80 Minutes

"80 Minutes" seems at first as if it will be a low-budget version of "Crank," but with an unexpected and fairly effective plot twist at the climax, it morphs into a low-budget version of an entirely different film, which I will not allude to, so as to avoid spoiling the surprise, other than saying it was an excellent film with first-rate talent. While 80M is limited by its budget, it manages to retain the moral and emotional B-story of the other film.

80M isn't a great film, but it offers several satisfying plot twists, humor, witty banter and a lot of heart from its central characters. Production values are barely sufficient to convey the story. The three central characters deliver interesting performances, but many of the supporting characters lack depth. It's not without its faults, but it has its moments.

A quiet birthday celebration at home turns into a desperate race against the clock when a man is injected with poison and given eighty minutes to settle a lingering debt in Knockin' On Heaven's Door director Thomas Jahn's relentlessly tense white-knuckle thriller. Alex North is sitting at home and awaiting the arrival of his girlfriend Mona when an unexpected knock at the door reveals his old friend Walter, a likable restaurant owner who is inexplicably flanked by a pair of muscular thugs. When Alex failed to pay back the $15,000 he borrowed from Walter, he thought that his old friend would be a bit more understanding. But Walter wants his money back tonight, and in order to give Alex some incentive to work fast, he injects him with a time-release poison that will prove should an antidote fail to be administered within the next eighty minutes. Desperate, Alex races to his brother Vincent and gets into a serious car accident along the way. But the other people who were involved in the accident are none too pleased, and quickly give chase as Alex beats a hasty retreat to his brother's house. As Alex attempts to convince Vincent to give him the money that will save his life, he realizes that the police are hot on his trail as well. Not only that, but a vicious biker gang seems determined to track down Alex and his two buddies Floyd and Lloyd. Later, after seeing Lloyd shot dead by the leader of the gang, Alex manages to elude the pistol- packing bikers with a little help from Mona. Just as Alex begins to feel the effects of the poison that's currently coursing though his veins, he reaches Walter's restaurant prepared to pay off his debt. But Walter seems reluctant to accept Alex's payment. It's been quite a wild night for everyone involved, and before this debt is settled Walter has one last surprise for his old friend Alex. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

I wasn't anticipating much (although you never know when you'll stumble upon the next "Run Lola Run"), but this failed to meet even greatly lowered expectations.

I only got 40 minutes in, to be honest -- and even that far was because I was generously hoping that the poor dialogue, punchy acting, stilted directing and uneven plot pacing would somehow start to turn the corner and redeem itself. It didn't, so I turned it off.

The story is simple: Dumb dude owes a mean guy money, so the mean guy injects dumb dude with a poison that will kill him in 80 minutes if he doesn't cough up the $15,000 he owes. Action-y hijinks ensue. Sadly, it wasn't well-conceived or written.

The camera work was nice, images sharp, lighting appealing, etc. The rest of it was 40 minutes that no amount of money can give me back.