Nick of Time MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2

Accountant Gene Watson (Johnny Depp) and his daughter arrive in Los Angeles on a train. At the station, Mr. Smith (Christopher Walken) and Ms. Jones (Roma Maffia), impersonating police, take Gene into custody. Mr. Smith then tells Gene he must kill a woman or Ms. Jones will kill his daughter. Gene has 90 minutes to save his daughter by killing the woman, Governor Grant (Marsha Mason). Smith seems to always be watching, anticipating his thoughts to get help. Even the governor's security seems to be on Smith's side. Gene's only hope seems to be Huey (Charles S. Dutton), a disabled veteran working as a shoeshine man. The tension never lets up for 90 minutes as Gene seeks to save his daughter and the governor with Huey's help. But tension with no relief doesn't make an entertaining time.

Shot in "real time" to coincide with Gene's time limit, the movie includes enough objectionable material to earn its rating. With no time for sex and nudity, the story fills the void with obscenities and violence. Not only is a child threatened with a gun and later shot at, but numerous graphic shootings occur. One man is electrocuted and Gene, in a dream sequence, falls from a high balcony. We're also treated to Gene vomiting into a sink. Mr. Smith's comments are liberally spread with obscenities and ethnic slurs. It is also startling to discover that the governor's husband knows of the plan. Financial and political ties with organized crime are implied by a mystery man who advises Grant's husband. People in authority can't be trusted, but the heroes are the hotel chambermaids, waiters and shoeshine man. Along with several profanities, Mr. Smith tells Gene that "God can't help you, only you can save your daughter." Save both time and money, unless you like tension, and avoid this one.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038