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the audience applauded

So much average

Memorable, crazy movie

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I am no fan of Holiwood movies. They are one dimensional or pretend to have something more. This one does not. It is plain good story america style.

I really do have to laugh at some people's reviews at times, and over the years, if I totally believe all the bad press that some (if not all) films receive, it would never ever be worth my while visiting a cinema or buying a DVD ever again. If I see a film, like it, and then see all the bad reviews I am sometimes left thinking 'am I the only one that got it?' or 'am I the only one that thought this was good'. In short, reading too many reviews can drive you absolutely insane. OK, so 88 Minutes received largely negative reviews......especially on IMDb. So at the time of writing this, the film has a rating of 5.9, which I class as just above average (5 is average right?). I am more than just a little annoyed that most of those that gave the film an above average rating failed to review it. However, it leaves me with the conclusion that most people are more than happy to complain, rather than go with the flow. After all, I don't think that here are many films for which I haven't read a review from somebody saying that it's the worst film they've ever seen. 88 Minutes, in my opinion is a good, above average, watchable movie. But some of the contradictory comments on people's reviews did my head in. For example:- Al Pacino's performance............Al Pacino is undoubtedly a brilliant actor. His character in this movie is cocky, self assured, calm and in his opinion, always right. Pacino plays this perfectly, so why do people think that he was out of place? Was there any need for him overstate and overact? No there wasn't. Did he look uncomfortable in his role? No he didn't. To me, maybe the reviewers were expecting some powerhouse acting which they didn't receive. The plot.........come on people!!! It wasn't muddled. It was easy to follow. Throwaway yes, but don't we, every now and again enjoy a film that we don't have to think too much about? Yes we do!! It is true to say there is a certain degree of implausibility about things but people should just look at the movie for what it is.......entertainment. I, for one, was entertained, although I did guess who was behind the killings. I mean come on, even true stories have that certain implausibility factor about them in order to make them entertaining...don't they? The acting........it seems that because Pacino's performance was (rightly) understated, everybody else acted badly. It is true that some performances did not bring out the best in the actors (Alicia Witt and Leelee Sobieski), others were excellent, especially William Forsythe and Neal McDonaugh. I'm done with the film now, but had to laugh at one on the extras on the DVD. The director stated that this was a 'low budget' movie. OK maybe it is in comparison to some.....but calling $30m low budget is an insult to my ears!! Anyway.......conclusion!! A good, but not brilliant film that a few more of you have actually enjoyed but not openly admitted. Good grief, those of you that have reviewed think it's so bad, I am left thinking that I have just stepped out of the 'bad movie' closet!! Watch this movie for what it is........entertainment!!!

88 Minutes (2007): Dir: Jon Avnet / Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Deborah Kara Unger: Fast paced thriller about time. Al Pacino plays a college professor. Nine years prior his testimony imprisoned a serial rapist and now he receives threatening phone calls claiming that he has only 88 minutes to live. Paranoia follows as he begins to suspect everyone resulting in numerous plot turns until it reaches an effective finale. Well directed by Jon Avnet despite tendencies to jerk viewers around. Avnet previously made Fried Green Tomatoes and the rotten Up Close and Personal. Pacino is adrenaline all the way as he struggles to maintain his sanity and figure out whom he can trust. Alica Witt plays one of his students who assists him in his search for answers but her presence is cardboard and practically unnecessary until the conclusion. Leelee Sobieski as a student who challenges Pacino's theories is effective. She is later present in a parking garage where she claims she was assaulted. Next to Pacino, she had the next best role in the film. Amy Brenneman who tracks information for him is pretty straight forward. Then there is Deborah Kara Unger as yet another hottie that should make Pacino feel youthful. It is very similar to Crank in structure yet it also still works on its theme of paranoia and whether truth and facts will surface again. Score: 8 ½ / 10

It's 1997. Serial killer Seattle Slayer murders Joanie Cates with her twin sister Janie surviving. Forensic psychiatrist and college professor Jack Gramm (Al Pacino) testifies and sends Jon Forster (Neal McDonough) to death row for the crime. Then another girl is murdered with the same MO. The question becomes whether this is a copycat, or a companion killer, or that Forster is actually innocent. The latest victim was Jack Gramm's student and patient. Shelly Barnes (Amy Brenneman) is his loyal assistant. Kim Cummings (Alicia Witt), Lauren Douglas (Leelee Sobieski) and Mike Stempt (Ben McKenzie) are some of his students. Then he gets a call telling him that he has 88 minutes to live. Dean Johnson (Deborah Kara Unger) tells the class about a bomb threat and he notices somebody had written 76 minutes to live. So it goes.It's never really set up how a forensic psychiatrist sends somebody to death row all by himself. There needs to be some kind of explanation at the start. It needs to show him at his work. Without a proper setup, it's all muddy. I couldn't buy into Al Pacino's character and I couldn't care about what's going on. The movie throws a lot of characters on the screen and everybody is a suspect. Yet I couldn't care about any of them. The 88 minutes countdown is suppose to be a real time tension builder. It just serves to countdown when this movie finally ends.