Like Cellular, Phone Booth, and other cheesy action thrillers of its kind, 88 Minutes is good for one thing only: entertainment and humor at the film’s expense. Of course, Cellular and Phone Booth never had Al Pacino along for the ride.
Pacino stars as Dr. Jack Gramm, a forensic psychiatrist responsible for putting accused serial murderer Jon Forester (Neal McDonogh) on death row. The day that Forester is set to die, one of Gramm’s students is found murdered in the same manner as Forester’s alleged victims, and Gramm receives a phone call, informing him that he has 88 minutes to live. The rest of the film consists of Pacino running around and trying to figure out who is trying to kill him before he or she succeeds.
The film is filled with an army of plot holes. Gramm’s would-be murderer goes out of his way to frame him for the other murders. However, it does not make any sense to try to frame a man who is about to become the next victim- it would completely defeat the purpose. As Kim Cummings, Gramm’s teaching assistant, Alicia Witt acts so guilty throughout the film that when she is found to have nothing to do with the crime itself, every single suspicious expression ceases to have a purpose. Stephen Moyer follows Dr. Gramm around the entire day for reasons that have nothing to do with the death threats, and the viewer never finds out why. There is a subplot involving Gramm’s younger sister, giving Gramm motivation against Forester, but why on earth the murderer is so keen on using the subplot against Gramm is never made clear. And why is Gramm so ready to let Kim out of his sight when he’s refusing to trust anyone during his last 88 minutes?
To be fair, the doctor has a lot on his mind. The film takes place in real time, so both Pacino and the murderer have to be very industrious. Of course, this is absolutely the biggest plothole in the film- it is inconceivable that the murderer and Gramm can engage in a terror-filled, information-grabbing, chase-scene bonanza of this caliber in less time than it takes for me to write this review. If the average person is given 88 minutes to live, the most they will be able to accomplish is a few phone calls and maybe a run to the drugstore. But these people are running around, smashing cars, dodging police, kidnapping and raping young woman, all in the space of 88 minutes. It is completely unbelievable.
But that is exactly why I am recommending this movie. Yes, it’s goofy. Yes, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. But it’s fun to watch. Al Pacino is one of the best actors of our time period, and there’s a definite pleasure in following him for 88 (well, 108) minutes, even with the shoddy screenplay. There are stunts and lines meant to be poignant that come off as cheesy, but the audience is likely to have a good laugh or two about them. If next Friday night comes around, go see this movie with a couple of friends and laugh at the characters’ expense. After all, if you’ve only got 88 minutes, you may as well spend them laughing.
Grade: C
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