’’15 Minutes’’ is a sad, satirical, and alarming story of our times. The legal system does not always warrants justice. Heartless criminals walk away, victims are left uncompensated, and the media capitalizes on the deeds of conscienceless individuals.
Eddie Fleming (Robert De Niro) is a homicide detective who has strong ties with Robert Hawkins (Kelsey Grammar), anchor of a TV show and arson investigator Jordy Warsaw (EDWARD BURNS). He is madly in love with Nicolette (Melina Kanakaredes). Two foreign criminals, Emil (Karel Roden) and Oleg (Oleg Taktarov) arrive in New York and embark on a major killing spree. After watching a couple of American television shows profiling dangerous criminals and escaping the penal system by pleading insanity and also profiting from their crimes.
Emil decides that he’ll become famous in America, by committing a high-profile crime while Oleg, an aspiring filmmaker, records all the grisly details. The only catch is that Daphne Handlova (VERA FARMIGA), an illegal immigrant, witnessed the crime and now is on the run.
This movie’s plot is interesting, timely, and provocative. The story portrayed in the movie, although incredible, is possible. The Western media is happy to capitalize on the crimes, all for the sake of high ratings. Robert De Niro portrays the role of expert, alcoholic cop. Edward Burns turns in a touching performance as well. Kelsey Grammar as a sleazy show host is perfect for his role as well. The movie though titled 15 Minutes’’ just drags on and on. Overall, 15 Minutes is a bold movie that makes a point.
There is a lot to walk away with after watching it.