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Movies Forum Index » Movie Reviews Forum » Review: 88 Minutes (2008)
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 Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:39 pm |
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88 Minutes
reviewed by Sam Osborn
Well we've been duped, is all I can say. Don't be fooled by the hooky
plot, flashy trailers, and the silvery rasp of Al Pacino. This film is
a sham. And they lied, dammit. They lied. The film is 108 minutes.
Even the title is a sham.
Due for execution is Jon Forster (Neal McDonough), the supposed serial
murderer--bouncily entitled "The Seattle Slayer"--put away by a
testimony from Forensic Psychologist Dr. Jack Gramm (Al Pacino). The
evidence put forth by Dr. Gramm during the trial, however, was
circumstantial, not proving Mr. Forster's guilt with any physical
evidence. And now that his execution draws near, copycat murders have
appeared around the city, again putting Dr. Gramm's testimony under
scrutiny. Hours before the execution is scheduled, Dr. Gramm receives
a call. It's the Seattle Slayer, and he says Dr. Gramm has 88 minutes
to live.
A film with a countdown depends on its own urgency. If Al Pacino isn't
worried about his own expiration date, then we aren't either. And he's
not even breaking a sweat. Mr. Pacino breezes through this movie on
the gas not burned from other, better performances he gave in other,
also better, films. He's a loud, high-octane guy. But here he's
coasting.
The film doesn't exactly have a lead-foot, though. 88 minutes never
felt so long. The plot jerks around like an episode of "Law & Order"
watched by somebody who doesn't know how to operate their TiVo remote.
It leaps and skips plot points, finds suspicious characters and
forgets others, and then hopscotches down to a solution that was an
obvious, "fine, I give up" moment for Gary Scott Thompson, the
screenwriter. Even the Seattle Slayer's trademark murder method is
nonsensically dull. The victims hang like scissors from a couple
carabineers, a slit run through their leg. It's goofy; like an
unfortunate bouldering accident.
88 Minutes is a failed version of other, superior numerically-situated
films. It's like 16 Blocks with a dead end. Phone Booth with a busy
signal. Se7en with a counting disability. It's 88 minutes of time
you'll never have back. Not to mention it's actually 108 minutes.
Sam Osborn |
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