Writer: David Klass (Screenplay)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Andy Garcia, Brian Cox, Marcia Gay Harden, Erik King, Efrain Figueroa, Joseph Cross, Janel Moloney
Plot: San Francisco police officer Frank Connor (Garcia) is in frantic search for a compatible bone marrow donor for his gravely ill son. There’s only one catch; the potential donor is convicted multiple murderer Peter McCabe (Keaton) who sees a trip to the hospital as the perfect opportunity to get what he wants most; freedom. With McCabe’s escape, the entire hospital becomes a battleground and Connor must pursue and, ironically, protect the deadly fugitive who is his son’s only hope for survival.
Verdict: Tidy thriller
Story: When you get a cat and mouse chase like thriller it usually ends up having just one basic rule and that is the good guy will end up going to any means to stop the killer even if it means he kills them. This adds something different to the mix where the good guy can’t kill the bad guy even though everyone else will not stop to kill him. In the end we end up with the two smartest people being the only ones involved and all the rest of the characters almost too dumb to be in the roles they are in. (7/10)
Actor Reviews
Michael Keaton: Peter the killer who will go to extreme lengths to get his freedom even if it costs a young boy his life. Michael is great in the role as the psycho criminal. (8/10)
Andy Garcia: Frank the detective who will go to any lengths to save his son, even if it ends up costing him his career. Good performance from Garcia but gets overshadowed by Keaton. (7/10)
Director Review: Barbet Schroeder – Good direction to create an action thriller that pushes characters to the limits. (8/10)
Action: Most action is shooting but only in spells after nice build up. (7/10)
Thriller: Most scenes have a good build up and you will be left at the edge of the seat throughout. (9/10)
Settings: Most of the film is set in a hospital which works for the story. (9/10)
Suggestion: This is only one to try as it might be a bit slow for the action fans and might offer too many morale questions for the casual viewer. (Try It)
Best Part: Walk way gun scene.
Worst Part: Starts slow.
Action Scene Of The Film: Final chase.
Believability: You can never know how far people will go to save a loved one. (4/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: Teases a potential.
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $13,806,137
Budget: $50 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Tagline: Desperate times call for ….
Overall: Thriller that will ask you how far would you go?
Rating