88 MINUTES is the type of film you watch for the actors. Al Pacino is in his usual acting form. He is Jack Gramm, a haunted forensic psychologist, that receives a call on his cell phone that tells him he has 88 minutes to live. Meanwhile, someone is killing in the same way that a serial killer (Neal McDonough) Jack helped put away (said serial killer will be executed in 12 hours). Did Jack put away the wrong guy (Jack thinks not) or is their a copycat at work? Thus sets the premise for the intriguing paranoid thriller known as 88 MINUTES. It keeps you guessing as Jack tries to find out who is setting him up for a fall as the stakes continue to be raised. Who can he trust? Will he make it out alive? What thing in his past is making him so haunted?

88 MINUTES is a better film for Al Pacino than RIGHTEOUS KILL (also starring Pacino and directed by Jon Avnet). RIGHTEOUS KILL has problems with it's start and end where 88 MINUTES flows so much better.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
audio commentary with director Jon Avent. Jon talks about the story and characters. It is amazing to see what they did in a 39 day shoot on a small budget.

The alternate ending shows a few additional bits to the climax, but the biggest addition is that it goes beyond the theatrical ending. It is debatable whether the alternate ending works better or 88 MINUTES ends at the right point. I go back and forth on this one.

two featurettes:
DIRECTOR'S POINT OF VIEW- Jon Avnet talks about the film's production, story, and the characters.
THE CHARACTER WITHIN- Al Pacino talks about playing Jack Gramm and gives praise for his fellow actors

FINAL ANALYSIS: 88 MINUTES is a good thriller vehicle for Al Pacino. Watch this instead of RIGHTEOUS KILL.

this DVD review is (c)9-15-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  

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