As Time Runs Out (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

As Time Grinds To A Halt

[F1ame · 6/10 · 21 November 2000]

This was a good film. I have given it a six due to a few draw backs. Firstly the plot is fine, but nothing interesting or unique to elevate it to higher acclaim.

Secondly we have the ending. Most films like to stretch out seconds when racing against a clock, but this film just went over the line, hence a 40 year old man running a good 600 meters in under 40 seconds.

Whilst nothing obvious is wrong with the portrayal of the search for the kidnapped son, it just does not convince you there is more than one result. Perhaps the problem is the progressive nature of the search. There are no setbacks, yes they seem to make progress and then hit a wall. That is just it, they stop and another avenue opens up, they never have to back track, the stakes are never raised, the goal is never dangled so close and yet they are prevented from reaching some how.

I hope people can understand what I am getting at. It's a fine film to watch, but it is by no means a great film.

Quickly Assembled And Watered Down "Thriller" Is Somewhat Less Than Absorbing Fare.

[rsoonsa · 2/10 · 8 April 2007]

The cinematic genre of Suspense includes a large sub-category involving the threat of time bombs, predominantly in latter years following the inception of digital technology, audiences generally being teased with an initially seen display of hours recorded upon an explosive device that most often dwindles to a mere second or two, whereupon a near-miraculous rescue of some type will be accomplished. Few sensate viewers will feel any moments of suspense, however, since an explosion would naturally terminate the film at once. This production, after a promising beginning, descends into the domain of the hackneyed. Its setting is Seattle (played here by British Columbia, with additional stock footage of the region about the Washington metropolis) as Dan Carlin (Stephen Collins) a wealthy building contractor and recent widower, is not able to alter his intense working habits so as to spend an increased amount of time with his young son Marcus (Emmett Shoemaker), with a result that an attempt is made by a carpenter hired by Carlin to work in his home, Alex Redman (Rick Roberts) to encroach as a surrogate father for the lad, an indiscreet act as both Dan's governess and his cook easily apprehend. After Marcus is kidnapped for ransom, the film's effective moments are at a close due to the entry into the story of local police and FBI agents. Along with some inappropriate casting of law enforcement personnel, investigative procedures used by these individuals are far afield from reality, notably in relation to Carlin, who apparently possesses a form of dynamic energy that compels various arms of the law to follow him about in puppylike fashion. In spite of totally off-putting elements within the scenario, strong performances are turned in by several members of the cast, with Rick Roberts capturing acting laurels as an enigmatic Alex. A Direct Source DVD includes no extra features but does provide fine visuals and excellent Dolby Digital sound reproduction.

Time Will Tell

[wordsmith_57 · 8/10 · 11 October 2008]

I grabbed this off the public library shelf and thought it would make decent weekend afternoon fare. I didn't hold hopes for greatness. I actually thought major cheese in a DVD box. I was surprised! At first I thought it would be a typical "too-busy-parent-gets-a-lesson" movie, and then it turned into an untypical kidnapping story. The acting was more than decent, as was the plot. There was a forced momentum to the action, and there was some predicable plot points, yet I sat riveted. I thought the ending would be predicable--nope, it wasn't. It was such a simple resolve it had me admiring the writing. Be it TV or the DVD it's worth a watch.

Awesome movie!

[hpdmama · 10/10 · 23 April 2006]

I stumbled across this movie on Lifetime. Boy, was I in for a treat! This movie kept you right on the edge of your seat!

In the beginning you thought you knew what was going to happen. Then everything took an unexpected turn!

Stephen Collins continues to be the superb methods actor I always knew him to be. You just felt for him and his heartache of losing his wife when his son was so young!

All the acting was great. I don't think any of them let me down. I really enjoyed the movie.

I hope to find it on DVD somewhere!