Target Number One

I remember reading the actual news from this incident back when I was in my late teens, early twenties. Victor Malarek did an incredibly good job at showing how incompetent Canadian officials who couldn't cause a significant dent in the drug trade coming from Asia into north america decided to use a straw man to create a fictitious incident in order to improve their image. The incident in itself and how it was covered back then by journalist Malarek was plain riveting. Unfortunately, the movie that was made about it is clearly not a top quality product and misuses the talent of great actors. Still worth watching just to learn about what happened.

"Target Number One" is a Biography - Thriller movie in which we watch a Canadian journalist trying to find out the truth behind the arrest of a Canadian man in Thailand. Everything seems very strange since his arrest happened in a very weird situation and under circumstances that cannot being explained by the authorities.

I liked this movie because it is inspired by true events, it had a nice, simple and interesting plot that is combined very well with a nice direction which was made by Daniel Roby who is also the writer. Regarding the interpretations of the cast, Antoine Olivier Pilon who played as Daniel Léger was very good and his interpretation was simply amazing, Josh Hartnett who played as Victor Malarek was equally good and Jim Gaffigan who played as Glen Picker was also good. Finally, I believe that "Target Number One" is a nice thriller movie with much of suspense that you will keep you in tense through the whole duration of it and I am sure that you will like it.

This was an alright biographic movie with elements of crime and thriller added. The cast did well portraying the characters. Josh Hartnett playing victor was a good choice in my opinion as well. But aside from everything else seeming ok the movie itself just felt disconnected, the way the sections were added almost didn't create a liner story and as I watched, I wondered why they were doing this and why he was there and such. Overall a good biographical movie, it could've just been a better approach to it.

May not have the grip of a massive Hollywood thriller but it isn't far off. Engaging and well worth a watch. A solid 8 out 10.

Is it me or are TV series now simply better than 90% of movies now? I had fairly high hopes for this movie despite what sounded like a cliche premise, but keeping in mind that it was based on a true story. The storyline bounces around all over the place and at every turn, you can guess what happens next. The renegade reporter, the frustrated editor, the typical drug dealer and 'protege,' the immediate love interest, the stereotypical cops with no layers, and the corrupt government officials. We've seen it a million times, but sometimes it's worth watching again if done right (City on a Hill). This movie fails miserably and I struggled to get through the first hour. It's as if producers, directors, and writers are sitting in a movie sweatshop (Thailand in this case) trying to pump out as many movies as possible. Then they are completely baffled as to why no one wants to go to the theatre and spend $50.

There is zero character development and the acting is mediocre at best. Antoine Pilon keeps it interesting and Jim Gaffigan tries hard (and fails miserably), but this is a movie you should wait to see for free on a winter afternoon if the football is cancelled because of COVID. Thankfully, Amazon Prime had it as a special for $2.99 and I can see why. Does my review contain spoilers? Absolutely not because there is zero intrigue with this diluted and discombobulated disaster of a movie.