videorama-759-859391 Desperate Hours is a film that makes itself bigger than it is. Have I written that starting line in another review? I do like those movies, though. Just learning this is a remake, again I'm a bit embittered, as I thought this was a true blue original. I love this movie, every time, I see it, and yes there are some faults, and some real idiotic moments, really picking them out this time, but hey, that just adds a funny element to this movie, that didn't garner a cinematic release in Adelaide where instead, it played in a film festival showing at the State Theatre, Zandalee was also another. Following a court trial, convicted killer Michael Bosworth (Rourke, very good) absconds with two accomplices, one his ex con brother, Elias Koteas who doesn't have much to do in the film, and his childhood friend, ex con Albert, David Morse as we've never seen him before, a slow, fiesty, idiot of low intellect. His dying scene, is just another bombastic moment, but it's funny, tragic, and memorable. Part of this goes to the opening of the music score. The three crims, yeah for some reason, hold out, in the expensive confines of a well to do family. And it's not the really best time to be dropping in, or not? You'll find the real answer at the end of the film. The house is maintained by Nora (Mimi Rodgers, strong as always) and her teen daughter Shawnee Smith, really good and her little brother. She's separated from her much older ex, Hopkins, who's a real provider for the family, as well as being a responsible father, who, if you can believe, has been busy chasing young skirts half his age. Good for him. Then Rodger's family peace, is rudely and silkily invaded by Rourke, and company. Rourke plays such a smooth psychopath, who's very intelligent, and you don't know when he will lose it. He's made his character intriguing, though he has done better acting. How intelligent is he? Hey, he let Hopkins go by himself, to withdraw, a substantial amount of moolah, from the bank, while they stay holding court, risking the possibility of Hopkins, informing authorities, trusting him that much. I pondered that scene, when judging Rourke's manipulative, edgy, psychopathic character. That's exactly what you'd do, if you were dealing with that particular psychopath. You wouldn't tell authorities. And as for them crashing this family's home. Yeah wheels are turning, right? But think about how high profile, Bosworth is, and for him to escape, you pretty much would have to take shelter somewhere, a place, where the cops wouldn't automatically assume he's hiding. But we have another smart cookie, Crouse, the best performance in the film, as the defiant and bulldogged female FBI agent, heading her team of cops, sharpshooters, baiting Rourke by using his defence attorney/girlfriend, (Lynch, never looking hotter). The film relies on the interaction of characters, and I must say, I found this best, in the small exchange of hateful dialogue, between daughter (Smith) and Rourke. That worked much better than what transpired between him and Hopkins. There was no real chemistry at all, no real spark, which kind of annoyed me. Something you don't want happening between two leads. I really wish Koteas had a chance to do more, where he really bloodies it up in the end. DH may have it's share of faults, and is quite disfavored I see, but it's also bloody entertaining and to a point, unintentionally funny. Love film's opening score, and it's speeding car shots and masterfully breathtaking. Like a few of these hostage, mostly one set piece dramas, DH doesn't have the most tense atmosphere, as these others, but may'be I didn't feel like this, the first time I saw it. But I really understand the reasons for some of the character's actions, where other reviewers may think, "As if". May'be this could be the most misjudged thing about the film.

FlashCallahan Michael Bosworth is a psychotic criminal who is about to go on trial however, he seduces his lawyer into helping him escape. But as they try to make their getaway, she's left behind. He decides to wait for her to come to him, so he decides to hide at the house of the Cornells. Now it appears that the Cornells have problems of their own. The husband and wife are separated. And there's an FBI agent after them who is using the lawyer to lead them to Bosworth....If this film were made today, it would have twice the budget and probably be more of a major release, even with the two leads intact.But twenty years ago, Rourke was a falling star, and it was a whole year before a country other than England thought Hopkins was a huge star.And not just that, the film is pretty mundane after a very exciting opening. Once we begin the second act with the house under siege, and the two alpha males at logger heads, it falls flat.Maybe it's the fact that there is no urgency at all in the film, or maybe it's to do with the fact that this has the worse editing I have ever seen in a major motion picture. It's so bad that a character doesn't even get to finish a sentence before we move to the next scene.And then the final fifteen minutes just throws all plausibility out of the window. I was expecting at least a fight from Rourke when he found out the gun was empty, but no, he lets Hopkins, someone older and smaller than him who is injured, drag him out of the house while he is sobbing.It ruins the film, and everything else about it.So all in all, the first fifteen minutes are great, and then it all goes downhill from there.

lost-in-limbo Nothing desperate here. Film-maker Michael Cimino would team up with Mickey Rourke again, after the crime epic "Year of the Dragon" five years earlier. But on this occasion we would see a lacklustre remake of the 1955 feature (which was originally adapted from a novel / stage play) with some nice scope (some beautifully scenic Utah backdrops with agile camera-work), but slightly leaden material and mechanical execution starves it of suspense and believability. Here's a glum siege movie (although its more like tedious house-sitting) that never feels all that threatening despite the best efforts by a smooth talking psycho Mickey Rourke and an neurotically edgy David Morse as some criminals that take a family hostage in their home. It lacks a pulse, tending to be limitedly forced and silly in its unreasonable actions. Where it only gets worse the further it goes along. Rocky relationships are put to the test and trust becomes the key factor for getting through this ordeal - for both sides. Mimi Rogers and Anthony Hopkins add some stalwart class. Kelly Lynch, Elias Koteas and Shawnee Smith are decent enough. Although I couldn't stand Lindsay Crouse's overbearing performance. David Mansfield's high-strung music score felt out of place. Glossy, but uninvolved dramatic thriller."You and I are going to be friends."

theshadow908 After seeing Sin City starring Mickey Rourke, I decided to set out and see all of Mickey Rourke's films. I heard from people that most of his films are terrible, but this one was pretty good. I bought it from the bargain bin, so I wasn't expecting much, but it was okay for 6 bucks. It tells the story of 3 escaped convicts lead by Michael Bosworth (Rourke). They take a woman, her family, and her estranged husband (Anthony Hopkins) hostage in their house. A game of cat and mouse between the two men ensues.I have never seen the original with Humphrey Bogart, but this movie is alright. I really enjoyed the plot, and even though Mickey Rourke isn't the greatest actor around, he's certainly a compelling villain. Anthony Hopkins is pretty good as the husband desperate to save his family, but he's not at his best. I think the biggest mistake anyone can make about this movie is to assume that it's a serious attempt at a thriller. In reality, I think this movie is a fun popcorn movie.Like any cheap action thriller from the early 90's, there's a lot of flaws. Two of the flaws are in the acting. The one playing Bosworth's lawyer/girlfriend is probably one of the worst actresses I've ever seen. Her character is pointless as well. The other terrible acting job was the cop in charge of taking Bosworth down. That actress must've come straight off a soap opera. A really bad and noticeable flaw in the movie was the shoddy editing. The film cuts to a new scene before the previous scene even has a chance to end.Overall, the movie is pretty enjoyable. It was worth a 6 dollar buy.6.5/10