Nick of Time (1995)

"Nick of Time" features the novel hook of unfurling in real-time, which is still cool, even after "24" took ownership of the gimmick. Sadly, that's where the similarities between the two end. This isn't in the same league as "24".Alright, so Johnny Depp's being forced to kill the Governor or "they" will kill his kid. He can't make a move because Christopher Walken's on him like a hawk. He doesn't trip the metal detector because the security guy's a plant. So's the Secret Service head honcho. All there to make sure Depp does his job like a good boy. The conspiracy even goes all the way up to the Gov's husband (really?). But with so many people involved, why not use one of the existing conspirators? The guys posing as Secret Service would have to know the security to even be there - surely one of them can iron out an escape route and just do the job. Or just use a high-powered rifle (as mentioned in the movie). There's no way the people in charge would support such a top-heavy infrastructure. This is melodrama at its hammiest; things just get more preposterous at every turn. I've gotta admit, I did hang in just to see how they ended this thing. Which didn't help.This was awful.4/10

Contains spoiler. This Johnny Depp/Christopher Walken film is unremarkable in quite a few ways: at least, cinematography, script, acting are on the list . . . But I was drawn to the central theme—the paralyzing horror of Depp's predicament. I think Johnny pretty well covers the range of emotions you'd think everyone would feel in his situation. His desperation seems real. Realistic. Lost. Enervated. Enraged. Galvanized. The unremitting adrenaline, pushing him to act, or run . . . or kill. I was on his side, but I did not want to be him. Almost too dreadful to say it in words: kill, or see his child killed. I waited and watched for his escape, his release, his salvation. I fiercely wonder how I would act in such a raging, tormented dilemma. My salvation, right at the moment, is that I don't have to make the choice. Read more on my blogs: Barley Literate History: Bottom Lines

Johnny Depp plays Gene Watson, who disembarks off a train at Union station in Los Angeles with his daughter Lynn. He is approached by two people named Smith(Christopher Walken) & Jones(Roma Maffia) who claim to be cops who need his help. Unfortunately they lie, and instead Lynn is taken by Jones and held captive in a van. Smith informs Gene that he must assassinate the California governor(played by Marsha Mason) in the next ninety minutes, or his daughter will be killed. He is given a gun with six bullets, and sent to the hotel where the governor will be giving a speech, and that he better not tell the police, since Smith will be watching him closely the whole time. How can Gene get out of this situation alive? Interesting idea for a thriller to be told in "real time", and though it has good performances, it never really gels because the premise is so far-fetched. (Enlisting a random person to do a killing seems far too risky. Why not get a professional to do it?)Watchable enough if you have 90 minutes to kill, but that's all.

Another "thriller" that offers little suspense.Depp tries to make this work. He can't. Walken barely walks through this, undoubtedly because he knew there was little point after seeing just how poor a job the screenwriter did on this movie. Gloria Reuben and the rest of the cast are wasted, as well. The premise would stretch credulity in the hands of a master director. Badham is NOT that (though he did a decent job with "Point of No Return" in 1993). Save your time and money. Watch the Bridget Fonda flick I just mentioned. Or try "No Way Out" or its predecessor "The Big Clock" if you want something old school. Just don't bother with this.