Penn

Producer: Richard D Zanuck, David Brown

Cast: Gene Hackman, Matt Dillon, Gayle Hunnicutt, Victoria Fyodorova, Ilona Grubel, Herbert Berghof, Josef Sommer full cast

Genre(s): Thrillers

Duration: 118 mins


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