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Amazon.co.uk Review
Al Pacino looks startled through much of 88 Minutes, as though taken by surprise at being cast in a thriller that must have first passed across the desks of Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford. Still, Pacino brings his usual oomph to the role of a Seattle forensic psychiatrist, whose testimony secured the death sentence for a crazy serial killer (Neal McDonough). Wouldn't you know it, the very day the killer is sentenced to die, a copycat "Seattle Slayer" is on the loose, and Pacino starts getting ominous phone calls telling him the exact time of his own death. Tick, tock: it's 88 minutes away. The film then serves up more red herrings than a Stalingrad fish fry, as possible culprits pop up every five minutes or so (among them an attractive group of med-school students played by Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, and Benjamin McKenzie). Lapses in logic abound, but if you hunker down and zone in on Pacino's weary-eyed, ever-changing-haired professionalism, you can enjoy the goings-on. (Seattle's frequent stunt double, Vancouver, B.C., stands in as a location, and Jon Avnet supplies the slick direction. The cast is talented (including Amy Brenneman), leading you to guess that a lot of people will do anything just to work with Al Pacino. And you've got to admire Pacino' for sharing the screen with statuesque actresses such as Brenneman and Sobieski, they tower over him, but he still holds his own. --Robert Horton
DVD Description
In 88 Minutes, Dr. Jack Gramm (Al Pacino), a Seattle-based college professor and forensic psychiatrist, is informed by an enigmatic caller that he has exactly that amount of time to live. The threat is linked to Gramm's role in putting a convicted serial killer (Neal McDonough) behind bars nearly a decade earlier, and sends the scholar/consultant on a desperate run to avert his imminent demise. Entering into Gramm's dangerous orbit are his dutiful assistant (Amy Brenneman), an FBI agent (William Forsythe), and his admiring young students (most notably Alicia Witt), all of whom add layers to the tense mystery.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an odd little movie; a good example of how far you can stretch a small budget. Obviously inspired by '24' it uses much of the same high-speed sleight of hand to obfuscate the obvious.
The director must have spent the majority of the money on Pacino, who came over a bit showboat but that'll be a treat for Al fans. If you gallop along with the plot and don't consider too deeply then it works pretty well. The cast create a clever atmosphere of paranoia so we couldn't figure out exactly who was behind the plot -- or what exactly the plot was. Kept us guessing until the final reveal, which is a result. Not surprised it didn't get a big distribution at cinemas, but this made for perfectly acceptable rental entertainment.
The dvd extras were above average, too; a bit of insight from both director and star instead of Mr Gruff Voiceover doing a promo for the film we'd just seen. Nice to see an alternative ending.
7/10
The director must have spent the majority of the money on Pacino, who came over a bit showboat but that'll be a treat for Al fans. If you gallop along with the plot and don't consider too deeply then it works pretty well. The cast create a clever atmosphere of paranoia so we couldn't figure out exactly who was behind the plot -- or what exactly the plot was. Kept us guessing until the final reveal, which is a result. Not surprised it didn't get a big distribution at cinemas, but this made for perfectly acceptable rental entertainment.
The dvd extras were above average, too; a bit of insight from both director and star instead of Mr Gruff Voiceover doing a promo for the film we'd just seen. Nice to see an alternative ending.
7/10
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Calling the film 88 minutes the makers could have made an effort and tried to get the running of the film to coincide with it. Given that you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out who's doing what the film could have gone at a much faster pace and taken less time to get to the predictable end. Other reviews call this film fast paced but would disagree it plods along the whole 108 minutes. It's only Al Pacino doing his thing that makes the movie viewable and if it wasn't' for him this film would be given a 1 star rating.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although there is plenty of tension in this fast paced thriller, Pacino appeared lacklustre to me. He goes through the motions of being the potential victim of a vengeful serial killer with all the verve of an actor trying to earn enough money to pay for a new roof on his house.
The film starts off with a thoroughly unpleasant opening scene. The story then reveals our action hero FBI forensic psychiatrist being pitted against time as he tries to unravel a mystery that may save his life. He doesn't know who to trust and there are plenty of Agatha Christie style red herrings thrown in for good measure.
Unfortunately the ending was fairly predictable and the film's villain was hopelessly one dimensional. If this is Hollywood's attempt at producing an intelligent film, it is hardly surprising that the Brits have done so well at the Oscars recently.
The film starts off with a thoroughly unpleasant opening scene. The story then reveals our action hero FBI forensic psychiatrist being pitted against time as he tries to unravel a mystery that may save his life. He doesn't know who to trust and there are plenty of Agatha Christie style red herrings thrown in for good measure.
Unfortunately the ending was fairly predictable and the film's villain was hopelessly one dimensional. If this is Hollywood's attempt at producing an intelligent film, it is hardly surprising that the Brits have done so well at the Oscars recently.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ignore Bad Reviews
Dont understand the mass criticism for this film starring Al Pacino! Fast paced, action packed, thought provoking thriller. Just watch it!
Published 1 month ago by Mel Santino
Glad i ignore some reviews!!
Why this film has been given 2 or even 1 star by some reviewers is beyond me,it is quick paced and certainly not long like many films can be for no reason. Read more
Published 10 months ago by mike1977
Good uncomplicated fun.
An ok film. Easy to watch. Pacino is good as usual. Some of it does not make sense though, why would that guy guy be going after Pacino with a gun that is a bit extreme and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Paul H
All Female Legal Interns Watch This
This is an exemplary film which should be watched by all the silly young female British legal interns who go off to do "work" (aka waste their time, talent, and their precious... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Alistair McConnachie
Easy to like and very enjoyable
This is like a juiced-up version of 'DOA', only in this film, Pacino isn't dying - he's urgently trying to work out who's calling him to inform him of his imminent death in a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Benminx
Disappointment
Dear Al Pacino,
I will just ignore that you chose or accepted to play in that film. I am not speaking of bad scenario and acting only, I am speaking of the disgusting... Read more
I will just ignore that you chose or accepted to play in that film. I am not speaking of bad scenario and acting only, I am speaking of the disgusting... Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Georgia P.
Could be better
88 Minutes sounded like a great idea but sadly the film is a bit of a disappointment. In attempting to keep the viewer guessing the filmmakers decided to make every character a... Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by P Woodburn
awful, just awful !
Well how do i start, what a total waste of an hour and a half, quite a good idea although its been done a million times before but executed awfully, what on earth pacino is doing... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Mr. Jk Edwards
Very poor... sadly
A film with both Al Pacino and Neal McDonough starring I thought must be a winner but no.
A very poor script, with confusing characters, sadly let this film down and I... Read more
A very poor script, with confusing characters, sadly let this film down and I... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2009 by Mr. D. J. Hurst
Blistering performance
The film is yet another film performed by Al Pacino. The film involves suspense as well action. It was a film worth buying and watching. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Nabil Sheikh
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