88 Minutes

Producer Jon Avnet

Released by Buena Vista / Disney

R4 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

For years Disney has been the home of cute, inoffensive kids movies, sickeningly nice and produced to a formula. Some years ago they changed tack and distributed and produced some more mainstream films. Perhaps the most notable was National Treasure, a film that showed that they had not forgotten how to do quality work. Since then they have issued an odd mix of genres as they reestablish themselves as a maker of good films. National Treasure was good in a rather wholesome, appropriately Disney way. 88 Minutes shows that they will also handle the darker suspense genre. Perhaps they have finally decided to apply their not inconsiderable talents to mainstream film making? It works in this movie.

Al Pacino plays the lead role of Dr Jack Gramm, a psychological profiler and academic who was instrumental in locking away a serial killer eight years ago. Gramm is a womanizer, entirely sure he was right in his profile of the killer, and he is also hiding a dark secret of his own. The appeals have run out and the execution of the serial killer is scheduled, then a series of similar murders begins. This time some of the evidence points to Jack Gramm himself and forces him to question his role and accuracy as a profiler.

Then a phone call tells him he has only eighty eight minutes to live. This number is significant to Jack Gramm for reasons hidden in his past, and he is forced off balance as the killer keeps playing psychological games with him. People around him, people he knows and respects, are becoming the victims. Is there a copycat killer? Is someone seeking revenge on him for a past prosecution? Or was he wrong, and the real killer is still on the loose?

Pacino’s mature acting is perfect for the part, and the major actresses in the supporting roles and in Jack’s life (Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobeieski and Amy Brenneman) play their roles with skill and style. John Forster as the serial killer is menacing and brilliant. Avnet builds up the tension of Gary Scott Thompson’s script skillfully and does not let up until the film’s conclusion. He carries the plot with a minimum of special effects, and successfully navigates his way through the subjects of lesbianism, murder, and torture. These were traditionally no-go areas for Disney films.

The film shows quality workmanship in a way that so many other U.S. film makers have neglected – good scripts, no reliance on special effects, excellent characterization, and just plain brilliant acting. That’s the reason I am reviewing this film - it is not part of the traditional Synergy style, but the suspense is done so well that I don’t think it is out of place here. Give it a try – its shows what happens when good scripts, good technicians and good actors get together. It’s a cliffhanger (literally) right to the very end.

This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

If you came to this page directly (and missed our menu), click here to go to the Synergy Magazine front page. (http://www.synergy-magazine.com)