The Piano Player (2002)

Alex Laney, a professional killer, is hired to be the bodyguard of Robert Nile in the City of Cape, in South Africa. Robert Nile is the witness of prosecution of Christ, a powerful gangster... See full summary »

Director:

Jean-Pierre Roux

Writer:

Brad Mirman

Stars:

Christopher Lambert, Dennis Hopper, Diane Kruger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lambert	...	Alex Laney
Dennis Hopper	...	Robert Nile
Diane Kruger	...	Erika
Simon Mabija	...	Christo Nichol (as Simon Majiba)
James Faulkner	...	Nicholas Farrel
Jeane Manson	...	Helena
Mode Theu	...	Sipho
Mawongo Tyawa	...	Gatsha Mlambo (as Mawonga Dominic Tyawa)
Gérard Rudolf	...	Ryan Tyler
Morgan Howell	...	Young Robert - age 8
Graeme Du Plessis	...	Robert Nile - age 20
Kai Coetzee	...	Young Alex
Dorette Potgieter	...	Alex's Mother
Peter Krummeck	...	Alex's Father
Louw Venter	...	Marco

Storyline

Alex Laney, a professional killer, is hired to be the bodyguard of Robert Nile in the City of Cape, in South Africa. Robert Nile is the witness of prosecution of Christ, a powerful gangster and practitioner of voodoo. Alex Laney has a personal drama: when he was a child, he saw his father and mother be killed by a gunman.

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Plot Keywords:

bodyguard | money laundering | ghost town | dead wife | spaghetti | 

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Taglines:

A deadly hit to erase the past.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller | Crime

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Details

Official Sites:

Bauer Martinez Film Afrika

Country:

UK USA Germany Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Target

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Video Films, Bauer Martinez Studios, Bladerealm Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Robert Nile drives away in the desert, a man dressed in a white T-shirt is visible in the upper right corner of the screen.

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Quotes

Farrell: This is Africa... African rules!
[Alex draws his gun]
Farrell: Oh shit!

User Reviews

Unfairly judged low-budget action flick

I don't know what the other reviewers were expecting going into this movie.

One look at the DVD case or a minute of screen time reveals that this movie was not made on a Hollywood budget.....And as far as struisenburg's review, he was obviously half asleep for the duration of the movie as each question he poses was indeed answered. Perhaps it'd be better to watch it next time with your hand not on the FF button...

I was reminded of the fun b-action movies of the 1970s and 80s. The Target may be nothing ground-breaking, but as an action/crime buff I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dennis Hopper is a pleasure to watch as an aging criminal accountant forced to flee Capetown for the rural simplicity of his childhood village. All the while pursued by a crime boss with a mysterious mystical side. The first section of the film is an effective urban action/crime flick, and the remainder is part a genuinely charming rediscovery of life, and part Western.

Production values are not the highest, though they were able to snag some big names. Still, all the acting was effective if not exceptional. The location is the real star of the film. Having never been to South Africa I can't address the complaints of its residents, however I thought the scenery was beautiful and the culture was an interesting twist on a story that could just as well have taken place in New York. I was reminded of the

It's easy to rip apart a movie like this. But if you're a fan of action or crime movies, appreciative of exotic settings, and willing to overlook some less than stellar production values, it'll be well worth your time...