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 Rated: R
88 Minutes stars Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Graham, a college professor
and playboy who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. His
successful testimony in the case of serial killer, Jon Forster (Neal
McDonough), earned him world-wide acclaim and assured Forster the death
penalty. On the day of Forster’s execution two of Graham’s former
lovers are murdered by a copycat killer, who then issues Graham with a threat that he has 88 minutes to live. Graham must use his expertise
to find the killer before his time is up.
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Starring: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Benjamin McKenzie
Directed by: John Avnet
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Lacking tension in its setting and empathy for its characters, 88 Minutes is a woeful excuse of a thriller thanks to the inept direction by Jon Avnet, who has forgotten to inject emotion and thrills in what can only be described as a bloated crime movie. Screenwriter Gary Scott Thompson has written an extremely weak script, devoid of any interesting or sufficient character development, brimming with poor dialogue.
A number of bland plot devices, such as an over use of flashback, contributes to the film's movie-of-the-week vibe. In fact, what it feels like is a very long CSI rip-off. Film composer Ed Shearmur provides a not-so-fabulous score, and shoddy opening credits adequately (yet unfortunately) set the tone for one crap-fest of a film. Yet nothing can prepare for the appalling oversight towards continuity, where vast re-shoots stick out like a sore thumb thanks to the hair and make-up department’s failure to match Pacino’s frizzled hairstyle with previously shot scenes.
A supporting cast of seasoned character actors all pitch in with career low performances, special mention going to Alicia Witt, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger and an atrocious turn by Leelee Sobieski. On top of all of this, acclaimed thespian Al Pacino provides an unsatisfactory performance for an actor of his stature. Usually his natural charisma and tendency for chewing up the scenery will keep a bad film (in which he has appeared in many) from going under. This time however, Pacino fails to neither intrigue or entertain the viewer in what can only be described as a sloppy acting exhibition.
This Reviewer's Rating:   2 / 5
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