- Gene Siskel: [discussing generic movie titles] How about "Extreme Measures", which opened last week, about a mad scientist played by Gene Hackman who uses the homeless as guinea pigs for genetic surgery through the spinal column? Now I know "Spinal Tap" as a title is already taken, but "Extreme Measures" is so lame. Would it matter if it were titled "Chain Reaction" or "Maximum Risk"? Not much. And those are actual titles of other generic thrillers from this year.