Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures (1998)

Genres - Action, Adventure, Drama, Crime, Thriller  |   Sub-Genres - Action Thriller, Chase Movie  |   Release Date - Jan 30, 1998 (USA - Unknown), Jan 30, 1998 (USA)  |   Run Time - 100 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Review by Derek Armstrong

Desperate Measures would be an utterly unremarkable, middle-of-the-road thriller if it weren't for its one original idea: that its escaped convict can't be brought down by force because the pursuing detective needs his bone marrow, which will be useless if he's dead. Even so, it does little of interest with that clever plot point, making for a second-rate film that continues Barbet Schroeder's run of disappointing projects following his American breakthrough in Reversal of Fortune. Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton sleepwalk through their respective performances as cat and mouse, with Garcia imploring earnestly and Keaton sneering remorselessly. Both look like they might have an appointment to be elsewhere. It doesn't help that David Klass' script hangs them out to dry, offering several implausible escapes but no sustained -- or even momentary -- tension. Even without such an anonymous -- albeit accurate - title, Desperate Measures would be destined to get lost in the bargain bin of the local video store, among dozens of other low-level thrillers with interchangeable parts.