moonspinner55
Incarcerated thug Oliver Reed breaks himself, his crime partner, and another cell mate out of a maximum security prison in England; he's after his wayward wife, who has announced her desire to divorce Reed to be with another man and have his child. Occasionally confusing or confounding drama with indecipherable dialogue (at least to the untrained ear) and a twist finish that is more ridiculous than clever. After an obtuse start, director Douglas Hickox keeps the pace bristling with violence or the threat of violence, while brooding Reed and buddy Ian McShane are a fine tough-guy pair. The cinematography, art direction, and editing are all quite stylish, and fans of the crime genre will enjoy it, but the female characters are batted about like useless playthings and Edward Woodward has a thankless role as an inspector who's never around when needed. ** from ****
MARIO GAUCI
This film which has been showing repeatedly on TCM UK for years is one of many tough action films which came out in the early 1970s dealing with the British underworld. The end result is certainly watchable enough but, in the long run, neither is it as classy as GET CARTER (1971) nor as nasty as VILLAIN (1971). Where it distinguishes itself over others in the same genre is in the excellent cast the production company managed to rope in for the project Oliver Reed, Ian McShane (who also appeared in VILLAIN), Jill St. John, Edward Woodward, Frank Finlay, Freddie Jones (a small and mostly irrelevant role) and Robert Beatty; besides, a couple of decent action sequences - the elaborate rooftop prison break, Reed's fiery car chase, Finlay's staircase demise, etc. are par for the course. However, the film founders through a very predictable plot (sharing several similarities with GET CARTER itself) which is further exacerbated by the fashionably muddled handling and a prevailing mood of genuine unpleasantness. Only Stanley Myers' moody score emerges with dignity as SITTING TARGET's most notable asset.
moatazmohsen78
Oliver Reed was the best villein in the scene with sharp eyes and long voice he played this film with a goodly way and the best scene after he killed his bad wife he cried in spite of her bad work with him because he liked her very much and he choose to die with her in the crash and burning car in the time of police arrest him but the crash space the police in a dramatical scene and descriptive music.This film was the best one of Reed as a big and great actor after his best role in (Lion of desert)in the role of Gratsiani the Italian leader in Libya who arrested Omar MOkhtar the Libyan leader who made a resistance to the Italian army in Libya.He was the best actor in action film in the 20th century.
Wolfsglen
Excellent old revenge movie from a time when Britain still made movies that didn't involve period costumes or floppy haired smiles!Ian "Lovejoy" McShane and the Late Oliver Reed bust out of prison, with the sole purpose of killing Reeds Wife (Jill St John) who wants a divorce. The film is relentless in its portrayal of Reed as a cold blooded man with a single deadly purpose, yet still shows him simmering with a pent up violent rage that cant wait to explode into violence at any time.
I have heard many call this movie a poor-mans version of "Get Carter", but that tag does it a serious injustice. Gritty, Dark, Bleak and Brutal (for its time) something about this movie keeps me watching it 30+ years after its release. Stylish, Original, and highly recommended, especially if you are sick of "Feel Good" cliches.
AD
