15minutes

Don't put away your candles and rosary beads yet. Mourning for the career of Robert DeNiro should not cease in full until he can really make something of himself again. In 15 Minutes, his newest venture- a thankful departure from Rocky and Bullwinkle and Meet the Parents- DeNiro is back in action mode, but this thriller, unfortunately, probably wasn't worth his time. The story is a depressing-because-its-true social indictment of America's preoccupation with violence in the media. Sound familiar? It probably should. It certainly isn't a new topic, especially with the new trend of school shootings hitting newstands today. This film, which could have been so much more by ways of social commentary and satire, instead falls short, relying on random cliches and oneliners to lighten its proverbial load. While not a horrible film- it is watchable- one can't help but think at times that it could have been much more than a poor rehash of what we have already sat through so many times.

The story follows a media hotshot of a detective, Eddie Flemming, who's made it onto People magazine and is in talks of movie rights about his life story. This is DeNiro. After a fire breaks out in a downtown department with two murdered bodies inside, he shows up to investigate a double homicide. An arson investigator, Jordy Warsaw, he's basically a forensics firefighter, also shows up. This is Edward Burns, who really carries the picture greatly. The hotshot detective, due to his status, is essentially stepping on the modest arson investigator's toes and the arson investigator's pissed. So, obviously as in all buddy pictures, they decide to settle their frustrations by teaming up. The fire and the murders were caused by a couple of foreigners, one Czech one Russian. The Russian has traveled to America to pick up some owed money from a big job overseas, the Czech is really a tagalong, but we find out importantly that having watched Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life as a kid, he's always loved American movies. Arriving in Times Square, the Czech steals a digital video camera from a store advertising "Make Your Own Movies!" and he proceeds for the rest of the film to videotape everything. One of the first things he gets on tape, naturally, is his Russian friend not getting the money from their contact and the killings and fire that result. In an adjoining room, an illegal immigrant, Daphne, sees the murders, too, and escapes. Putting two and two together, the hotshot and the fireman have to get to the immigrant to find the Czech and the Russian. Hijinks ensue.

Hijinks in this case, include an all-too-believable plan by the Russian. Learning about the hotshot's potential movie deals and watching daytime talkshows from their hotels, the foreigners conclude that in America, nobody is responsible for their actions and that the media are suckers for violence. Hence, they get the hotshot, videotape his murder, sell the tape to the press so they can afford a lawyer, plead insanity in court, get off scotfree and kick back as the movie offers pour in with the cash. My personal trouble with the movie at this point is the realization that this seems like a really good plan- and I'm not talking about the movie. It makes me sick to think that this probably could happen and in ways does and has before. As the audience learns, due to the Son of Sam law, a person cannot profit from his crimes if convicted, but if they are not convicted then you're good as gold. I promise not to tell you how it unfolds, but I will say there are a few twists and turns that I did not see coming that certainly are not even hinted at in the trailer. One, in particular, is quite refreshing in a way that you want to know where they're going to go from there. You'll know what I'm referring to if you see the movie.

In any case, I still feel the movie has problems. First and foremost is the ridiculousness of involving the fire marshall in a homicide investigation (there are a couple of extra murders after the first two, clearly by the same guys, neither of which involve fire.) I understand the buddy movie model and dynamic, but clearly, legally, he is out of his jurisdiction and his involvement seems very circumstance. Especially when handling Daphne, Burns is treated as the good to DeNiro's bad cop- but he's not a cop! His almost-romance with Daphne, too, seems misplaced. Sidenote: The actress playing Daphne, Vera Farmiga, is a real find. I've never seen someone who's eyes radiate such expression. She is so gorgeous, too, it is a wonder she hasn't been in more movies already. A true beauty worthy of the silver screen. Back to the movie, look for David Alan Grier in a nonsense cameo gag, further undermining the movie's message. The film's conclusion is a joke, as well. Just witness what happens so easily right in front of a large majority of the armed NYPD. Seems very improbable. Kelsey Grammer plays a parody of Kelsey Grammer doing a parody of every crooked bloodthirsty newsman you've ever seen. His brand of sensationalism seems out of touch where it should be the essential key to the film. The media he represents is, afterall, the target of the film's knowing implications. This is unfortunate. And last, this film gives foreigners a bad name. Flat out. Even Daphne, who seems to be the most innocent, had to have a murder written into her back story. The Czech, too, is deplorable. As the killings take place, it's as if he's not even there. Perhaps this is on purpose. He's so saturated by the media that through the lens of his videocamera he blurs the lines between reality and fiction. He does often refer to the fact that he is directing his movie and sometimes gives screen direction. However, I find this supposed intention hard to believe. I take it more for being dumb foreigner bating than TV-calloused portrait.

There is one exceptional reason to see this movie, despite these shortcomings and aside from Daphne, though. Edward Burns. For those who are familiar with Burns's directorial efforts like The Brothers McMullen or perhaps his supporting roles such as in Saving Private Ryan, you know he is a reliable stalwart and a great actor in the making. The dependable go-to nice guy with a secret behind his eyes. Here, he breaks out. He matches and bests DeNiro, even, in most every shared scene. His intensity while cornering the Russian in a nondescript warehouse towards the film's conclusion is really something. He also commands the film's best sequence in which he must rescue himself and Daphne from a burning apartment building, having trapped themselves into a tiny bathroom space. If you do go see this one, go for Burns. He's a knockout.

Having seen the inital teaser and full trailers for this film, I was psyched. The ties that run deep between violence and the media interest me immensely and I was immediately drawn to the supposed premise. People selling taped murders to television and getting famous for it. Unfortunately, this is not what the film seems to be about and, in fact, when this does sort of happen eventually, the criminals sit casually in a Planet Hollywood of all places catching themselves on the big screen surounded by other patrons. (?!?) Overall, the film is very watchable due in large part to the performances by Burns and DeNiro. The Russian and Czech are ridiculous, though. So much so that their plan, while brilliant and feasible, seems to be one that they could not have come up with themselves and the film often resorts to grabbing inappropriate punchlines from their broken English. The murders, too, are almost distracting, constantly cutting away to POV shots from the digital camera, changing at will between the various effects filters-negative, night vision, etc... Again, while we want to comprehend what they're selling, tapewise, this causes a disconnection between the audience and the immediacy of the horrors onscreen. Thereby, this dilutes the murders in the same way that the film seemingly tries to point a finger at the media for doing. The message is lost. The film, as you'll see, becomes, in fact, more of a deadly how-to video for capitalizing on violence than a moral conviction of society's ills. In this, the film itself becomes both a threat and a failure, while still feeling like your average whizbang shoot-em-up. So, I suppose go see 15 Minutes and munch some popcorn, but be wary of those whom you sit amongst. Some may not understand what they see as merely the harmless action adventure flick. As for myself, I more or less tolerated 15 Minutes as entertainment- it wasn't bad. But, at the same time, I believe they definitely took a wrong turn down the satire road and I'm not holding my breath for the first copycat crime.
By Dan $5.50/$10.00