La cible oubliée

I found this movie at a video store, but I was not sure if it was any good (Thick as Thieves was not a good movie!)

I took a chance, and I liked it!

Think of it as an English movie, not an American. This is not an action movie with lots of explosions.

This is a nice realistic little thriller!

The actors are good, nice locations and a fine pace!

So if you like English movies, see it! But if you need American action you might be disappointed!

I give it 6 out of 10!

Don't expect any great acting performances, from any of the actors or actresses, in `Second Nature'; because there aren't any. Alec Baldwin, who has the starring role, usually gives a far better performance that he offers in this movie. Therefore, one might assume the script itself is simply not a good performance vehicle. Powers Boothe's lackluster performance might also be explained by this.

However, the movie is worth watching for one reason; the plot. For the first half of the movie, one might think the plot is simply full of holes that never get filled. But, this is not the case. As the movie progresses, you might find yourself saying ` oh ya, I should have seen that coming'. So, don't give up on this film in the first half. Just keep watching; you'll see what I mean.

A most intriguing action/thriller. The movie is extremely watchable - partly thanks to it's made for TV rating and gearing is about perfect. Not an overly complicated film. Alec Baldwin is cast ala "Teacher" in George Dawes Green's The Juror. He's a nebulous assassin type, keeps you guessing, but you know he has skill and know how. The refreshing part is you aren't sure what motivates him or where he got his training or why. Baldwin is king of this style casting. If you like action where get spoon feed and learn as the movie goes, you'll like this. I don't see anyone really guessing where this is headed while you view the movie. Too unique. Throws a high punch and while you see that coming, catches you in the stomach with a quick jab. I've always been a fan of programs like Magnum PI and Simon and Simon, and this movie caters to speed and plot like these shows did so well. As good as any other "7" action flick for my rental dollar.

Second Nature is a low grade Bourne clone that benefits from two great actors in the lead roles. Slight, airy and inconsequential, it inhabits the clandestine corner reserved for middle-of-the-road espionage ventures neatly. Alec Baldwin plays a mysterious man who recovers from a plane crash that killed his family, left with heavy amnesia and confusion surrounding his past. When a shadowy agency bigwig (Powers Boothe) contacts him claiming he used to be an assassin for his outfit, he's thrown back in the world of high profile contract killing, the world he came from, allegedly anyway. Nothing is as it seems though, and of course his boss turns out to be a bad dude, which gives Boothe a chance to ratchet up the intensity. The film is pretty much average throughout, until we find out Baldwin's origins and arrive at a fairly thoughtful ending with some work put into storytelling, the first signs of a creative pulse in the film beyond garden variety plot twists. Baldwin is always great, whether on the protagonist's or antagonist's bench, and he sells the material well enough.

Short summary - no spoilers.

Baldwin plays an assassin who recover from a plane crash where all his family dies. But he can't kill on his first assignment after the recovery and find out something is not what is seems to be.

I find this movie at the local video rental store under the name "Manden uden navn" which in English would be "The man without a name".

Baldwin does not have one of his best performances in this TV movie but it is okay as a time killer for a week night.

I gave it 5 IMDB stars.