Times aren't desperate enough for this lame thriller to be called for. Read critic reviews
Desperate Measures
1997, Mystery & thriller, 1h 40m
31 Reviews 10,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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Movie Info
Widowed cop Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) is determined to secure a bone marrow transplant for his son, Matt (Joseph Cross), who will die of leukemia if a suitable donor isn't found. Conner discovers that incarcerated serial murderer Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is a match for Matt, and the psychopath eventually agrees to donate marrow, but he escapes from the operating room just before the procedure. Conner quickly follows, but the scheming McCabe won't be easily apprehended.
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Rating: R (Violence|Language)
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Genre: Mystery & thriller
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Original Language: English
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Director: Barbet Schroeder
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Producer: Gary Foster, Susan Hoffman, Lee Rich, Barbet Schroeder
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Writer: David Klass
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Release Date (Theaters): wide
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $13.7M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: TriStar Pictures
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Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)
Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews for Desperate Measures
Audience Reviews for Desperate Measures
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Enjoyable movie to check out on netflix instant
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Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is in jail for several murders. He is one of the most dreaded criminals in his prison. However, a cop, Frank Conner (Andy Garcia), finds out that Peter is the only one who can save his son by giving him a bone marrow transplant. Peter agrees to do so after getting several of his privileges, such as smoking, back. However, things take an interesting twist after Peter somehow escapes while in the hospital. Frank can't allow anybody to kill Peter because that would kill Frank's son, but he also doesn't want Peter to do what he is known for, being a murderer. I can't believe that "Desperate Measures" isn't getting a lot better ratings than it's getting. I thought it was a great movie. I like for movies to have a plot, and I'll admit that this movie is choppy in that department, but it does feature one of Michael Keaton's best job as an actor and it has great suspense. That's why I really liked "Desperate Measures." If you can put up with a movie that doesn't have one of the best plots in the world, but one that has good acting and great suspense, I recommend getting "Desperate Measures." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001.
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Widowed police officer Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) has a cancer-stricken nine-year-old son, Matthew (Joseph Cross), whose only hope for survival is a bone-marrow transplant, but the only matching donor is Pete McCabe (Michael Keaton), a vicious, psychotic killer being held in a maximum-security prison. McCabe at first denies Conner's request for help but then agrees, devising an elaborate plan to use the medical procedure as an opportunity to escape. McCabe breaks loose before the transfusion can occur, and Conner is forced to become both his tracker and his ally, wanting to bring the serial killer back into custody but determined--for the sake of his son--to keep McCabe alive. Keaton is chilling as the vicious, brilliant convict, while Garcia turns in a heartfelt performance as a devoted father caught in the middle of a bad situation getting worse. With DESPERATE MEASURES, director Barbet Schroeder (REVERSAL OF FORTUNE), renowned for his knack of combining urgent family drama with white-knuckle suspense, adds another crowd-pleasing, thought-provoking film to his list of successes.
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Great movie. Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton play off each other really well and make this film very entertaining, intense and assured direction, moments of genuine suspense, and a booming score.
steven g Super Reviewer
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