Nick of Time (1995)

An unimpressive, every-day man is forced into a situation where he is told to kill a politician to save his kidnapped daughter.

Director:

John Badham

Writer:

Patrick Sheane Duncan

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Courtney Chase, Charles S. Dutton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Gene Watson
Courtney Chase	...	Lynn Watson
Charles S. Dutton	...	Huey
Christopher Walken	...	Mr. Smith
Roma Maffia	...	Ms. Jones
Marsha Mason	...	Gov. Eleanor Grant
Peter Strauss	...	Brendan Grant
Gloria Reuben	...	Krista Brooks
Bill Smitrovich	...	Officer Trust
G.D. Spradlin	...	Mystery Man
Yul Vazquez	...	Gustino (Guest Services)
Edith Diaz	...	Irene (Domestic Maintenance)
Armando Ortega	...	Hector (Guest Services)
C.J. Bau	...	Mixologist
Cynthena Sanders	...	Beverage Server

Storyline

Gene Watson is a public accountant who arrives on a train at Union Station in Los Angeles, accompanied by his 6-year-old daughter Lynn. Because of his ordinary looks, he is approached by a pair of sinister people named Smith and Jones. Pretending to be cops, Smith and Jones kidnap Lynn and confront Gene with a simple choice -- kill California governor Eleanor Grant in 90 minutes or less, or Lynn will die. Watson is given a gun, six bullets, and a name tag, and he is told to go to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and kill Eleanor, who is giving an afternoon speech. While Jones is watching Lynn in a van, Smith watches Watson in order to prevent Watson from alerting the authorities. Watson must quickly find some way to get himself and Lynn out of this seemingly impossible situation.

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Plot Keywords:

governor | accountant | hotel | conspiracy | time | 

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Taglines:

Within 90 minutes, someone is going to die... And the clock is ticking.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gegen die Zeit

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$8,169,363 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the most remarkable film sequences involved one seamless take during which Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken board a glass-walled elevator and ride 35 floors to the top of L.A.'s Bonaventure hotel. Crammed into the confines of the elevator with the actors were, director John Badham, cinematographer Roy H. Wagner, focus-puller Todd Slyapich, sound mixer Willie D. Burton, boom operator Marvin E. Lewis and script supervisor Barbara Thaxton. Given the fact that the elevator was glass from top to bottom, was lit by 8 Kino Flo lamps, ensuring that camera and crew reflections were not captured on film was quite an exercise in and of itself.

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Goofs

The writing on the business card Watson attempts to hand the cab driver differs before and after the hand-off.

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Quotes

Gene Watson: You're out of your mind.
Mr. Smith: What's your point?

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Connections

Referenced in Baadshah (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Bossa Antiqua"
Written and Performed by Michael Lang

User Reviews

Totally underrated film

I went to see this movie in the theater and I have to say that it is one of the most underrated films I have ever seen. This movie received a lot of bad press when it was released but I don't see how it was justified. The story is great and it makes you nervous watching it unfold. You will know what I am talking about if you see it. Christopher Walken gives another great performance as the "policeman" as he calls himself. Walken's voice is one of the best in the business. I highly recommend this movie if you want to be entertained with a great suspenseful film.