DESPERATE MEASURES
RATING: 6.5 / 10 --> So-so
Review
Date:
August 24, 1998
Director:
Barbet
Schroeder
Writer:
David Klass
Producers:
Barbet Schroeder, Lee Rich, Susan Hoffman and Gary Foster
Actors:
Michael Keaton as Peter
McCabe
Andy Garcia as Frank Conner
Genre:
Thriller
Year of Release: 1998
Director Barbet Schroeder
takes a wide-turn at the genre section of movie-making, and
trades in his permanent place-card from the human drama division,
and punches up a DIE HARD (8/10)-type thriller for the
intellectually-challenged.
PLOT:
A feisty police officer's nine-year old son has fallen gravely
ill and needs a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. The
only donor compatible to the child is Peter McCabe (Keaton),
multiple murderer locked up in jail. Agent Conner (Garcia)
convinces Peter to redeem himself by helping his son live longer.
McCabe agrees. Once in the hospital, McCabe escapes, and mayhem
ensues. Ironically, detective Conner must catch the fugitive, but
not kill him, for his son's life hangs in the balance.
CRITIQUE:
Rudimentary thriller containing some suspenseful moments, many
implausibilities, a standard car chase, a solid performance by
Keaton as the highly enlightened killer, and a cool final scene.
This movie is not extremely original in any way, shape or form,
but it does offer an interesting launch premise, a relatively
short run-time, and an even pace of suspense and interest
throughout. Michael Keaton's performance is also very
over-the-top and fun to watch, and of course, the proverbial Andy
Garcia playing "the suit" (I may be mistaken, but I
think Andy's last seven films have him garbed in a suit. Perhaps
even the same suit! Stretch your acting muscles, Andy! Loosen the
tie, dude!!).
Schroeder does not bring anything overtly stylish to the film,
but does maintain a non-stop pace of twists, turns and action
scenes. The film could've used a stronger "reality
check" (Garcia asks other police officers not to shoot
Keaton's character in order to maintain his son's chances of
living, while sacrificing the lives of other officers in the
process.), as Garcia's character seems to break every law in the
book by the end of the film (Why couldn't you just shoot the guy
in the legs to slow him down? Just a thought.)
Overall, this film would not be a highly recommendable one by any
stretch of the imagination, but I guess it was some fun for what
it was, and it sure wouldn't hurt if you crashed out after a long
day's work, and needed something to join your brain in shut-down
mode for an hour or so. Keaton's performance is also enjoyable to
watch, as is the "suit's". Also, the final scene of
this movie is one of the coolest that I've seen in a while, so I
guess you could always look forward to that little tidbit of
hipness. Otherwise, this film is like a wet fart on a hot day.
Satisfying as it goes along, but ultimately empty and forgettable
when it's over.
Little Known Facts about the film and its stars:
The article "Inside the Mind of a Sociopath" that the
Captain is reading during the trip to the prison is written
"by Michael Keaton".
Andy
Garcia was born in
Havana, Cuba, under his full name of Andres Arturo
Garcia-Menendez. Upon his birth, Andy apparently had an unusual
growth on his shoulder. It turned out to be a twin that hadn't
fully developed. "They just snipped it off,
apparently," says Garcia. He's been married to Maria
Victoria (whom everyone calls Marivi), a fellow Cuban émigré,
since 1982, and vigorously guards her privacy and that of their
three daughters, Dominik, Daniella, and Alessandra.
Director Barbet Schroeder is a man. He was nominated as Best Director
at the 1991 Academy Awards for THE REVERSAL OF FORTUNE (7/10),
and played the French President in the Tim Burton movie MARS ATTACKS! (6.5/10).
Writer
David Klass' first
produced screenplay was KISS THE GIRLS (7/10).
(c) 1998 Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews starting with "D"
Related Reviews:
Barbet Schroeder:
Sridhar Prasad's Review of Reversal of Fortune
David Klass:
James Brundage's Review of Kiss the Girls
Berge Garabedian's Review of Kiss the Girls
Michael Keaton:
James Brundage's Review of Batman Forever
Berge Garabedian's Review of Out of Sight (uncredited)
Berge Garabedian's Review of The Paper