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Seeing an old and tired Pacino run around school campuses to catch a killer in time is a rare mixture of sad and funny. A once great actor, Pacino is passed his prime and 88 Minutes showcases that perfectly. Save for one scene where he is able to recall the death of his sister, Pacino is out of his element here in a role that deserved a younger actor with more to give.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm testifies at the trial of Jon Forster, a suspected serial killer. His testimony, along with one eye witness, puts Forster away and placed on death row. Almost a decade later, when it's about time to kill Forster, another death suspiciously happens, exactly like the ones Forster is suspected to have done. Did Gramm falsify evidence to put away Forster? Is the real killer out there still? Gramm receives a phone call telling him his has exactly 88 minutes left to live, the chase is on.
What should be an exciting and thrilling film with a countdown constantly on the viewers mind, becomes an inept examination on how to make a dull film that feels more like a CSI episode than anything else. I had to pause the film and laugh at one particular scene where Pacino is outside his apartment on the street with a gun, while firefighters and cops run around to take care of a suspected fire in the building. Someone yells gun and people scramble, which makes him lose sight of his student/partner. He lazily tries to hide the gun every so often and dodges a firetruck that comes speeding into the scene, apparently not caring if they hit any pedestrians. What nonsense is this?
Lazy, that is the best way to describe this film, in every way. No one seems to be putting in any effort, except Neal McDonough, but his screen time is very minimal. Without a doubt, one of Pacino's worst performances and one of the least engaging movies I've seen in a long time. It's everything this type of film shouldn't be. I feel like you know who the killer is the moment you see them for the second time.
88 Minutes lacks tension, which is a big offender for a film where the main character is constantly on the move to solve a murder...his own.Great tagline that is, too bad the film doesn't live up to it.
88 Minutes
(Jon Avnet)
(Jon Avnet)
Seeing an old and tired Pacino run around school campuses to catch a killer in time is a rare mixture of sad and funny. A once great actor, Pacino is passed his prime and 88 Minutes showcases that perfectly. Save for one scene where he is able to recall the death of his sister, Pacino is out of his element here in a role that deserved a younger actor with more to give.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm testifies at the trial of Jon Forster, a suspected serial killer. His testimony, along with one eye witness, puts Forster away and placed on death row. Almost a decade later, when it's about time to kill Forster, another death suspiciously happens, exactly like the ones Forster is suspected to have done. Did Gramm falsify evidence to put away Forster? Is the real killer out there still? Gramm receives a phone call telling him his has exactly 88 minutes left to live, the chase is on.
What should be an exciting and thrilling film with a countdown constantly on the viewers mind, becomes an inept examination on how to make a dull film that feels more like a CSI episode than anything else. I had to pause the film and laugh at one particular scene where Pacino is outside his apartment on the street with a gun, while firefighters and cops run around to take care of a suspected fire in the building. Someone yells gun and people scramble, which makes him lose sight of his student/partner. He lazily tries to hide the gun every so often and dodges a firetruck that comes speeding into the scene, apparently not caring if they hit any pedestrians. What nonsense is this?
Lazy, that is the best way to describe this film, in every way. No one seems to be putting in any effort, except Neal McDonough, but his screen time is very minimal. Without a doubt, one of Pacino's worst performances and one of the least engaging movies I've seen in a long time. It's everything this type of film shouldn't be. I feel like you know who the killer is the moment you see them for the second time.
88 Minutes lacks tension, which is a big offender for a film where the main character is constantly on the move to solve a murder...his own.Great tagline that is, too bad the film doesn't live up to it.