Film Lands Early: Just Four Minutes Short

Read Time:3 Minute, 18 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
97 Minutes
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Genre: Thriller
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director(s): Timo Vuorensola
Writer(s): Pavan Grover
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Alec Baldwin, MyAnna Buring, Jo Martin, Michael Sirow, Pavan Grover, Anjul Nigam, Davor Tomic, Slavko Sobin
Where To Watch: on digital in the UK July 10, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: Here we are, lights dimmed, tray tables in the upright and locked position, ready to dive into this high-altitude drama with suspense in 97 MINUTES, a film directed by Timo Vuorensola. This cinematic flight is crewed by a star-studded cast with Alec Baldwin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and MyAnna Buring strapping us in for what promises to be a riveting ride. I was initially hesitant because Vuorensola was the creative mind behind JEEPERS CREEPERS: REBORN from last year (and that was the biggest unintentional disaster film I’d seen recently.) Thankfully although far from perfect, he comes in for a much smoother landing here.

Now let's paint a picture: a peaceful voyage across the North Atlantic on Oceanic Flight 420 is disrupted by five Russian terrorists, transforming the tranquil airspace into a combat zone. Amidst the unsuspecting passengers, a ray of hope emerges in the form of Alex, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Alex isn't your run-of-the-mill tourist but an undercover Interpol agent who's thrust from his disguised comfort into a race against time to neutralize the airborne threat.

In parallel, we zoom down to the command center on terra firma, where Alec Baldwin's character, NSA Director Hawkins, grapples with a gut-wrenching moral dilemma: a course of action that could save lives on the ground but with a high risk to the passengers in the sky.

While the story arcs seem primed to drive the thrill factor into overdrive, the vehicle doesn't reach high gear. Despite the potential for adrenaline-pumping action, the film gets caught in a narrative gridlock. Our leads, Meyers and Baldwin, despite their proven track record, are in somewhat of a rut. Meyers' character lacks the hunger typically associated with action heroes, while Baldwin's performance could be described as uncharacteristically subdued. The film's supporting crew, led by MyAnna Buring, playing the onboard nurse, Kim, injects a dose of enthusiasm that the film desperately needs.

Taking its moniker from the nerve-fraying countdown to an empty fuel tank, 97 MINUTES somehow falls short of capitalizing on the tension and suspense that the name inherently suggests. The film's dialogue feels stretched, its villains border on stereotypical, and the predictability of the action sequences zaps the narrative of its much-needed vitality.

97 MINUTES boasts a gripping premise and an impressive lineup but stumbles in its final cut. The narrative lacks suspense and thrills. Adding salt to the wound, the film runs for only 93 minutes, contrary to the title. I hadn’t noticed that initially, but in a movie that plays itself as a “countdown,” it should’ve been 97 minutes (or longer.)

97 MINUTES aims for a nerve-ending, suspense-packed experience, but it lands somewhere short of that due to clichéd villains, unimpressive dialogue, and pedestrian action sequences. However, for those willing to overlook these shortcomings and intrigued by an audacious take on an aerial thriller, the film offers some redeeming aspects that might make it worthwhile. It’s still a fun action film with Baldwin as one of the leads (not just a cameo for name recognition.)

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[photo courtesy of 101 FILMS]