Edward Burns, Kelsey Grammer, Robert De Niro

15 Minutes wants to be provocative, but it exists in an alternate reality where rules of logic and credibility no longer apply. In his underrated film 2 Days in the Valley, writer-direct...( read more  read more... )or John Herzfeld wryly exposed the underbelly of California's San Fernando Valley, but in the artificial New York City of 15 Minutes, he attempts a timely mixture of satire and social commentary that's only marginally convincing. Herzfeld's premise is both vivid and valid in addressing the deterioration of morals in American mass media, but in exploring the dark side of fame, the last few minutes of Taxi Driver have more impact than this entire movie.

Robert De Niro stars as Eddie Flemming, a hotshot homicide detective whose current double-murder case teams him with arson investigator Jordy Warsaw (Edward Burns). Their investigation leads to a pair of Eastern European nut-jobs (one Czech, one Russian) who've embarked on an impromptu killing spree--all captured on video by the Russian, who fancies himself an auteur of the American dream. In a pileup of contrivances, a reporter (Melina Kanakaredes) is also Eddie's girlfriend, and a tabloid TV host (Kelsey Grammer) seeks the killers' video with the scruples of Adolf Hitler. Blink and you'll miss Charlize Theron in a throwaway role, but that's nothing compared to the killing of a major character--a scene devoid of emotion that's more grist for the media mill. With appalling bloodlust, 15 Minutes sheds a sickening light on America's twisted character, but instead of illuminating, it only darkens the gloom. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

42% liked it

45,821 ratings

Critics

31% liked it

119 critics

R, 121 min.

Directed by: John Herzfeld

Release Date: March 9, 2001

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DVD Release Date: August 14, 2001

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Stats: 735 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (735)


  • September 23, 2009
    15 minutes. That?s how long De Niro is in it for! Grammer is good but Burns is annoying as usual!
  • March 29, 2008
    I had no idea what I was getting into when I watched this movie. I had heard nothing about it, with only a general understanding of the plot. But I was pleasantly surprised. The first hour is good, while struggling to find the direction and the tone that will carry throughout the...( read more) rest of the film, but the second half finally hits it's note, and stays with it the rest of the movie. The writer/director's commentary on the media and the judicial system totally hits home, and succeeds in making the statement on each that it set out to do. Great acting by Ed Burns and Robert De Niro and a great film all-around.
  • March 14, 2008
    An electrifying and hard-edged thriller with outstanding force. It's relentlessly exciting and absolutely shocking. An edge of your seat ride fuelled by explosive action, great story and sheer adreniline. It's realism you knock you out. Thrilling, stylish, riveting and powerful. ...( read more)Pulse-pounding and breathtaking. Edward Burns and Robert De Niro are brilliant. A great flick. Chilling, provocative and exhilerating.
  • January 20, 2008
    My husband and I try to watch any movies that have fire department scenes in them. We bought this one at the grocery store for 7 bucks and was half way through it when I realized that I had already seen this once before. I didn't care for it because the murders scenes were too gr...( read more)aphic.
  • September 27, 2007
    rather grim and disappointing.
  • October 29, 2009
    I liked this movie from the 1st 5 minutes into it.Deniro & Burns were great
  • September 23, 2009
    thoroughly enjoyable
  • August 16, 2009
    Some great acting (De Niro, Burns...) and a very engaging topic: the twisted nature of the US media and legal systems... Well crafted film, if the ending is a little too hollywoodesque for my taste.
  • August 10, 2009
    Not one of De niro's best movies but certainly not a terrible movie and i quite enjoyed it! Its a bit weird though almost a black comedy just not to many laughs and more action/thriller/violence!
    worth a watch!
  • August 8, 2009
    This was a wierd film! Its similar to a dark comedy with humourous parts but nothing much else to it.

Critic Reviews


March 9, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A shrewd thriller. full review

March 9, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A real movie, rough edges and all, and not another link from the sausage factory. full review

March 9, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

A tiresome screed that purports to teach us a lesson about violence and the media even as it serves up much more than the minimum daily requirement of stabbings, bloody gunshot wounds and relentless s... full review

March 8, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

One of the most brazen pieces of blame-shifting in exploitation-picture history. full review

March 8, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Big, loud and lurid, but no less entertaining for that. full review

View more 15 Minutes reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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15 Minutes Trivia


  • What is the name of the movie where we hear the line "Just for the record, I was only staring at your ass for the first 15 minutes."  Answer »
  • "1500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you "knew" that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll "know" tomorrow." which movie does this quote come from?   Answer »
  • In Being John Malkovich, Where is the landing place after your 15 minutes of being Malkovich?  Answer »
  • which director said "i like young actors because they're so unspoiled,not like some of those actors who are about half an hour into their 15 minutes of fame by the time they get to me"?   Answer »

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