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IMDb > Desperate Hours (1990)
Desperate Hours
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Desperate Hours (1990)

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User Rating: 5.2/10 (1,845 votes)
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IMDb Coverage of Comic-Con 2008

Overview

Director:
Michael Cimino
Writers (WGA):
Joseph Hayes (novel)
Joseph Hayes (play)
more
Release Date:
5 October 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller | Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
At the height of fear every moment is a desperate hour more
Plot:
An escaped con on the run from the law moves into a married couple's home and takes over their lives. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
Cimino: high on style. low on logic. form=content. go figure. more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Mickey Rourke ... Michael Bosworth

Anthony Hopkins ... Tim Cornell

Mimi Rogers ... Nora Cornell
Lindsay Crouse ... Brenda Chandler

Kelly Lynch ... Nancy Breyers

Elias Koteas ... Wally Bosworth

David Morse ... Albert

Shawnee Smith ... May Cornell
Danny Gerard ... Zack Cornell
Gerry Bamman ... Ed Tallent

Matt McGrath ... Kyle
John Christopher Jones ... Neff

Dean Norris ... Maddox

John Finn ... Lexington
Christopher Curry ... Chabon
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Additional Details

Runtime:
105 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Alta, Utah, USA more
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 2% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Michael Bosworth: There's too many rules in this house. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Murphy Brown: Desperate Times (#9.19)" (1997) more
Soundtrack:
FIGHT FOR ME more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful:-
Cimino: high on style. low on logic. form=content. go figure., 29 July 2002

I think on a certain level this film works quite well. First, throw out everything you know about the 1955 version. Next, abandon paying too much attention to how the plot progresses (gee, Kelly Lynch's character seems to disappear for extended periods of time, and it's amazing that the FBI ever found following her to be worth it. And she is supposed to be one of the smarter characters, but then again, you took what Lindsay Crouse's character said about her too seriously.) The film has a most curious tone, and just when you think it's going to turn into an art film, we get a shoot-em-up or some other plot contrivance to bring it back to earth. The soundtrack is a moody pastiche of 50's style orchestrations (no rock music!) and recalls moody post-noir thrillers of the late 50's-early 60's.

And what a fascinating line-up of players, performances, and characters. Kelly Lynch's acting directions must have been "look snappy, especially topless, act like you just ingested a gram of cocaine, and all will go well."

One of these first years Cimino will put together all the pieces and come up with a really good, coherent film. For a really good obtuse film, reference Walter Hill's "The Driver" with Ryan O'Neal.

Oh, and if you ever thought you could mess with Lindsay Crouse, this film should dispel that notion. She's much badder than Mickey Rourke - and that's the biggest surprise of the whole picture! And with a lot less screen time, too. And by golly I guess Mickey Rourke's character is just an obsessive lover of the enigmatic Lynch. That explains a lot.

Coolest line in the film: FBI agent says to Crouse (after she got shot in the leg) : "Where are you hit?" Answer: "In the ego."

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Phosphorus Crouse Yuugo
Excellent over the top female performance by Lindsay Crouse GregP89
Whistling??? derfdren
most annoying characters? Brynnda
LOOKING FOR A MOVIE IS THE THE ONE? lindsey1152
Car in the movie kevlar991
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