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15 MINUTES... they want it, and will do anything to get it
Father Geek here, when I saw a trailer for this I got real rebbed up. An old friend and long time writer on this site had written an ass-kicking script that I loved called 15 MINUTES in the early 1990's about criminals, cops, and radio shock jocks all trying desperately to get their "15 minutes" of Warhol predicted fame any way they could. However, sadly, this movie isn't that script. It has the same name and the same basic premise, but thats it, nothing else matches up except that they both appear to be action-packed crime dramas. Whoever put up the money for this one got short changed... the other "15 Minutes" had a hell of alot more punch for the dollar.
I saw the Robert DeNiro, Ed Burns movie, "15 Minutes."
I didn't post anything on it, but when I read your rundown of
movies for 2001, you mentioned you'd heard nothing about it.
The film, directed by the man who gave us "Two Days in the Valley", is a mixed
bag. It's slow to get going, hits it's stride for about an hour, then falls
apart in a sea of contrivances by the end.
The film begins promisingly with two Eastern European tough guys entering the
United States to collect money from a pal now living in Manhattan. On the way
to the pal's house, one of the Euro Tough Guys buys a handheld video camera
from an electronic store in Times Square. As it turns out, the pal has
squandered the money and is dispatched (and videotaped. How topical!) by these
two tough guys. In order to hide their crime, they set fire to the apartment.
Enter DeNiro and Burns. DeNiro plays a media-whore New York detective. He's on
the cover of the New York Post, he's always being interviewed on TV and his
latest bust is always a local news event. He arrives at the crime scene
because it's a homocide. Enter Ed Burns, who's a fire investigator. He arrives
at the scene because of arson. Although Burns has no respect for the media
loving DeNiro, and the two get territorial about who's got jurisdiction, they
reluctantly team up to solve the case, with DeNiro teaching Burns a lesson or
two on how to play the media.
Meanwhile, the two bad guys hole up in some dingy Manhattan apartment where
they eventually come to the realization that in America, you can get away with
any crime if you just say "I'm sorry", preferrably in primetime, during sweeps
and on a big network. Emboldened by this, they begin a real crime spree,
blowing away the various witnesses to their original murder/arson and in
general having lots of illegal fun. Their plan is to do their evil business,
get caught, then play the media (and the public) like a fiddle, plea insanity
and go free.
Kelsey Grammer plays the anchor of a tabloid news program following the story,
who tries to cash in on the bad guys' plan in his own (equally insidious) way:
big ratings.
The film takes a very unexpected turn about 2/3 of the way through (which I
won't tell you, so you can keep reading), which gave it the emotion and
momentum that it was steadily losing.
In the last half-hour, the film spins out of control, with the story taking
ridiculous turns just so the filmmakers can make their topical point. The
climax, near the courthouse, by the water is bad "Delvecchio."
"15 Minutes" is one of those films that grabbed onto a good idea, but somehow
lost it, even if enough of the original inspiration remains to gleen some
enjoyment from it. For about an hour, the film really gets going and DeNiro,
being DeNiro, is just well, God damn DeNiro. Even when he's not required to
try very hard, I'll take it. Melina Kanakaredes (hey man, at least I tried to
spell it right) plays DeNiro's girlfriend and Star Trek's Avery Brooks hams it
up annoyingly as a cop. "15 Minutes" has something to say, but in wrapping in
a typical buddy-cop bow, it only occassionally hits home.
Sign me, Pelham123
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+ Expand All
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Finally. *sigh*
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....than a movie that sparkles at first then dies like a crappy bottle rocket(no wonder they give em away by the gross right after new years)
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seems like the media angle is Natural Born Killers, done for a more mainstream audience. Although Tommy Lee Jones' head on a stick is pretty mainstream friendly, really. Also, the french movie "Man Bites Dog" plays off this whole 'use the media for your crimes' idea. but that movie was pretty hilarious, while this movie will be a dissappointment. or maybe that's just me.
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Jan 05, 2001 10:13:32 PM CST
Damn man...I remember seeing a preview for this in April. Relea
by lenny nero
Sounds like crap. But, going along with how I basically am, I'll see it, because I see everything. Oh well...
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which has some tracks on it by moby, rob d, tricky collaborator martina, and david holmes, who scored the film out of sight. for more info check out my page at http://oblivion.accessus.net/~jon
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of course it will suck. this guy has been coasting on a reputation founded on scorsese's brilliance for the last 10 years, the only exception to which was casino, which althought it was a good movie, was not exactly pushing him into new territory. all he can do now is comedic roles which play off of his tough wise guy image. in fact, he's done that for so long that now his image is actually the cheeseball over the top comedic gangster instead of the real thing (midnight run, analyze this, meet the parents, etc). and c'mon, rocky and goddamn bulwinkle? i used to think ed norton was our generation's robert de niro, but now i wouldn't insult a great actor like norton by saying that. ps-good job to whoever brought up man bites dog--an absloutely great flick that hardly anyone saw. that scene where the hitman with the documentary film crew runs into another hitman with his own documentary film crew was priceless.
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We don't need anymore of those, either. Anyone know when that guys is going to make another movie? It's been what.. like 5 years since "Jackie Brown"?
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Jan 06, 2001 12:24:52 PM CST
That about Tarantino is the best news I've heard this century.
by milktoast
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The film takes a very unexpected turn about 2/3 of the way through (which I won't tell you, so you can keep reading), which gave it the emotion and momentum that it was steadily losing.
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..."The film takes a very unexpected turn about 2/3 of the way through"...not anymore! Folks...simply revealing that there is a surprise ending without giving the details is still spoiling it for the rest of us. Now we will look for it (even unintentionally) because we know that it's coming. Please be more thoughtful when reviewing.......Be Vigilant.
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So...you think only great scripts get bought and produced? Did I understand that right? And if a script isn't picked up by a major studio, it's de facto crap? That's so mind-numbingly idiotic that I'm going to have to assume you're trolling. No one could really have that kind of childlike faith in the artistic integrity of film studios...right? **** Oh, and I saw the preview for "15 Minutes" too and wasn't impressed at all. Lots of buddy-cop cliches (must there always be a friggin' rookie?), and I got the feeling that the alledged condemnation of media exploitation would really just be an excuse for the film to revel in a little violent exploitation itself.
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Jan 06, 2001 7:37:56 PM CST
The trailer kicked ass....this review ain't changing my noggin..
by docsisx
even though Ed Burns can't act his way out of David Spade's shoelace. Wait, what?
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This is great news....Man I so in need of new Big T. Shit!! After % years I kinda like Jacky Brown. Yup, I just had to do it.
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I agree with a previous post, the trailer looks cool. oh and i disagree with the same post...Ed Burns rules. Check out any of his write-direct-star in films, they rule and have a very true to life quality about them except SHE's THE ONE where that lucky lucky Mike McGlone gets to pork Jennifer Anniston AND Cameron Diaz. Lucky lucky man. I think i just passed out thinking about that, yeah i did. I started writing this at 7:30 pm and now it's 2:40 am. Damn those hot flashes, i only pass out from them when i think about the swirling ass of Cam........(THUMP!)........... huh what happened? Oh damn these Hot flashes!
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The imdb lists another film for 2000 that is called "15 minutes" and directed by some fella by the name of Alex Weimer. Does anyone know anything about this one? There are no big names in it, but might be a cool independent-flick from Germany. I da know.
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Jan 08, 2001 4:59:54 PM CST
48 Hours, 8 Seconds, 15 Minutes, 9 1/2 Weeks, 13 Days, 28 Days..
by dwellah812
Am I forgetting any more. Get some originality Hollywood!
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yeah i love his work too, but im sick and tired of critics whining about how much they think its like something he did, i loved the way of the gun, but most critics slammed it as a 'poor post tarrantino flic'... same with snatch, and most other modern action flics that try to mix in humor, a decent story, and maybe a bit of religion (the boondock saints)... if that lame excuse about being too much like his work is the best you can do, seek other employment, cause' its been overused, and...well... doesnt make any sense. You dont hear people describing john woo films like tarrantino's even though they both often cover the same subject matter...ne ways, had to vent...
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