the fresh films reviews

S I N C E   1 9 9 7










 

88 Minutes (2007)

Director:
Jon Avnet
COUNTRY
Germany/USA/Canada
GENRE
Drama/Thriller
NORWEGIAN TITLE
88 Minutes
RUNNING TIME
108 minutes
Producer:
Jon Avnet
Randall Emmett
Avi Lerner
Gary Scott Thompson
Screenwriter:
Gary Scott Thompson


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Dr. Jack Gramm Al Pacino ½
Kim Cummings Alicia Witt
Lauren Douglas Leelee Sobieski ½
Shelly Barnes Amy Brenneman
Special Agent Frank Parks William Forsythe
Carol Lynn Johnson Deborah Kara Unger
Mike Stempt Ben McKenzie ½
Jon Forster Neal McDonough

 

Review

88 Minutes is a cluttered thriller which maintains a fair level of suspense but not too much logic. Forensic psychiatrist Al Pacino runs the Seattle Marathon in 88 minutes trying to solve an unimpressive scheme in which he is implicated in a number of murders that seems to emulate the modus operandi of a serial killer Pacino helped convict several years ago. Jon Avnet's directorial style is like television's "24", only without the edge and style. And the script, unexpertly scribbled together by Gary Scott Thompson, presents us with the not so appealing package of being both boring and wildly implausible. Al Pacino obviously avoids trying to put any emotion into this. Instead, he covers his face in his hands during the film's supposedly emotional climax. He is surrounded by a pile of unwarranted mysterious supporting characters, whom Avnet have popping up all over the place all the time. They might amuse you, if not their casting agents. Leelee Sobieski and Deborah Kara Unger (as usual) give lectures in bad acting in their hopeless roles. It's a new low for Avnet, who showed potential in the early 1990s with Fried Green Tomatoes and The War.

 

Copyright © 29.6.2009 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

[BACK TO INDEX]

[HAVE YOUR SAY]