Hard Target (1993)

A woman hires a drifter as her guide through New Orleans in search of her father, who has gone missing. They discover a deadly game of cat and mouse behind his disappearance in the process.

Director:

John Woo

Writer:

Chuck Pfarrer

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Chance Boudreaux
Lance Henriksen	...	Emil Fouchon
Yancy Butler	...	Natasha 'Nat' Binder
Wilford Brimley	...	Uncle Douvee
Kasi Lemmons	...	Det. Marie Mitchell
Arnold Vosloo	...	Pik van Cleef
Robert Apisa	...	Mr. Lopacki
Chuck Pfarrer	...	Douglas Binder
Douglas Forsythe Rye	...	Frick
Mike Leinert	...	Frack
Lenore Banks	...	Marie
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Elijah Roper
Barbara Tasker	...	Waitress
Randy Cheramie	...	Shop Steward
Eliott Keener	...	Randal Poe

Storyline

Natasha Binder comes to New Orleans looking for her father, who has gone missing. In doing so, she meets a very hard man called Chance. He helps her find out that her father was killed by an organisation who sell the opportunity to hunt human prey. They are taking advantage of a police strike in New Orleans. Will the Muscles from Brussels win through?

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Plot Keywords:

money | human prey | union | missing person | new orleans louisiana | 

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Taglines:

Catch him if you can.

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a great amount of strong violence, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chasse à l'homme

Filming Locations:

White Castle, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$32,534,954 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Alphaville Films, Renaissance Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 73 min (cut) 116 min (Director's Cut) 128 min (Workprint Version)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kurt Russell was considered for the title role.

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Goofs

A shotgun blast at close range to the head will not leave a head intact.

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Quotes

Chance Boudreaux: You trust me?
Natasha Binder: Of course I trust you.
Chance Boudreaux: Close your eyes.
Natasha Binder: Why do you want me to trust you with my eyes closed?

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Connections

References Hard Boiled (1992)

User Reviews

Before the storm, it still wasn't calm...

I believe at this point in time that John Woo, should either change his Asian-dance number in every movie he makes and every single fight sequence!! Today! Take on a new and different approach. If you don't know what that means, John studied Dance, the flowing Asian style dancing and has used it, (I guess like football players study Ballet) using it in the shoot-outs and fighting scenes to add an element of grace and flowing movement to the stories's scene.

Thank God, that he didn't do the camera-shot over kill thing with the story and the shoot-out confrontation scenes in this. But as for this action story, I was all for this one! I truly enjoyed all the characters right down to the 'crooked' medical examiner, with the stress related nervous cough. The sleaze-bag o peddler, getting homeless to distribute his business sleazoid 900 number pamphlets, door to door no less.

It won and award and was nominated 5 more times! I liked Chance Boudreaux (Jean-Claude) in this New Oleans feature, he really came through. Next to the movie that a late friend of mine wrote (TIMECOP 1994) this has got to be the most powerfully enjoyable bang-up Van Damme movie, that exists, I say.

The area is questionable and dirty, some of it's residents are seedy in operation, yet there is a certain beauty that surrounds them in Oleans.

Bravo for the cast of outstanding players, Henrikson as the primary villain, I loved that about this movie, he plays the piano in the movie beautifully, for real, on reel. Mr. Vasloo before 'Titanic' he is a great villain partner, who is agile and deadly. The chase is on and they are all scrambling to stay alive and out of destruction's pathway. The accent from Van Damme, which is always with him, was an irreplaceable addition, to the taste and the culture of the country there. The music, yeah, it was the right music for the job! Playin' C.C.R how ya not gonna love that, when you're all the way down there? Jean Claude had just come into his-'own'acting craft style but, did not seem to go on above it too far after 'Hard Target' was made. His career seemed to settle down not too many years after as well. Although he is still making movies, some aren't bad either. He is a decent action hero, that can do different roles, with a good but limited ability.

But for this Woo film, I am applauding his best efforts, he stayed on a strong course with it, fine, fine actors and a good and gritty dirt in your teeth type of story, that brought Wilford Brimley as the wilderness 'Uncle' . The uncle with the explosives! Where was he when I was growing up? I could have really used em'. I rated this one highly, and recommend it as a great kicker of a fast paced manic action movie! Four kicks!!!! (****)