Review of 15 Minutes (2001) by Oli 9 — 09 Mar 2006

Burns and DeNiro look great scouring the city with guns drawn and brows furrowed, but the real stars of the film, Oleg Taktarov and Karel Rodin, are the scene stealers. As the two killers and wannabe filmmakers, both actors bring unexpected moments of humanity and wickedness to their characters. Leaps and bounds past the usual one-note killers you would normally see in this type of picture, Herzfeld gives ample screen time to get to know the killers. Taking time to let the audience invest in the murderer's mind, the climax is all the more stimulating.

The commercials scream loudly about the cultural relevance of the 15 MINUTES plot, but what they don't mention is that this is one tight actioner with plenty of thrills to pass the night with. Its political agenda is tired and passé, but the film is slick and definitely worth a look. --------8/10.