I just got back from a vacation in Brazil. While there, on a rainy day, I watched a movie called 88 Minutes with Al Pacino. After doing some research, I found this film has been in the can since 2006 and has been released in some foreign territories, like Brazil, France, Greece etc. Anyway, apparently it will be released here in the States this coming April. I was skeptical before watching the film. Why was a movie with Al Pacino be collecting dust for so long? Is it bad? Is it tied up in legalities? After watching the film, I have but one question; Who in Hollywood did Pacino lose a bet with to have to star in this crap? I mean, he obviously doesn't need the money. He's starred in The Godfather, Scarface, and Scent of a Women, so he knows a good script when he reads one. For the life of me I can't figure out why the Al is a part of this mess. Anyway, the title, 88 Minutes, refers to the fact the Dr Jack Gramm ( Pacino ) apparently has 88 minutes to live. He is informed of this factoid via a mysterious phone call. Dr Jack Gramm is an egotistical college professor, who, when not sleeping with his hot students, moonlights as a consultant for the FBI. His analysis of a suspected murderer, Jon Forster, played by Neil McDonough ( from Boomtown ) got the guy sentenced to death. Now the whole film takes place on the day of this guy's pending execution. Not only is a guy supposed to die who Gramm put on the gurney, but a girl who Gramm used to sleep with, a student, has also turned up dead. That's the biggest problem with the film. Too much going on at once. After Jack finds out he has 88 minutes to live, he doesn't seem too concerned. He kind of just brushes it off. He spends part of the movie trying to find out who wants him dead and the other part trying to figure out who killed his former student. At the end of the movie, when everything is revealed, it couldn't be more pathetic. There was no way that anything in the movie that had happened up to that point, could justify who the killer was. I just didn't buy it. The movie also stars Lelee Sobieski and Benjamin "The OC" McKenzie as two of Gramm's students. If there is a saving grace in the film, it William Forsythe's character, a special agent trying to find out who killed Gramm's student. His tough as nails cop is somewhat believable. So, bottom line here, stay away. If you need further proof, let me tell you how the movie starts: Al Pacino dancing to hip hop music at a nightclub with a girl at least 3 inches taller than him, who appears to be 18 years old. Very creepy. Very bad film. If you use this review, please call me GOUDA.
booya
Word!
It's not Al's calling. I would also argue Scent of a Woman isn't much of a good script.
The Insider? I mean I honestly can't really think of a decent movie Pacino's been in since then.
Jan. 28, 2008, 9:02 a.m. CST
by GimpInMyPants
Uncle Rico, who wished he could travel back in time to his glory days. Pacino's glory days were about 30 years ago. He had looks, charm, money, celebrity, he was probably single, and I'm sure he had a girlfriend or two. I bet Pacino would like to go back to those days instead of just waiting to die so he can be honored for a few days.
"I'd throw this football right over those mountains... HOO-AAAHHHH!!!"
do whatever you can and get even a bit part in Michael Mann's new film. Even if you were only in the film for 88 seconds, it would be a bigger contribution to cinema than anything you've done post The Insider.
He's one of the few actors of his generation who hasn't turned to shitty comedies. At least he hasn't willingly turned himself into a parody the way that De Niro or Nicholson has. That said, it's been a while since the man's been in a good film. Pick better directors, Al.
Will be this year's Blood and Chocolate.
Does William Forsythe end up being the bad guy? Could it BE that predictable?
but having to watch this shitburger ain't one of them.
Jon Avnet is also director of the upcoming De Niro, Pacino film "Righteous Kill". <br> 88 Minutes was reall bad, but hopefully he can pull it out the box with RK. <br>
Jon Avnet is also director of the upcoming De Niro, Pacino film "Righteous Kill". <br> 88 Minutes was really bad, but hopefully he can pull it out the box with RK. <br>
AICN needs to have a self post 'delete' option.
I hope this one's not as long. My recent favs were The Insider and Donny Brasco. Insomnia was okay, and I enjoyed The Recruit as popcorn movie fare. He definitely needs a new agent. Someone's not doing right by Al here.
its tragic that two great actors are such jokes now.
She must pick scripts out of a pile at random or something.
...And he's worried about being seen dancing with an 18 year old?
in Stardust. Can't believe that's Travis Bickle in a tutu.
I share your gay pirate love
GIMME ALL YOU GOT!!
the rumored Al Pacino stright to DVD movie? Because it's got a stright to DVD plot in it<P>leeLee may have lousy taste in scripts but man, she's still cute
I've thought he's been phoning it in for a long time now...with a few exceptions. Now, Sobieski has that weird young Helen Hunt giant forehead thing going on...not attractive. Plus, I made the mistake of seeing the Wicker man remake shitshake and now I see her as creepy cult girl who wants to burn people in a giant gingerbread man. Creepy I say. Creepy.
When talents such as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro do one bad movie after another...and still don't realise the errors of their ways...it is just sad...but hey, they soon have a movie coming out together...that might be their saving grace, lets hope. I'm kinda reminded of an interview with Steven Guttenburg (the dude from Police Academy and Cocoon) when the journalist asked if Steve was upset that his career had gone from bad to worse....he said something like...I've made millions from my career and still do...every so often I do a shit film cos who's going to turn down a million bucks for 3 months work, but really I don't need the money anymore and can retire now. Who gives a shit about career when you've got money and blonde bimbos looking to blow you every day...hehehe....maybe this explains the fall of the Godfathers...
Maybe Pacino tried to get out of the movie, but they kept pulling him back in.
Sorry but I caught a glimpse of Nic Cage's hair and turned off the DVD player. Wicker hair.
Does Meg Ryan play 4 roles in this movie?
I love that about him. I think my favorite is when he danced with Sean Penn in 'Carlito's Way'. I'll watch '88 minutes' just to see how these dance steps compare. I dunno, sometimes I think you guys are no fun.
It looks like a dog of a movie and it's still the same today.
does it end like that one?? that movie always made me wonder if the actors didn't even finish reading the script. if they had, they would have either not done the movie or would have at least asked if they could change it. ?? the guy that wants to kill denzel is his dr. who is about to go on vacation and when he gets back denzel wants him to euthanize him... they could have just skipped the movie and shown the guy having the best 2 week vacation of his life knowing that he was gonna come back the guy he wants to kill is going to willingly let him kill him. ...wtf??
??
i think that's proof of why i do wanna see it...
Not just TRASH like the recent movie with Bruce Willis and Halle Berry, "Perfect Stranger." This flick, I really get the feeling it knows it's bad, and everyone just chews on their scenes because of it. It's worth Netflix'ing, but definitely do not see it in the theaters.
Seriously. How can they fuck THAT up?
Apparently from the time he gets the phone call telling him he has 88 minutes to live, there is only 88 minutes left to the movie. Can anything be worse than Keanu Reeves dancing in The Watcher?
You're gonna see some serious shit.
don't get the choices we assume they do. De Niro has said as much. He claims the reason he chooses what other people deem as questionable roles, is a lack of choice. I am assuming its the same case for Pacino.
I mean, really: Step Up? How She Move? How We Mangle the English Fucking Language? Who, honestly, pays money to see this? You wanna know why us white dudes, for the most part, ain't into dancing? Because the word itself now seems to refer to ebonically challenged wannabe cirque-de-soleil contortionists; but damn it all: if some chick HAS A DREAM, all she apparently has to do is jump around as if she's being electrocuted, and presto! She's outta the slums or projects or ghetto or wherever the hell she was; and presumably gets to go somewhere where imitating a crack-addicted spastic yo-yo is a high form of art and communication that unerringly leads to TRUE LOVE. Now, Pacino doing the tango in Scent of a Woman...THAT was cool. THAT's dancing.
he's also gonna be in judd apatow's next film with adam sandler. my all time favorite pacino flick is scarface.
HALF AN HOUR AGO!" Love that line. Oh, and, "because she got A GREAT ASS!"
Snooop.
Pacino should pull a Stallone and bring back Serpico. I know it was based on a real guy who did real things. Just make a fictional sequel. Or do an alternate future where Tony Montana somehow survived, like in that video game.
PACINO NEEDS A HIGH NOTE AND THEN DISAPPEAR
just another nail
with Meg Ryan as guest referee
Rent the original with Edmond O'Brien.
I could barely even make it to Pacino before shutting it off. The production values looked like a Troma movie, and the acting was equal. Pacino, man, what the hell?
One is a movie star whoring himself out in millions of movies, the other is an actor not caring about the movie's quality but if he likes the role. Lets look at their lesser known movies during their prime, the 70s. Scorsese has held DeNiro's hand.Look at his non-Scor movies. In 1900 or The Last Tycoon, DeNiro is pretty much in two gears throughout, his costars show more emotion. And this is the freakin 70s we're talking about, when he is considered in his prime. You couldn't find one bad performance with Pacino in the 70s or 80s. Even in a mediocre movie, his screen presence jumped out and he was engaging. WHat about DeNiro in bad movies, well he dissolves right in the quagmire. Pacino has more range, it's subtle but there, in And Justice For All and Author! Author! he showed a more lighthearted humorous character, DeNiro's lightheartedness is the same tired toughguy shit in Midnight Run, Meet the Parents/Analyze movies. Pacino was yelling too much in the 90s while DeNiro was whoring it up in countless bit parts and now continues to do so in the 2000s, at least Pacino is doing some good work again with Merchant of Venice and will playing Salvador Dali. DeNiro will be playing another fucking mobster in Frankie Machine. The worst Pacino did is yell too much, the worst DeNiro does is be bland. The latter is inexusable in acting. DeNiro is more interested in being a movie star somehow thinking that if he's in a bajillion movies then that will level out his shortcomings as an actor. While Pacino could give two bits about stardom and caring only about acting itself, ie doing theater, Shakespare. He passed on movies like Apocalypse Now, Star Wars, Goodfellas, the one he most regretted passing was Slap Shot (1977).
I wouldn't buy into that so utterly, Nabster. I think that the unsaid but oh-how-important word here might just be "budget", as in "There is a lack of choice at the budget to pay". It's plain to see that De Niro and Pacino are in the movies they choose to be in for the money they make as ROBERT DE NIRO and AL PACINO, turning a throwaway 'B' script into a major 'A' film for any studio by adding their names over the title. They don't have to make these movies, and if nothing else more worth their talents isn't put in front of them, they can doubtless afford to be as retired as Steve Guttenberg is (If MonkeyManReturns post is believed). If doing real "work" by their craft was truly more important to either of them, an icon like De Niro or Pacino need only tell their agents to stop sending them the same formula vehicles that the studios pay for and ask to see all of those scripts that aren't set up yet and don't have their offer attached that the agents ignore because they can't produce their clients' Hollywood stock value.
That's news to me.
where the fuck these guys are?" oh and...
Give me a fuckin' break!!!
The Insider ruled!!!! His last great movie! But I would say Insomnia was good too, his last really good movie. Here's hoping the new Pacino/Deniro movie delivers these great actors back to us in style!
I know you have to be talking about Han when you say Pacino was offered a part in STAR WARS, and I know they considered "every actor in town", but still, like I said, news.
Mediocre film. Just what the fuck has happened to Pacino, DeNiro, Nicholson and Hoffman? Are they truly that unwanted by Hollyweird now that they'll take pretty much whatever piece of shit that comes along just for a paycheck? These guys used to be artists, now more often than not, they're just empty suits. Sad reall.
Another movie spoiled by Spoiler_Man!
also says he passed on Kramer vs. Kramer
So I guess nobody here liked S1m0ne.
he's career is over
Starring Al Pacino & at least 52 different hair pieces! Serious, ever scene they showed his hair line changed, his got thicker or thinner. Even the colors kept changing. You think he would spend some money and not walk around with a dead mongoose hair hat. Call Cy Sperling for god's sake!
Starring Al Pacino & at least 52 different hair pieces! Seriously, every scene they showed, his hair line changed. His hair got thicker or thinner with each scene change. Even the colors kept changing. You think he would spend some money and not walk around with a dead mongoose hair hat on his head. Call Cy Sperling for god's sake!
is STILL the best! everyhting in that movie is heightened to theh extreme, it's a relaly subtle satire of the 80s itself. Plus that red hawaiian shirt he wears during the coke deal gone wrong i have to have.
..not a damn thing wrong with that Bobby D'..just sayin'..
damn misleading titles.
Deckard: She's a replicant, isn't she? // Tyrell: I'm impressed. How many questions does it usually take to spot them? // Deckard: I don't get it Tyrell. // Tyrell: How many questions? // Deckard: Twenty, thirty, cross-referenced. // Tyrell: It took more than a hundred for Rachael, didn't it? // Deckard: 'CAUSE SHE'S GOT A GREAT ASS... and you got your head all the way up it! Ferocious, aren't I? When I think of asses, a woman's ass, something comes out of me!
You beat me to the DOA joke. Great minds think alike.
This is better news than Ghost Dad and Leonard part 6 combined.
...And *you* are a *volunteer* Executive Producer.
Gosh, why did I read this (thanks though, Gouda). My "Godfather" heart is broken. I can't... get... image of Michael dancing... hip... hop. No! Now I'll have to watch some "Godfather" (*sigh*) to try and erase this. Why, Al? Why?! :(
From the exit on the bridge. Now, I just watched that trailer because I wanted to see how Al looked like in this sad mess (sadly, not good) and 88 minutes? Come.on! There's no way that this is possible, just like Gouda said. It takes me some 10 minutes to get to my office from the time I get of the bridge, to the parking garage, and walk the two blocks to my building. At that point, I haven't done much, but start my day. And they want us to believe he faces an interrogation and what-not, in 88 minutes? I'm. con-fused. I was also surprised to see that it comes out mid-April. Is it possible (hopefully) that they will read reviews like Gouda's and try and re-edit it to be more believable? What was edited out if all this was kept in? I mean, Michael dancing... hip... no!!! :(
Don't know ablout Pacino, but Dustin Hoffman was seriously considered for the role..Deckard: Umm Rachael, you're trying to seduce me....aren't you?...A guilty pleasure role of mine of Pacino's is in The Devil's Advocate. He plays it like a cat in front of the biggest bowl of cream. Funny how both he and DeNiro have the role of Satan on their resume. Biggest embarassment in either career??..three words...Rocky and Bullwinkle. What was DeNiro thinking???
The kings of unintentional comedy.
...Wont deliver. Niether of them give a fuck about acting anymore, and its from the same production company and team that brought you The Wicker Man, The Black Dahlia and the talk back prompting 88 minutes. Not to mention 16 blocks. I wonder how it works. "Hi, superstar director and actor, its me, Millenium films on the line. Yeah, so, we know you said you had zero interest in making the film, but were hoping we can just pay you twice as much and can just hang about the set while we get DTV aces to handle the film making. Yeah, we just need your name on the posters. Thanks."
Wow, what a racist douchebag.
this site DID review this movie about 7 months ago..and I actually saw it..on ..erm..umm..bootleg...about 6 months ago,and it was LAME AS SHIT! it's so min-numbing-i had to skip past 15 minutes of crappy movie JUST to get to the end. (which will BLOW your mind away int erms of how inporbable it is)It feels like 80% of direct to dvd movies with FAMOUS ACTORS in it: unscripted, unimaginative,droll and with name actors jsut doing someone a favor. WTF happened to class in hollywood?
crazy...the trailers makes this movie look really good..it feels like its gonna be a "nick of time" kind of movie