'88 Minutes' predictable, unbelievable

"88 Minutes" seems like longer.

With enough red herrings to start a chain of seafood restaurants, an overwrought Al Pacino races about Seattle to find the killer who has announced that Pacino will be murdered in 88 minutes.

Although the killer signs off each call with what is meant to be an ominous "tick tock" warning, this is no "High Noon." It simply runs out its time to a rather predictable, if unbelievable, climax.

With a lack of structure and sense that renders it strictly TV-movie in quality, "88 Minutes" spends almost its entire time in establishing suspects. The entire supporting cast, made up of mostly competent actors, has apparently been directed to act guilty, with the exception of one. The person is not difficult to spot, even if it doesn't make any sense.

"88 Minutes," which might be serviceable for those who like whodunits that are neither artful nor subtle, is not as bad as its advance rep. It was made more than a year ago and held from release - not a good sign. Released in France last year, it is already in DVD in some locations. The token theatrical release at least saves its star from going directly to DVD - a bottom-of-the-ladder fate.

About on the violent-gore level of a "Prom Night," it begins with a brutal torture-murder of two Asian women. The murder is a direct repeat of the procedures used by the notorious "Seattle Slayer," who was convicted and sentenced to death on the testimony of Pacino, who plays an all-star FBI forensics expert who is also a college professor. (Are forensic experts usually such celebrities?)

Since the convict has been in prison for nine years, the new series of murders arouses suspicion that maybe he wasn't the guilty man after all. With the help of TV exposure, the convict makes a lot of noise about how he was framed and how Pacino lied on the witness stand.

Acting more like an all-powerful police inspector than a psychiatrist or mere medical expert, Pacino, sporting several different goofy haircuts, races about barking orders to further his private investigation. He has an amazingly large and efficient staff. The movie is largely played out on cell phones. The most frequent line is, "I'll call you back."

Apparently everyone in the psychiatrist's life has a reason to want him dead. The suspects include several of his students, a red-headed teaching assistant, a lesbian secretary and just about every person in Seattle. (Vancouver, incidentally, filled in for Seattle in the filming).

The movie had 19 producers, which may be a record, and one director, Jon Avnet, who resorts to slow motion at times. Avnet has one good film to his credit, "Fried Green Tomatoes" (1991). He's still looking for a follow-up.

It is impossible to accept that this film is played in real time because all the running around would have taken days rather than 88 minutes. The movie itself runs significantly longer than 88 minutes.

The fitful and unfocused script was written by Gary Scott Thompson, who did previous no-brainers like "K-911" (1999) and "The Fast and the Furious" (2001).

Most of the students and faculty are babes including Alicia Witt (a student), Amy Brenneman, Leah Cairns, Deborah Kara Unger and Leelee Sobieski, who used to be Joan of Arc on TV and has at least survived to the point that people have stopped commenting on how much she looks like Oscar winner Helen Hunt. (Probably because people have forgotten Helen Hunt.)

Pacino is apparently willing to take the money without reading scripts these days. (Not an unusual practice at this point in his career. Even the esteemed Laurence Olivier did it). "88 Minutes" is not his worst performance. "Revolution" (1985) still has that distinction. Nor is it his worst movie. "Cruising" (1980) holds that record.

When it comes to Pacino, we'd best remember Michael Corleone, "Serpico" and "Dog Day Afternoon."

"88 Minutes" will soon be forgotten.

Mal Vincent, (757) 446-2347, mal.vincent@pilotonline.com.