Desperate Measures (1998)

The Worst Film Ever

Brilliant and touching

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This lesser known and short running film, didn't get the exposure it should of. This is one of those known films you go to the cinema, and really enjoy. This film has a great premise: Cop's kid needs a bone marrow transplant, the only possible match is that of a serial killer Peter MCcabe (Keaton). It's a nice chilling performance, though he's no Anthony Hopkins, who won't make you shudder, squirm, or make the hairs on your wrist stand up, but I for one, was quite impressed, especially after seeing him play it down, in the disappointing Jackie Brown. Garcia plays the determined cop, and pours a lot of humanity and heart into the role. Heavy duty prisoner, MCcabe, agrees to be the donor, of course for obvious, selfish, reasons. Now the real movie starts up with MCcabe loose in the hospital. Now consider Garcia's dilemma: he must stop his other colleagues from taking out Keaton, where meanwhile little son's condition is weakening. It's a great thunder show of explosions and shootouts, where Keaton has his humorous moments too. The car chase lead up, to a finale between Garcia and Keaton adds to the coolness of the movie, upholding the fun and excitement, which has been with us since Act 2. From the opening scene, the movie throws us right into Garcia's peril, where early in the film where father and sick son speak, I drew a few tears. It's really a well earned tear jerking moment. I can't really understand how this movie has got ridiculed so much as it has. Of course, it might seem quite far fetched, not in the way the action is delivered, but this is only a movie. In reality of course, Garcia, would of had a lot of explaining to do. From the get go this Barbet Schroder film, sets out what it wants to do, immediately involve our audience into the situation. Classic of a final frame moment too. It's a killer, preceding CCR's "Rolling On A River".

Desperate Measures This thriller is a fast and intense paced movie, which is often overlooked Andy Garcia does a great job playing desperate dad, trying to save he's leukemia ridden son. And Michal Keaton does an even better job playing manipulating psycho, and completely steels the show. What bugs me a bit though is the constant rendezvous between Michal and Garcia, were Garcia has several opportunities to shoot him but hesitate afraid that he won't get the bone marrow he needs to he's soon. I would expect even a cop know you can actually kneecap someone and they'll live. That drags the movie down a bit, the days when you could get away with the good and the bad guy constantly running into each other, were long gone even when this film was made Not to mention that Andy's character would never been able to continue on the force, not to mention he would probable been sued. The survivors or victims of he's desperate try to keep Keaton alive, just so he could save he's son. Personally, I would have made sure Andy didn't get he's bone marrow, simply cause he leaves a wake of dead and injured people. But all in all it's a good thriller.

Desperate Measures is an action thriller film that stars Michael Keaton, Andy García, Marcia Gay Harden and Brian Cox.The film was directed by Barbet Schroeder. It was filmed in both the San Francisco Bay Area and downtown Pittsburgh.Garcia stars as Frank Conner, a widowed San Francisco police officer whose young son Matt is suffering from leukemia. Without a bone marrow transplant, Matt will die, but Frank isn't a donor. In fact, the only potential match is prison inmate Peter McCabe (Keaton), a psychotic but charming serial killer. At first, McCabe refused to participate despite Conner's pleas, but eventually, the convict relents and agrees to the procedure. It is all a ruse, however, as McCabe has discovered a clever way to escape the confines of the operating room where Matt's oncologist, Dr. Hawkins (Harden) is scheduled to perform the transplant. Faced with the dual nightmare of his son's deteriorating condition and a mass murderer on the loose in a major metropolitan hospital, the frantic Conner finds himself bending and even breaking the law to bring McCabe down and save Matt's life.Too bad that the film is only masquerading as a thoughtful movie that's really about something. At heart, it's an action thriller--a chase picture. It has all the usual implausible or impossible stunts, the highway carnage, the jumps off bridges, the slides down laundry chutes, and other feats that make it more of a video game than a drama.This unfortunately makes it an average picture that would thrill action fans.

San Francisco police officer Frank Connor is in a frantic search for a compatible bone marrow donor for his gravely ill son.There's only one catch: the potential donor is convicted multiple murderer Peter McCabe who sees a trip to the hospital as the perfect opportunity to get what he wants most: freedom.With McCabe's escape, the entire hospital becomes a battleground and Connor must pursue and, ironically, protect the deadly fugitive who is his son's only hope for survival....What we have here is essentially a chase movie. Schroeder is a great director, but it seems that he has just sat back and let the actors do what they do.Keaton and Garcia are great as the two leads, and Keaton arguably plays one of his greatest roles.He's usually the nice dependable guy who just likes the easy life, but here, he's just gone all out in his portrayal. He's no Hannibal Lecter, which in some scenes he's clearly trying to be (there is even mention of him getting in your head), but nevertheless he seems more human than your usual nut-job.Garcia too is very good as the desperate dad, and both are ably supported by the rest of the cast.If you can forgive some really silly parts in the film and can forget plausibility for ninety minutes, you are going to get a rollicking good movie.It's a shame that this was overlooked in the cinemas, because it really is a treat to watch.If you get a chance to see it, please do.