88 Minutes
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Movie Reviews of 88 Minutes
Movie Review: Starring Pacino as... himself
Summary: 2 Stars
You would have to be a big Pacino fan to like this movie since everything about it is unoriginal. It's one of those films that you have to figure out who the killer is and it can be anybody. Along the way the focus shifts to "possible" suspects trying to make you think that they are the one, only to time and time again disprove it by having them get offed. Eventually it turns out to be the person you least expected it. No way, really?
Al Pacino plays a forensic psychologist who testified against a leading suspect in a murder case. Although there wasn't really any clear cut evidence, the jury convicted the guy largely based on Pacino's testimony. The guy is sentenced to death, before his execution Pacino receives death threats that he has 88 minutes to live, and people start dropping like flies around him.
I keep calling him "Pacino" because you will honestly not remember his character's name. This is Al F'n Pacino playing himself. The whole movie centers around him flirting with his young students like a dirty old man while yelling at everyone and no one in particular. Pacino yelling on screen into a cell phone, let's give this guy an Oscar. By all purposes this would cause a scene, but it seems that everyone in the city is used to Pacino yelling in public places.
"Did I blow up my car?!? Did I shoot bull-ets at myself?!?"
Calm the hell down. It's actually pretty hilarious, it's almost as if everyone around him is consciously trying to make a mediocre movie but he cannot be contained. He's bursting through the screen with an incredible performance!
Movie Review: Pedestrian by-the-numbers thriller
Summary: 2 Stars
Al Pacino managed to sink below the depths of acting on autopilot to complete sleepwalking throughout this uninspired movie. Fitting, giving the title, that this is a case of plot by numbers.
Al Pacino is a forensic psychologist who gets a call telling him he has 88 minutes to live. Clues in the call tell him it is to do with a case from his past when his testimony was responsible for putting a man on death row. From there, we have predictable cat and mouse scenes, running around looking paranoid, head scratching and red herrings.. which all makes this sound more fun than it ultimately is. Don't get me wrong, as a time-passer this does the job - but if you figure out, as most people will, who is the `mystery' killer early on, the rest gets pretty mundane. Critically, the film can't make up its mind whether to try and be clever or not - it sets its stall as being all about this clever and insightful forensic psychologist, and bringing killers to justice through keenness of mind.. then in the same breath descends into schlocky running around and killing, with Pacino's character reduced to a leery old man completely lost and at the whim of the circumstances around him.
A wasted opportunity then, despite some interesting casting in the students Pacino is teaching.. here's hoping the cast, and I mean Pacino too, find some juicier roles in the future to help them shine.
This is not the worst film of the year by far, but it's a shame to rent or buy this when there are so many superior thrillers out there.
Movie Review: Lackluster thriller with a wasted cast
Summary: 2 Stars
"88 Minutes" is definitely not one of Al Pacino's better movies - the thriller suffers from trite dialogue, a wasted cast of well-known names, and poor direction, not to mention an incredulous plot.
The story revolves around forensic psychiatrist Dr Jack Gramm [Al Pacino] whose crucial testimony convicts and condemns a serial murderer, Jon Forster [Neal McDonough] to a death sentence. In the courtroom, as the sentence is handed down, Forster sneers at Gramm and says "Tick Tock..." - apparently the countdown to Gramm's death has begun, and he only has 88 minutes to live/figure out what is going on.
The plot moves along at a rapid pace, but suffers from exaggeration, stereotypes, and mediocre dialogue - Al Pacino's harried psychiatrist seems too sure of himself, and his acting here isn't much to watch, given to over-exaggeration and unnecessary swaggering, running along the crowded streets of Seattle, waving his gun around. His mostly female cast are also wasted - there's the gay admin, played by Amy Brenneman, teaching assistant Alicia Witt, and star student LeeLee Sobieski [in a less than credible role]. Perhaps this movie also suffers from too many characters vying for a significant spot in the storyline.
Ultimately, the movie fails to connect despite the interesting premise and well-known cast - even the close-up shots of victims seems gratuitous and unnecessary. Final verdict - lacklustre thriller. I'd rather re-watch some of Pacino's better thrillers like "Sea of Love" and "Insomnia".
Movie Review: It just wasn't that great!
Summary: 2 Stars
Although I found "88 Minutes" to be extremely predictable (meaning within the first 20 minutes, I had identified the killer), I rate it a 2. I will warn you that you will that identifying the killer is relatively easy especially for someone who watched these kinds of "cookie cutter thrillers".
The Plot: Seattle Forensic Psychiatrist (played by the very talented Al Pacino) has become a profiler/successful professor following a very big case involving the very bad, although attractive, crazed serial killer Forrester (played by Neal McDonough). It was the Doc's testimony (along with the survivor), that placed the last "nail in his coffin". Of course the stage is set for a showdown between the two.
Years pass and the eve of the execution is fast approaching. Guess what? Crimes are being committed with the same MO as the man who was convicted nine years prior. And even more surprising, the Doc is being framed and has been given 88 minutes to live. With both is personal and professional life in jeopardy, Pacino goes around accusing several people of murder while racing to save his life. As the list of suspects dwindle, Pacino realizes that the person who is threatening his life also knows about his past.
While the movie was not the worse that I have seen, it could have been better. But for a Sunday evening, with only football as an option, it was decent.
Movie Review: But the Movie Takes 107 (Yawn) Minutes
Summary: 2 Stars
Why is Jack Gramm so grim? Could it be a guilty conscience? Why's it (always) raining in Seattle? Why are those victims hanging from their feet? How does one person break two cell phones in 88 minutes? What is a forensic psychologist doing driving a cab with the cabbie in the back seat? After watching this movie you can answer all of the above, except for the one about the rain.
It's about Dr. Jack Gramm, forensic psychologist/university professor portrayed by Al Pacino. Gramm provided key testimony that led to the conviction of an accused serial killer. The rather tedious story revolves around the possibility that the convicted man is not guilty, although he faces imminent execution. It's also possible that he is orchestrating a complex plot to kill Gramm from inside the prison.
There are just too many suspects. Too many false leads. Too much confusion. Too much pointless running around. A melodramatic score doesn't help. Pacino struggles mightily to make it entertaining, but it doesn't work.