88 perc

A little scattered and too busy for Al Pacino. As a viewer, I didn't really get to know the other characters properly and thus didn't really "care" who was or wasn't the killer. It was like the director himself was afraid that people wouldn't follow... it only made the whole thing hectic. (2010.10.28)

I'll give Avnet one thing. Up until now, I thought I'd enjoy watching two hours of a man sleeping if it was Al Pacino. But in 88 Minutes, even he is a bore. It must be quite a feat to fit into such a desperately unimaginative ensemble led by a cinematographer, director, editor, and composer. Not to mention the screenwriter, because he must have been long run over by a car naked while peeling onions on a highway exit. I can't imagine that a man with such an illogical and stupid way of thinking about the world is still alive. The acting is crisis-level misery, and at times I wanted to cry, but my tears were so bored that I couldn't. Two stars for maybe Ala, who clearly didn't got no joy from filming this, just like me from watching the result. (2010.09.14)

An incredibly generic and half-assed thriller where Al Pacino tries to play a guy twenty years younger, with a Porsche, a luxury condo, and designer clothes. He’s not bad, but unfortunately, even his acting talent can't save the incredibly boring plot and poorly executed television feel (the action scenes in particular are tragic). I don't understand why there are so many big names here (Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Kara Unger). In the technical side, they cut corners where they could, most likely, the majority of the budget went to the actors – not a good choice because they have nothing to work with. And the ending is predictable miles ahead, just like the entire course of the movie. (2008.07.31)

I just jumped into a moving train named 24 with Kiefer Sutherland on board, and let’s face it, 88 Minutes has a really similar structure. Everything happens more or less in “real time" in front of our eyes. The problem with this picture is certainly the rather crude screenplay, but anyway the topic is excellent, but just needs a little reorganization. Avnet’s directing is fairly routine and holds few surprises. All that can save it is the as ever great acting from Al Pacino who is keen on choosing really inconsistent characters right now, (neither positive or negative), in fact it reminded me a lot of detective Nolan from Insomnia. In any case, 88 Minutes is certainly worth watching. Especially if you like suspense, action, Al Pacino and pretty women (casting did a great job ;). (2007.06.01)