Nick of Time (1995)

Director:

John Badham

Writer (WGA):

Patrick Sheane Duncan (written by)

Release Date:

22 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Within 90 minutes, someone is going to die... And the clock is ticking.

Plot:

Gene Watson is a public accountant who arrives on a train at Union Station in Los Angeles, accompanied by his 6-year-old daughter Lynn...

Plot Keywords:

Governor | Accountant | Hotel | Conspiracy | Time

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Gene Watson
Courtney Chase	...	Lynn Watson
Charles S. Dutton	...	Huey
Christopher Walken	...	Mr. Smith
Roma Maffia	...	Ms. Jones
Marsha Mason	...	Gov. Eleanor Grant
Peter Strauss	...	Brendan Grant
Gloria Reuben	...	Krista Brooks
Bill Smitrovich	...	Officer Trust
G.D. Spradlin	...	Mystery Man
Yul Vazquez	...	Gustino (Guest Services)
Edith Diaz	...	Irene (Domestic Maintenance)
Armando Ortega	...	Hector (Guest Services)
C.J. Bau	...	Mixologist
Cynthena Sanders	...	Beverage Server
Dana Mackey	...	Transport Reception Manager
Chris Jacobs	...	Comestible Server (as Christopher Jacobs)
Charles Carroll	...	Sanitation Engineer
Miguel Nájera	...	Franco (Governor's Bodyguard)
Jerry Tondo	...	Chief Aide
Lance Hunter Voorhees	...	Weapons Security
John Azevedo Jr.	...	Security Associate
Lance August	...	Personal Security
Peter Mackenzie	...	JBN Reporter
Rick Zieff	...	JBN Videographer
Tom Bradley	...	Himself
Michael Chong	...	Asian Man
Cynthia Noritake	...	Asian Woman
Holly Kuespert	...	Physically Attractive Woman
Pamela Dunlap	...	Centerpiece Poacher
Jan Speck	...	Rally Orienter
Tom Lawrence	...	Personal Waste Facility User
Robert Buckingham	...	Illegal Security Access Carrier
Clark Johnson	...	Hackney Transportist (as J. Clark Johnson)
Antony Sandoval	...	Un Homme
Isabel García Lorca	...	Une Femme (as Isabel Lorca)
Nicole Mancera	...	Una Niña
Yolanda Gonzáles	...	Su Madre (as Yolanda Gonzalez)
Antonette Saftler	...	Mrs. Wentzel
Teddy Beeler	...	Union Station Security
Alison Stuart	...	Verbally Abusive Spouse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Uhler	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
John Badham

Writing credits (WGA)
Patrick Sheane Duncan		(written by)

Produced by
John Badham	....	producer
D.J. Caruso	....	executive producer
Cammie Crier	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Arthur B. Rubinstein

Cinematography by
Roy H. Wagner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Morriss
Kevin Stitt

Casting by
Carol Lewis

Production Design by
Philip Harrison

Art Direction by
Eric Orbom

Set Decoration by
Julia Badham

Costume Design by
Mary E. Vogt

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	hair stylist
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist
Clare M. Corsick	....	hair stylist: Johnny Depp (as Clare Corsick)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist (as John Elliott)
Sheila Evers	....	makeup artist
James R. Scribner	....	makeup artist (as Jim Scribner)
Patty York	....	makeup artist: Johnny Depp
Dale Miller	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Richard H. Prince	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
D.J. Caruso	....	second unit director
John Hockridge	....	first assistant director
Joseph J. Kontra	....	second assistant director (as Joe Kontra)
Jessica W. Leung	....	dga trainee (as Jessica Leung)
Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Tracy Rosenthal)
Diana E. Williams	....	second second assistant director (as Diana Williams)

Art Department
Bryan Belair	....	construction coordinator
Giovanni Bianchini	....	assistant property master
Larry Clark Bird	....	property master (as Larry Bird)
Kai Blomberg	....	property person
Linda A. King	....	set designer (as Linda King)
Scott W. Leslie	....	property person (as Scott Leslie)
Nancy Mickelberry	....	set designer
Louis Montejano	....	set designer
Edward J. Protiva	....	property person (as Edward Protiva)
Eric Ramirez	....	property person
Brett C. Smith	....	lead person (as Brett Smith)
Tom Southwell	....	conceptual artist
Ken Zimmerman	....	assistant property master
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Cary Conway	....	painter (uncredited)
Jason Gondek	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Frank White	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Petra Bach	....	adr editor
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
John Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
David B. Cohn	....	sound effects editor (as David Cohn)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Tammy Fearing	....	dialogue editor
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist
Christopher Flick	....	supervising foley editor
Sarah Goldsmith	....	dialogue editor (as Sarah Rothenberg)
Robert W. Harris	....	utility sound technician (as Robert Harris)
Stephen Janisz	....	adr editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)
Anthony Milch	....	sound effects editor (as Tony Milch)
Karen Minahan	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey R. Payne	....	dialogue editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Thomas W. Small	....	foley editor (as Thomas Small)
Frank Smathers	....	foley editor
Greg Stacy	....	sound effects editor
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor
David F. Van Slyke	....	sound effects editor
Patrick J. Foley	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Scott G.G. Haller	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Mark L. Mangino	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Jeffrey Perkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kenneth C. Clark	....	special effects foreman (as Ken Clark)
Jeff Jarvis	....	special effects coordinator
Mike Reedy	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Reggie Jackson	....	visual effects assistant (uncredited)
Don Lee	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Jeff Matakovich	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Stuart Mintz	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Tony Noel	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Edson Williams	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Shane Dixon	....	stunt coordinator
Kiante Elam	....	stunts
Marian Green	....	stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunts (as Maria Kelly)
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts (as Eddie Watkins)
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Duane Matthews	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Scott Wilder	....	stunt double: Johnny Depp (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dale Alexander	....	first company grip
John S. Beyers	....	rigging lighting technician (as John Beyers)
David Buchanan	....	dolly grip
Joseph P. Clem	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Joseph Clem)
Brian Crane	....	chief lighting technician
Vito DePalma	....	first assistant camera
Ed Giovanni	....	second assistant camera
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator (as Robert Gorelick)
Bob Gorelick	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Robert Gorelick)
John Hatchitt	....	second company grip
Gary Huddleston	....	camera operator: "b" camera
E. Scott Mayhugh	....	rigging grip
Todd Slyapich	....	first assistant camera
Bruce W. Talamon	....	still photographer (as Bruce Talamon)
Wayne Tidwell	....	video assist operator (as Wayne R. Tidwell)
John Wagner	....	first assistant camera
Grover Austin	....	grip (uncredited)
Troy Kohrs	....	grip (uncredited)
Jon Kranhouse	....	director of photography: opening credits (uncredited)
Michael Lyon	....	electrician (uncredited)
Larry Markart	....	video playback operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Bronson	....	costume supervisor
Danielle Feller	....	costumer
Bob Moore Jr.	....	costumer (as Robert Moore)
Elaine Ramires	....	costumer
Kenn Smiley	....	costumer: Mr. Depp
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Holly Howard-Brink	....	assistant editor: avid (as Holly Howard)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
David Tweet	....	first assistant film editor

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Greg Broadous	....	choral director: "Locke High School Band"
Ralph Gingery	....	music arranger: "Firestar"
Denise Okimoto	....	assistant music editor
John E. Oliver	....	music production set supervisor
John Richards	....	score mixer
Arthur B. Rubinstein	....	conductor
Abby Treloggen	....	music editor
Brad Warnaar	....	orchestrator
Patti Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor

Transportation Department
Frank Mejerski	....	transportation coordinator
Jan Ostermann	....	transportation co-captain
Michael Young	....	transportation captain
Brenda Ryan	....	driver (uncredited)
Aaron Skalka	....	transportation co-captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Lark Bernini	....	production office coordinator
Beverly Burton	....	craft service
Jack Cannon	....	production assistant
Christi Dembrowski	....	assistant: Mr. Depp
Alexandra Dickson	....	production assistant
Mark Hager	....	assistant production office coordinator
Crystal Hawkins	....	production auditor
Buck Holland	....	assistant: Mr. Depp
Karen Jarnecke	....	production assistant
Stephen Mapel	....	assistant location manager
Duane Matthews	....	production assistant
Helen Medrano	....	assistant production auditor (as Helen Ruiz)
Susie Peterson	....	associate to producer
S.W. Schuster	....	assistant: Mr. Badham
Susan Steinlauf-Pascal	....	unit publicist (as Susan Steinlauf)
David Tain	....	production assistant
Barbara Thaxton	....	script supervisor
Veronique Vowell	....	location manager
Matthew Walsh	....	assistant: Mr. Badham
Trevor Waterson	....	assistant production office coordinator
Joseph Aspromonti	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Denise Blasor	....	voice-over artist (uncredited)
Reggie Jackson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Patrick R. Siembieda	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Tom Buckley	....	thanks
Stacey Litz	....	thanks
Clinton Rilley	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1999) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Optical Illusions (digital visual effects)
• Composite Image Systems (CIS) (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Greenberg/Schluter  titles
• Home on the Range  catering
• J.L. Fisher  cranes and dollies rental
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  score recorded and mixed at
• Paramount Pictures  digital sound editing
• Reeltime Creative  trailer music
• Technocrane Ltd.  remote cranes

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Brazil:12 | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:R (certificate #34003) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Unusual for a feature, the film has only one major establishing shot.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At Union Station, when the security guard attempts to stop the rollerbladers, film lights can be seen through a window on the right.

Quotes:

Gene Watson:Ma'am? I'll take my daughter.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Baadshah (1999)

Soundtrack:

When The Saints Go Marching In

Overwrought and under thought

The consistent struggle for originality in the genre of action thrillers has lead to certain less than outstanding premises being lauded as innovative - Nick of Time being a perfect example. While the premise of an everyman being blackmailed into murder to prevent his daughter's murder is undeniably a clever one, showing glimmers of Hitchcock, it was hardly an instant meal ticket to a successful film. In the hands of a sturdy, capable filmmaker and boasting a taut, terse script, Nick of Time might have evolved into a nail biting masterpiece of tension, but as it is, the results fall disappointingly short of initial expectations.

While the idea of the film's plot unfolding in real time is intriguing, despite its concise hour and a half length the film still feels overlong, as if it is pushing its slight concept over too extended a period, leading to many repetitions or slack moments as opposed to the taut, gripping thriller it intended to be. Director John Badham (name related puns were just bound to surface given the quality of his work here) appears uncomfortable with the notion of an intense, claustrophobic thriller, and continually inundates the film with long shots, as if attempting to broaden its scope - the result being an expansive laxity of the tension which was ultimately necessary to make the film a success. Similarly, despite its "thriller" classification, the action in the film is restricted to only two brief setpieces (one being an ill- advised dream sequence), suggesting its being primarily fuelled by suspense and emotional tension - however, apart from the odd patch of effectively generated tension, the film is so poorly executed on these fronts that it is often simply a lackluster, or simply uninteresting watch, falling short of expectations that were never terribly high to begin with.

The paltry, often laughable script offers nothing more than poor lines, a mostly entirely absent sense of palpable tension and frequent absurdly inexplicable character motivations (seeing as Walken's character oversees the pending murder so closely, why not simply do the job himself?) leading to plot twists which make little sense. Even the initially appealing premise reveals itself to be a thinly thought out one, complete with dollops of plot holes too large to be swallowed up by the pithy enjoyment factor. While some peculiar cinematography adds a mildly unique quality to the film, the ever so subtle recurring visual motif of clocks or watches serves to slow the film down rather than amp up the tension.

Despite being deprived a venue for his usual lunacies, Johnny Depp does what he can with the role of a harried everyman blackmailed into an assassination plot, exuding enough charisma to keep the thin premise afloat. Christopher Walken has a great deal more fun, oozing wild eyed menace as the mysterious captor coercing Depp into murder, and delivering the only really noteworthy performance of the film. Charles S. Dutton is amusing as a jovial shoe shiner swept into the midst, though his character's offbeat humour more often than not seems out of place considering his grim surroundings. Roma Maffia puts a slightly inventive spin on the archetypal hostage captor, but Marsha Mason gives an embarrassingly melodramatic rendition of the threatened senatorial candidate, Depp's target. Similarly, Courtney Chase fulfils just about every "irritating little girl" cliché in the book as Depp's kidnapped daughter, doing little to sympathise the character in the audience's eyes.

While the film can hardly be described as anywhere near as downright despicable as it might have become, disappointing is indeed the word of choice as a decently intriguing premise is overwhelmed by inattentive, lacklustre directing and lazy screen writing generating hardly a scrap of tension in a film intended to thrive on it. While the odd sliver of enjoyment can frequently be extracted from the experience, most would be well advised to avoid Nick of Time apart from those willing to tolerate its glaring inadequacies.

-5/10