15 minutes, each one a bliss (15 Minutes (DVD))

Member Name:

Product:	15 Minutes (DVD)
Date:	19/03/01 (0 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: the film being made

Disadvantages: none

At what point does news cease to be news and become mere exploitation and sensationalism, and where do you draw the line? Not a new question, certainly, but in light of all the "reality" television shows currently in vogue, "15 Minutes," written and directed by John Herzfeld, is a timely and pertinent examination of just how much is enough, and how far you really have to go to satisfy a public with an apparently insatiable appetite for violence. Then again, is this really what people want to see, or is it a matter of unscrupulous network executives purposely feeding the curiosity of the masses and justifying their actions with ratings numbers? In the 1976 film, "Network," a programmer negotiates with terrorists to give them their own show; in this movie, the host of a tabloid news program is willing to broadcast live footage of the most repugnant murder and mayhem, claiming it is his "responsibility" to show it because it is "news." The story centers on veteran New York City detective Eddie Flemming (Robert De Niro), who enjoys a certain celebrity due to the fact that many of his cases have been featured on "Top Story," the "news" show hosted by Robert Hawkins (Kelsey Grammer). Flemming's notoriety actually facilitates his job to a certain extent, as people open up to him because they know him, or "of" him, at any rate. But when a pair of criminals-- one a Czech, the other a Russian-- arrive in New York to settle a score after having just been released from prison in their own country, Flemming finds himself involved in a case more bizarre than any he's ever encountered. For after noting the "success" of a murderer featured on Top Story, the two decide upon a career path for themselves; one that will lead them to fame and fortune. And their plan is very simple: They will film their crimes and sell the tapes to the station or show that will pay the most-- and they intend
on giving Mr. Robert Hawkins first crack at them. For the audience, it becomes quite a wild ride, and Herzfeld delivers it all with heart-pounding, adrenaline pumping action, enhanced by a driving soundtrack that keeps you on edge right up to the end. There's a relentless intensity to this film that never wavers, and there's just enough character development to keep it interesting, along with a couple of plot twists that are so unexpected it is almost unnerving. Suffice to say, this is not your usual formulaic action/crime drama. As always, De Niro, the consummate professional, turns in the kind of performance we've come to expect from him. He pursues his craft with such finesse and skill that very quickly you know who Flemming is and what he's all about. Few actors have the ability to so succinctly convey character definition as De Niro does here, and it goes a long way to making this so much more than just an average cop show. Edward Burns gives a notable performance as well, as Jordy Warsaw, the arson investigator for the Fire Department who teams up with Flemming in pursuit of these psychotic killers who have apparently come to regard violence as an acceptable way of life. Burns works well with De Niro, and most importantly, he makes his character believable. The supporting cast includes Vera Farmiga (Daphne), Melina Kanakaredes (Nicolette), Tygh Runyan (Stephen Geller), Sebastian Roche (Ludwig) and Karel Roden and Oleg Taktarov as the killers. There is such high tension in this film-- the scenes involving the killers are especially frantic, and some of the violence is extremely graphic-- and there is such a pounding rhythm to it that it negates the emotional involvement of the audience to some extent, and at least one element of the plot is so shocking it may leave you nonplused; but in the final analysis, "15 Minutes" is an absorbing, action packed drama that is something of an indictment of the purveyors of sensationalism for it'
;s own sake, as well as those who allow it to proliferate through irresponsible acquiescence. Not for the faint of heart, but for those who like it served up hard, this will be a satisfying movie-going experience; and one that will stay with you for some time to come.

Summary: