Regular readers here at Moon In The Gutter probably realize a couple of things. One is that I rarely write on films that I really hate…I mean I’m not getting paid for this so why waste my time? Two is that Al Pacino is my favorite American actor, which is the reason I am going to briefly break my first rule here for this post.
Jon Avnet might not be the worst director working in Hollywood today but, if judging 88 Minutes is any signal, he might be close. 88 Minutes is easily the worst film Al Pacino has ever appeared in…it makes the likes of Author Author (1982) and Revolution (1985) seem downright inspired. Avnet’s film is also the worst film I have seen this year, and I hope to God I don’t have to sit through anything quite as bad again for quite awhile.
The most regrettable thing about 88 Minutes is just how great of a cast it has. Joining Pacino is everyone from Amy Brennaman to William Forsythe to Deborah Karr Unger to Leelee Sobieski…all fine actors who no doubt signed on for the chance to work with Pacino.
The unbearably bad script is credited to Gary Scott Thompson so all the blame can’t be placed at Avnet’s feet, but most of it can as 88 Minutes looks like it was directed by a blindfolded man who has never touched a camera before. The idea that it is also Avnet who directed the upcoming Pacino and DeNiro film, Righteous Kill, makes me heartbreakingly leery of what should be a historic collaboration.
I’m glad that I don’t have to refer to Revolution as Al Pacino’s worst film anymore but trudging through the dismal 88 Minutes was still one of the most depressing and dispiriting experiences I have had in quite a while. Thank God Pacino is currently filming a picture with the interesting Gattaca and Lord of War creator Andrew Niccol as the great man deserves much better than the likes of Jon Avnet and 88 Minutes.
