Director: Jon Avnet
Running time: 108 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): 15
Watched on Sky+ Friday 20th November 2009.
PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
This is a taught thriller set in Seattle where Jack Gramm, a forensic psychologist for the FBI lives and works. Nine years previously his evidence had convicted brutal serial killer Jon Forster, a.k.a. the Seattle Slayer and it is nearing the time of his execution. Jack is now a successful lecturer at the local university as well as working for the FBI.
With just a few hours to go before the execution, Jack receives a mysterious phone call informing him that he has just 88 minutes to live. The time, 88 minutes, is very significant to Jack, but I will not divulge it here. In trying to find out who is behind this call, and all the while suspecting Forster, Jack reveals a twisted plot that leaves several bodies in its wake. Somebody is copying the Seattle Slayer’s crimes and leaving evidence implicating Jack. I won’t say too much more, not wanting to give away too many spoilers, but needless to say it all culminates in a big show-down where the copy-cat is revealed.
A well made film, although I did find it a little stale. I didn’t really engage with any of the main characters and the story had elements of many of this type of thriller I have seen before. Decent performances from all of the main cast members, Al Pacino as Jack Gramm, Alicia Witt as Kim Cummings, Leelee Sobieski as Lauren Douglas, Amy Brenneman as Shelley Barnes, William Forsythe as Frank Parks and Neal McDonough as Jon Forster. I thought Neal McDonough was particularly good as the slightly psychotic Forster.
Over all, a pretty well made thriller that didn’t quite tick all the boxes for me. Maybe because Pacino played the part of Gramm in his ‘larger than life’ style, it gave the character a bit of arrogance that I did not find particularly appealing. I did like the twist at the end though.
My score: 5.5/10
LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0411061/
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/88minutes/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2058486041/
Running time: 108 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): 15
Watched on Sky+ Friday 20th November 2009.
PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
This is a taught thriller set in Seattle where Jack Gramm, a forensic psychologist for the FBI lives and works. Nine years previously his evidence had convicted brutal serial killer Jon Forster, a.k.a. the Seattle Slayer and it is nearing the time of his execution. Jack is now a successful lecturer at the local university as well as working for the FBI.
With just a few hours to go before the execution, Jack receives a mysterious phone call informing him that he has just 88 minutes to live. The time, 88 minutes, is very significant to Jack, but I will not divulge it here. In trying to find out who is behind this call, and all the while suspecting Forster, Jack reveals a twisted plot that leaves several bodies in its wake. Somebody is copying the Seattle Slayer’s crimes and leaving evidence implicating Jack. I won’t say too much more, not wanting to give away too many spoilers, but needless to say it all culminates in a big show-down where the copy-cat is revealed.
A well made film, although I did find it a little stale. I didn’t really engage with any of the main characters and the story had elements of many of this type of thriller I have seen before. Decent performances from all of the main cast members, Al Pacino as Jack Gramm, Alicia Witt as Kim Cummings, Leelee Sobieski as Lauren Douglas, Amy Brenneman as Shelley Barnes, William Forsythe as Frank Parks and Neal McDonough as Jon Forster. I thought Neal McDonough was particularly good as the slightly psychotic Forster.
Over all, a pretty well made thriller that didn’t quite tick all the boxes for me. Maybe because Pacino played the part of Gramm in his ‘larger than life’ style, it gave the character a bit of arrogance that I did not find particularly appealing. I did like the twist at the end though.
My score: 5.5/10
LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0411061/
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/88minutes/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2058486041/
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