15 Minutes (2001)

Director:

John Herzfeld

Writer (WGA):

John Herzfeld (written by)

Release Date:

9 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

America likes to watch

Plot:

A homicide detective and a fire marshall must stop a pair of murderers who commit videotaped crimes to become media darlings.

Plot Keywords:

Media | Video Camera | Fire Marshal | New York City | Murder

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Detective Eddie Flemming
Edward Burns	...	Fire Marshal Jordy Warsaw
Kelsey Grammer	...	Robert Hawkins
Avery Brooks	...	Detective Leon Jackson
Melina Kanakaredes	...	Nicolette Karas
Karel Roden	...	Emil Slovak
Oleg Taktarov	...	Oleg Razgul
Vera Farmiga	...	Daphne Handlova
John DiResta	...	Bobby Korfin
James Handy	...	Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Declan Duffy
Darius McCrary	...	Detective Tommy Cullen
Bruce Cutler	...	Himself
Charlize Theron	...	Rose Hearn
Kim Cattrall	...	Cassandra
David Alan Grier	...	Mugger in Central Park

Also Known As:

15 Minuten Ruhm (Germany)
Fifteen Minutes (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Czech | Russian | Greek | Afrikaans

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36845) | Malaysia:18SG (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Singapore:R(A) | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Philippines:R-18 | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The film was originally slated to be released in the Spring of 2000 by New Line with theatrical trailers appearing in the fall/winter 1999. For reasons unknown, the film was pulled from the Spring 2000 schedule and then delayed. The film was finally released in March of 2001. A similar situation would happen with Knockaround Guys which was slated to be released that Spring only to be yanked and delayed. That film would finally be released in late 2002.

Goofs:

Continuity: The blood disappears from Eddie's lapel after he has been struck on the face.

Quotes:

Robert Hawkins: If it bleeds, it leads!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Homicide (2003)

Soundtrack:

52 Pickup

Good film about crime and media-- 7/10

Robert De Niro does great in this movie. Like we haven't heard that before. You can tell he tries to let Edward Burns have his time, but he is such a charismatic screen presence, people would probably pay to watch him sit in a chair for two hours. The movie around him is also good, touching on the interesting topic of the media's effect on violent crimes. Edward Burns does a good job, but i think the real stars here (except for De Niro, of course) are the two East European criminals who come to America searching for fame and fortune, played by Karel Roden and Oleg Taktarov. They are funny and terrifying all at the same time. Oleg's character seems like a friendly guy, but he is actually a violent pervert. And Karel's character is just plain nuts. I recommend this movie for the great performances and it's thought provoking premise. 7/10