Crimetime

Oh how I like this little, low budget movie. The plot is somehow interesting and something I haven't seen much in any other movie.

The serial killer premise mixed with reality t.v. really got me hooked in. Also, the movie somehow deals with some kind of mental illness in the likes of "Memento". So there you go, you have an interesting plot and some really well done scenes of action and mystery.

The acting is pretty good. Those British are really good actors. I love the accent. Sadie Frost delivers a sexy, sassy performance. She was tremendously sexy in this movie with all those mini skirts. Sorry, I had to point that.

"Crimetime" is an underrated Thriller with some Sci-Fi influences. I dug the Reality T.V. situations because it's a topic way ahead of it's time.

Watch "Crimetime" with low expectations and you might enjoy it. I did.

Crimetime (1996): The plot is a tad convoluted but basically you have a crime reenactment television series. The studio executives are satirised to high heaven, after an old man is set on fire along with his dog one of the producers wants to get a dog from the pound to set on fire. Only viewership figures matter to them. Stephen Baldwin is a small-time actor who takes himself too seriously; his method acting style and histrionic outbursts costs him roles. But the Crimetime programme recruits him to re-enact murders carried out by a serial killer. Baldwin shines in the role and attracts the attention of the actual killer, Pete Postlethwaite, who leaves him encouraging voicemails with tips. The resulting relationship results in a synergy where at times Baldwin finds it difficult to differentiate fantasy from reality. A violent film with graphic scenes of murder and mutilation including one nauseating sequence with Postlethwaite lining up the trophies he's cut from his victims. The disjointed nature of the script means that I was, like Baldwin, unable to tell what was real from fantasy. Still there is good acting from Postlethwaite, Baldwin and Karen black on a supporting role. It might have failed to fulfill its potential but Crimetime is certainly worth watching. Directed by George Sluizer, Written by Brendan Somers. 6.5/10.

i'm not totally sure what to make of this film, it has a weird mix of actors, some classy and some not so. the good actors were unable to lift crimetime out of utter mediocrity, and in my humble opinion it was over long, and bordering on painfully tedious in some places. i stuck with it simply out of curiosity, having read the other reviews, but in all honesty i just feel cheated out of 2 hours of my life that will never come back. i think it is to be avoided at all costs, except for those wanting to enjoy looking at the oil slick that is stephen baldwin's hair, or the grotesque mask like appearance of karen black's face. 4/10 is the best i can do, and those points are probably all pete postlethwaite's, whom one can say, did his best in the face of adversity.

The basic idea for this movie was good, but there was no real character development and the pacing was slow. Maybe because I saw it in a sloppily edited, pan&scanned video version ? (It went straight to video in France.)

I liked this movie enough to buy it. I am not sure why other people see it as being such a terrible movie and screenplay.

I don't even like Stephen Baldwin, I should say that I am a huge Alec fan, but I thought he pulled this one off in some strange way. Sadie Frost was weak at times, but it wasn't really her sort of role to begin with. She is the reason I give this movie 9 stars instead of 10 stars. Pete P. was awesome as always. The script seemed fine to me. It has holes, but few don't. I am a writer, and have been working on a script of my own. Writing scripts has proved more difficult than writing the novel I have been working on.

The movie has its flaws, but few movies are flawless. It was enjoyable, entertaining, and I would recommend it to people who haven't seen it. Just my opinion.