The Piano Player

The Piano Player, or The Target in the U.S., is a movie that begins with an interesting plot but loses its focus towards the middle. Christopher Lambert plays Alex Laney, an unconvincing hitman who must protect Robert Nile (Dennis Hopper), a lawyer who knows the truth about the leader of a South African mob. The problem with this movie, other than it drags, is that there's no development of the Lambert character. There's one scene where his hitman qualities shine when he saves Nile's daughter from kidnappers but his hitman character is ultimately weak and unbelievable. We witness the death of his parents when he's a child (the past of all hitmen must show why they do what they do) but the his passion to kill or protect doesn't go far. Alex Laney is a bad role for Christopher Lambert or any actor. When Robert Nile visits a small town where he was brought up we lose interest in the story because the tension dies and the mood is off tangent. It's too bad because Dennis Hopper is a great character actor who wasted his presence on this movie and Christopher Lambert (whom I'm a fan of for Highlander although I think his best work is in Subway) must certainly choose his roles more carefully. An actor need not be very diverse in roles but should pick roles suitable for his range.

I had misgivings about this film, as it seemed like an ordinary mass murder film dominated by meaningless violence, and indeed it starts like that, but then Christopher Lambert gets wounded, and things take an interesting turn, as Dennis Hopper takes him out into the country and we enter a completely different world. Indeed, the greatest interest of this film is the very interesting ambients and sceneries of Cape Town and the wilderness of South Africa with its rugged nature and the local people. There are some scenes that will stick in your mind forever.

The music is also very good. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, last and first movement, recur now and then and has some bearing on the case, but all the other music is interesting as well. Above all, it's a good story, both Dennis Hopper and Christopher Lambert show their best acting sides and are well seconded by Diane Kruger. It is to be noted, that this is Jean-Pierre Roux' one and only film so far.

I rented this film expecting it to be like The Point Men, Vercingetorix and Lambert's latest crap films. But I was surprised it wasn't that bad. It runs at less then 90 minutes...although it can be a quite boring film (feels like 2 hours). The film tells the story of a rich lawyer (Dennis Hopper) who lives in South Africa and his life is in danger, some voodo/vodoo practicing crimelord wants him dead, so he (Hopper) brings in the help of Christopher Lambert to protect him. The film has a series of flashbacks which all make sense when you see the end of the film. There are some very beautiful shots of the South African landscape. I'll give this a 5.5/10, it's better then the latest turkeys Lambert has released on video lately and if you always thought of going to South Africa...this film might convince you to go.

Before watching THE PIANO PLAYER I assumed it would have been terrible because of its score of 4,2 and very few reviews (a common thing with many Christopher Lambert movies). When I saw it six months ago I didn't found it exceptional but still decent.

Assassin and piano player Alex Laney (Lambert) is seen committing two murders at the beginning and soon is hired for going in Cape Town and being the bodyguard of Robert Nile (Dennis Hopper) and his daughter Erika (Diane Kruger) because Nile is the key witness for the prosecution of a powerful gangster. After some goons try to kill Nile and his daughter they move with Alex on the mountains and not only they'll become friends with the locals but also gradually defeat their enemy.

I have to agree with some reviewers that this film looks a bit slow despite it lasts just 1 hour and 56 minutes, and also that the ending was a bit too predictable. But there are some things I nearly loved and they are the reason why I couldn't bring myself to give it a 2. I loved the part shot in Cape Town, the locations were very nice and the soundtrack in that part was also good and nostalgic even for folks who weren't adult in 2002. Christopher Lambert, say what you want about his acting abilities, he gave actually one of his decent performances. Dennis Hopper came off better, and Diane Kruger is good too considering this is her debut.

In substance, it's best if you don't read the reviews before you see it because if you don't have expectations you might actually like it.

I'm a big fan of Lambert and in my book he can do no wrong.The Piano Player is a entertaining movie with good directing,solid screenplay and great actors and music.Not better then Resurrection,but much better then The Point Men and Vercingétorix.Very good for a movie with 10 million budget.7/10.