Desperate Measures (1998)

17% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(11,739 ratings)

Although he enjoyed great critical success with crime dramas and slice-of-life pictures, director Barbet Schroeder continued dabbling in the thriller genre with this action-oriented film. Andy Garcia stars as Frank Conner, a widowed San Francisco police officer whose young son Matt (Joseph Cross) is… More Although he enjoyed great critical success with crime dramas and slice-of-life pictures, director Barbet Schroeder continued dabbling in the thriller genre with this action-oriented film. Andy Garcia stars as Frank Conner, a widowed San Francisco police officer whose young son Matt (Joseph Cross) is suffering from leukemia. Without a bone marrow transplant, Matt will die, but Frank isn't a donor. In fact, the only potential match is prison inmate Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton), a psychotic but charming serial killer. At first, McCabe refused to participate despite Conner's pleas, but eventually, the convict relents and agrees to the procedure. It is all a ruse, however, as McCabe has discovered a clever way to escape the confines of the operating room where Matt's oncologist, Dr. Hawkins (Marcia Gay Harden) is scheduled to perform the transplant. Faced with the dual nightmare of his son's deteriorating condition and a mass murderer on the loose in a major metropolitan hospital, the frantic Conner finds himself bending and even breaking the law to bring McCabe down and save Matt's life. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Barbet Schroeder
Written By: David Klass
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD: May 26, 1998
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Desperate Measures" is a drawn-out, and purely disposable, suspense thriller.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Primarily, the movie works as a showcase for Garcia and Keaton.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A preposterous yet entertaining thriller with Michael Keaton stretching admirably as a Hannibal Lecter-style killer.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
A waste of time.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
A squandered opportunity to explore important issues through popular moviemaking.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Keaton and Garcia have never been any more desperate than in this silly film.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
an astoundingly inept thriller that's easily the worst movie ever directed by Barbet Schroeder and may well prove to be an all-time low for everyone else involved with it.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
É uma pena que este seja um filme de ação. A premissa do filme é tão forte e bem armada que, com certeza, poderia ter gerado uma história muito mais dramática e complexa.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Silly action film to switch off to
Jason O

Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is in jail for several murders. He is one of the most dreaded criminals in his prison. However, a cop, Frank Conner (Andy Garcia), finds out that Peter is the only one who can save his son by giving him a bone marrow transplant. Peter agrees to do so… More
Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is in jail for several murders. He is one of the most dreaded criminals in his prison. However, a cop, Frank Conner (Andy Garcia), finds out that Peter is the only one who can save his son by giving him a bone marrow transplant. Peter agrees to do so after getting several of his privileges, such as smoking, back. However, things take an interesting twist after Peter somehow escapes while in the hospital. Frank can't allow anybody to kill Peter because that would kill Frank's son, but he also doesn't want Peter to do what he is known for, being a murderer. I can't believe that "Desperate Measures" isn't getting a lot better ratings than it's getting. I thought it was a great movie. I like for movies to have a plot, and I'll admit that this movie is choppy in that department, but it does feature one of Michael Keaton's best job as an actor and it has great suspense. That's why I really liked "Desperate Measures." If you can put up with a movie that doesn't have one of the best plots in the world, but one that has good acting and great suspense, I recommend getting "Desperate Measures." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001.
Dean M

This so-called thriller concerns a cop, trying to save his son's life, who must deal with a homicidal sociopath who happens to be the only suitable bone-marrow donor in the entire civilized world. Yeah, right!
Aaron N

Peter McCabe: You have to appreciate the irony. After all these years of being locked up, I'm given the opportunity to kill again. A cops kid too, and all I have to do is sit right here. This movie does a good job at being terrible, but every time it's on, I enjoy watching… More
Peter McCabe: You have to appreciate the irony. After all these years of being locked up, I'm given the opportunity to kill again. A cops kid too, and all I have to do is sit right here. This movie does a good job at being terrible, but every time it's on, I enjoy watching it. There's just something about it. A strange combination of Andy Garcia and a particularly good Michael Keaton, who does not get enough work in my opinion, star as cop and criminal. Garcia has a terminally ill son who needs a bone marrow transplant. Enter Keaton, who plays a killer in jail and happens to be the only one in the area that matches up to Garcia's son. Upon the time of the operation, Keaton breaks out, basically takes the hospital hostage, and it becomes a cat and mouse game between Garcia and Keaton, except Keaton can't be killed or Garcia's son dies. The movie has plenty of logic problems, but it is good enough to watch on tv, and Keaton shines. Peter McCabe: [after agreeing to transplant] These cigarettes are stale. You tell that cop and his dead kid I won't stand for stale cigarettes.
Al S

A solid and riveting edge of your seat thriller. Packs plenty of explosive action, unpredictable suspence and full-throttle excitment. Michael Keaton and Andy Garcia have never been better. A sly and and chilling cat and mouse game. An exhilerating ride.
Luke B

Not the greatest film in the world. In fact some parts are pretty ridiculous. that's part of the charm here as Garcia faces a moral dilemma. Kill the killer and your son dies. Keaton is great as a cold blooded psycho and Garcia is pretty much drifting through as the loving… More
Not the greatest film in the world. In fact some parts are pretty ridiculous. that's part of the charm here as Garcia faces a moral dilemma. Kill the killer and your son dies. Keaton is great as a cold blooded psycho and Garcia is pretty much drifting through as the loving father. Some nice action set ups and a supporting role from Brian Cox make this a likeable action thriller.
Jeffrey M

Enjoyable movie to check out on netflix instant
Steven V

Great movie. Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton play off each other really well and make this film very entertaining, intense and assured direction, moments of genuine suspense, and a booming score.
Leo L

Fantastic!