DESPERATE MEASURES

US, 1998, 96 minutes, Colour.
Michael Keaton, Andy Garcia, Brian Cox, Marcia Gaye Hardin, Joseph Cross.
Directed by Barbet Schroeder.

There is a lot of sentiment underlying the thriller Desperate Measures as cop Andy Garcia tries every means to find a compatible bone marrow donor for his young son. And it turns out to be Michael Keaton, trying to do a Hannibal Lecter. Nobody is surprised when he stages an escape attempt and there is a lot of tension as the pursuit rushes its way around the hospital and out onto the freeways with seemingly reckless abandon of dangers to everyone else and, so, to the credibility of the film. However, while it is up there on the screen, it builds up tension. The police want Keaton dead. Garcia needs to keep him alive for the operation. Tense but derivative.

1. Entertaining thriller? Police drama? Medical drama? Dramatic or melodramatic?

2. The city settings, the hospital, the prison, the interiors of the wards? The chases? The musical score?

3. The title, Frank and his wanting the bone marrow transplant from the criminal? Allowing the criminal out? His taking over, the attempt to escape, the violence? The chases? How plausible?

4. Frank Connor, widower, concern about his son, going into the files to find a compatible donor, going to the prison, the interview with Pete McCabe? The psychological confrontation? McCabe's agreement, going to the hospital? Frank with his son, with Dr Hawkins? The preparation for the operation? Mc Cabe getting away, the pursuit around the hospital, the melodramatics, the action, the confrontation? The police thinking Frank had sold out? The final escape, the pursuit in the car, the bridge? Shooting McCabe? but rescuing him from the river? The operation and his being reunited with his son? Plausible character, policeman, father?

5. Michael Keaton as Peter Mc Cabe, a variation on Hannibal Lector? His record? His admitting that he was a killer? The interview with Frank, his psychological playing with him? His use of the computer in the prison, getting the plans of the hospital? His agreement, the method of his being taken to the hospital? The meeting with Matthew? Being strapped down, the need for him to be freed, his escape? His skill in moving through the hospital, the chases, taking Dr Hawkins as hostage, the threats to the policeman? The threats from Frank? The need to keep him alive for the operation? His taking over the hospital, the infectious ward, on the PA system, watching everybody by surveillance? The final escape, the vehicle, Frank's pursuit, the bridge, his being shot? The ironic ending with his pulling the gun on the policeman?

6. The hospital staff, Dr Hawkins and her care, decisions, being taken hostage, helping Frank? The other nurses and doctors?

7. The police, the chief and his discussions with Frank, the threats to shoot McCabe? Frank persuading the policeman not to shoot? Their disregarding Frank's wishes, the attack?

8. Matthew, his medical situation, the need for the operation, his father's care, the interrupted operation, his helping his father, the discussions with Mc Cabe, Mc Cabe saying they were similar and his wanting to attack McCabe? The final operation?

9. The quality of the cast and the director - in a run-of-the-mill, implausible thriller?