60 Minutos

While there are a lot of familiar elements here, this movie feels different and fresher than a lot of the action movies getting released these days. You feel the main characters pain (both physical and mental) over the course of his journey to see his daughter.

The action is well choreographed and realistic, and the plot moves at a good pace, with some good emotional moments in between. It feels like a perfect run time that doesn't out stay it's welcome at less than 90 minutes. The ending is a little neat, but action movies aren't exactly known for their realism so it's somewhat forgivable. The final image put a smile on my face, just being a little different than the norm.

The lead actor does a great job, while the supporting cast manages well with the little time the movie devotes to them.

Worth a watch!

Genre films generally have a very difficult time in German-speaking cinema. And when it comes to action films in particular, German filmmaking lags far behind. I personally can only remember the humorous MMA hit PLAN B (2016) by Ufuk GENC with the superb stuntman Can AYDIN, which at least made people sit up and take notice that this genre is also possible in German-speaking countries. It's a good thing that the global streaming service NETFLIX definitely has a taste for unusual experiments. And lo and behold, successful director Oliver KIENLE (BAD BANKS) lets a remarkably well-trained Emilio SAKRAYA, like Franka POTENTE as Lola, run through Berlin against the merciless passage of time. Why this action occurs plays only a minor role. The only important thing is that Emilio SAKRAYA's Octavio is in a perceived emergency and therefore has to beat up half of the gangster world in the German capital. After all, why does he have his impressive MMA skills?

There's never a dull moment in this stylish, non-stop film, but you won't find any special flashes of inspiration in the script. But that's not a bad thing either. The film is a vehicle through which Emilio SAKRAYA can recommend himself for further roles in international action cinema. In addition to all the fighting, he can also play.

Dennis MOJEN and the internationally booked stunt people Marie MOUROUM and Bruno SALGUEIRO also appear in other roles. Otherwise, the other stunt people probably come mainly from Hungary. Oh yes, a very cute kitten named Onion steals the show from the hardened whipping boy.

Even if the film will certainly not become a classic of the genre, it is definitely good that German filmmakers are finally tackling such genres that are popular with global audiences. Keep it up!

SIXTY MINUTES is a fun little low budget martial arts thriller from Germany. It's made on the cheap but don't hold that against it because this has far more suspense and excitement than many a big budget Hollywood movie, riddled as they are with needless CGI and explosions. This one has a straightforward plot about a top MMA fighter who abandons his latest match in favour of spending time with his daughter, but various match-fixing gangsters are determined to stop him. There are slow spots and overdone emotion amid the action, but the fights come thick and fast and the choreography is always satisfying.

Saying that a movie is "not for the critics, but for the fans" means usually "I know I made a bad movie, but I don't wanna admit it". Nobody said it about 60 MINUTEN, but "for the fans" applies here in the best possible way.

This a movie for people who appreciate the ridiculousness of certain action movie tropes. People who are willing to laugh WITH the movie and not at it. It's pretty obvious that everybody involved here was on the same page. The movie's plot revolves basically around an unstoppable fighter who pisses off the whole Berlin underworld, because he can't miss his daughter's birthday party. And yet, it is all played completely straight faced and with the gravitas of a serious drama.

Apart from that, 60 MINUTEN also scores with really well done fights, full of long takes and impressive stunts, and a good semi-real time gimmick. I think they could've pushed the "What else is gonna happen to make him miss his deadline" angle a bit further though. On the other hand: They have an action movie that takes place in Berlin and have a fight in a bunker looking Techno club. They "understood the assignment", as the kids say these days.

Now don't get me wrong. As much as I enjoyed it, giving it 8 stars is for me a bit generous. It doesn't do anything innovative or outstanding. It is "just" 100% solid. BUT! It is German and Germans rarely have the chance to do action movies like that. So making one that can stand toe to toe with a good bunch of modern day US actioners is good enough for the prestigious 8 star rating IMO.

What I loved the most about this film was its homage to early race-against-time types of movies such as Taken and Kidnap, and its plot was centered around a likable protagonist that was relatable to watch. It held me by the neck even from the very start as it progresses into the action-filled chase scenes. These scenes were even tinged with emotional edges into it which made the film more than just an ordinary action flick. The way that the director centered the story around the protagonist and his dilemma (which ironically is a bit problematic because of his questionable abandonment of the fight) was smart because it emphasizes the greater conflict of the story.