MOVING TARGET

US, 1988, 89 minutes, Colour.
Jason Bateman, Tom Skerritt, Jack Wagner, John Glover, Chyna Phillips, Richard Dysart, Robert Downey Sr.
Directed by Chris Thomson.

Moving Target is an interesting if average thriller. It focuses on a young man, strained relationships with his family, his going to a music camp, returning home to find the family completely vanished and a killer pursuing him.

Jason Bateman is the young man, Tom Skerritt his father, John Glover (usually a sinister villain) is a genuine agent. Richard Dysart is the tycoon villain.

The film focuses on financial companies, the laundering of money for the Mafia, witness protection programs.

1.Entertaining thriller? Human drama?

2.Thriller designed for the wide television audience? The young audience with the hero? The American settings, the special effects and stunt work? The action sequences? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Toby and the pursuit?

4.The Kellogg family, the father and his work, relationship with Arthur Cambridge? The tension at home? The children, Toby and his band, alienation from the parents? His going to the music camp? The phone calls? The success of the band - and his return home to find the house empty?

5.Joe Kellogg, the dinner, the agents, his being taken away in the car? Audience suspicions? Cambridge's presence in the restaurant? His information, testimony for the court, the laundering of money? The witness protection program, change of name, identity, home?

6.Toby, his friends, Geoff, Megan and the band? At the camp? His return home, friendship with Geoff? The empty house, the puzzle, the phone calls, the police? His running away? Going to the party, moody with Geoff, the change of coat - and Geoff's death? Megan and her help? Talking things over with the police? Going to Boston, the murder of the agent in the airport? Phone calls to Megan, the information, commandeering the car? The confrontation with the killer - and the stunt with the fire brigade? Reunited with his parents? The new name and identity and reunited with Megan?

7.Geoff, the band, friendship, the fight, the change of coat, driving in the car, his disbelief and his death?

8.Megan, in the band, friendship with Toby, help, information? The dog tags and using her ingenuity?

9.The police agents, the testimony against Cambridge? The killer and the murders? The hired killer, the Mob, the mistake, killing Geoff, pursuing Toby, the murder of the agent, the threat to the family?

10.The credibility of this kind of story, American finance, the Mafia, justice and the courts, witness protection programs?