88 Minutes

In Seattle, the successful forensic psychiatrist and college professor Jack Gramm is in evidence since he was responsible for the condemnation of the serial killer Jon Forster, influencing the jury to sentence him to the death row. Jon accuses Jack of manipulation, inducing one witness and sister of one of his victims to testify against him. On the eve of Jon's execution, Jack receives a phone call telling him that he has only eighty-eight minutes of life, while a killer is copycatting Jon, killing women with the same "modus-operandi" and is investigated by Seattle Slayer Task Force. With the support of his former wife and associated Shelly Barnes, the FBI agent and his friend Frank Parks and his assistant Kim Cummings, Jack investigate some weird and problematic students, a security guard of the campus and the woman with whom he had one night stand.

Dove Review

This thriller starring Al Pacino keeps viewers guessing until the end. Pacino plays forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm. Nine years after his testimony helped convict a serial murderer, Dr. Gramm gets a phone call telling him that he only has 88 minutes left to live. The rest of the movies consists of Pacino running around trying to prove his theory that the murderer he put away nine years ago is behind the threat. But how can that particular psychopath be the mastermind, when he is on death row awaiting his execution that same night?

I love mysteries, but “88 Minutes” is just not satisfying, and I think I know why. What makes mysteries so enjoyable, whether in movie or book form, is trying to piece together all the clues to figure out who-dun-it. But in “88 Minutes,” there almost aren’t any clues!

Pacino’s character is therefore lost in trying to figure out what’s going on. The ending seems to surprise Dr. Gramm as much as the movie-going audience.

“88 Minutes” cannot be awarded our Dove Seal due to the violent theme, as well as the language, nudity and sexual content.

Dove Rating Details

Faith

None

Integrity

Scalpel shown cutting woman’s skin; several bloody dead bodies shown; many references to serial murderers; reference to rape; a couple of people shown with cuts and bruises after being attacked; man shot; woman shot; people shoot at each other; woman falls to her death.

Sex

Implied one night stand between the lead character and a woman he met at a bar; reference to Dr. Gramm’s reputation as a womanizer; two women shown kissing and sex is implied; woman says that she is gay.

Language

S-4; B-1; SOB-1; D-5; GD-5; J-3; JC-1; OG/OMG-7; H-12; P-1

Violence

Drugs

Two brief flashback scenes show people drinking at a bar, including the lead; the lead has a large wine collection in his home; reference to the lead’s reputation as an avid drinker.

Nudity

Cleavage; woman in bra and underwear; nude woman (only buttocks visible); a woman’s breast is shown.

Other

None

More Information

Film Information

Genre

Drama

Runtime

108

Rating

N/A

Reviewer

Samantha Vandersloot

Actors

Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski

Writers

Gary Scott Thompson

Directors

Jon Avnet

Producers

Jon Avnet

Studios

Columbia Tri-Star Pictures