88 Minutes

One waggish New York critic opined that 88 Minutes was about 87 too long, but that seems a wee bit harsh. True, Jon Avnet's thriller is a bit flaccid in stretches, and features plot holes too numerous to tally, but there's a fair amount of suspense in this story revolving around Jack Gramm (Al Pacino), a Seattle-based criminal psychiatrist and college professor who receives a cell-phone call from an anonymous crank warning him that he has just 88 minutes to live. The call comes on the heels of the latest in a series of brutal murders by a sadistic serial killer whose modus operandi matches that of a brilliant sociopath (Neal McDonough) due to be executed that very day (after being convicted on the strength of Jack's testimony). As Jack races against time to find the killer, those around him—his secretary (Amy Brenneman), a teaching assistant (Alicia Witt), the dean (Deborah Kara Unger), and even one of his students (Leelee Sobieski)—are drawn into various death traps intended for him. Pacino's performance helps to carry the film over numerous weak spots, but even he ultimately can't compensate for the script's weaknesses, and most viewers will be able to guess the mystery villain's true identity a half-hour in. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jon Avnet, a 10-minute alternate ending, an eight-minute “Director's Point of View” making-of segment featuring Avnet, “The Character Within” featurette with star Al Pacino (8 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD Live function. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (E. Hulse)