88 Minutes

views updated

88 Minutes ★½ 2008 (R)

Predictable thriller sat on the shelves developing mold before Sony studios finally released it, and it's easy to see why. Jack Gramm (Pacino—either indifferent or ranting) is an allegedly hotshot forensic shrink whose testimony put away serial killer Jon Forster (McDonough). Forster is on death row when similar crimes are committed. Gramm gets the fisheye from FBI agent Parks (Forsythe) over the latest murder and then receives a call saying he's got 88 minutes to live. There's no sense of urgency and a viewer can easily discern who's sticking it to Jack, making suspense an afterthought. 108m/C DVD . US GE Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Neal McDonough, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Ben(jamin) McKenzie, Stephen Moyer; D: Jon Avnet; W: Gary Scott Thompson; C: Denis Lenoir; M: Ed Shearmur.