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Desperate Measures

Play trailer Poster for Desperate Measures R 1998 1h 40m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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19% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 37% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Widowed cop Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) is determined to secure a bone marrow transplant for his son, Matt (Joseph Cross), who will die of leukemia if a suitable donor isn't found. Conner discovers that incarcerated serial murderer Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is a match for Matt, and the psychopath eventually agrees to donate marrow, but he escapes from the operating room just before the procedure. Conner quickly follows, but the scheming McCabe won't be easily apprehended.
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Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures

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Critics Consensus

Times aren't desperate enough for this lame thriller to be called for.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The movie would rather jolly along an action audience than play fair with its material, and so we're treated to the standard obligatory bankrupt action dreck: kinetic energy on autopilot. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Desperate Measures has recovered its momentum to ultimately confirm its place as an erratically-paced yet predominantly entertaining thriller. Rated: 3/4 Oct 21, 2020 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com "Desperate Measures" is a drawn-out, and purely disposable, suspense thriller. Rated: C May 19, 2009 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Primarily, the movie works as a showcase for Garcia and Keaton. Rated: B Jul 30, 2007 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily A preposterous yet entertaining thriller with Michael Keaton stretching admirably as a Hannibal Lecter-style killer. Rated: 3/5 Oct 6, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 18, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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G R Fun 6-7/10 action movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/30/25 Full Review D P 1998. Wow. Outlandish from the beginning. I know they were going for some deep quandary about the value of one life over others, but the premise was just too farfetched. There's one computer guarded by the feds that contains the only list available of all possible matches for organ transplants, and there's only one other human being compatible with the son. The bone marrow becomes worthless the second the donor dies, and everyone in law enforcement keeps failing to kill a murderer on a killing spree because of the father's interference. Please find another story to make the same point. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review Jelisije J An over the top action thriller that is held together by Michael Keaton playing a complete psychopath convict who tries to escape prison life by literally trying to escape from the hospital where he is suppose to get bone marrow transplant in order to saves a young boy life. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Audience Member The good acting and cast were wasted on this trite story line. By the end of the film I was no longer rooting for good guys and just wanted it to end. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Matthew S Love all,of the actors in the movie. The acting wasn’t bad but the story was a little far fetched and predictable. Worth a watch but don’t be surprised when st the end you say to yourself, eh Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/25/25 Full Review Gerald H Trying to put so much uninspired crap into just one movie is a desperature measure. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Desperate Measures

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Cast & Crew

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Barbet Schroeder

Director

Michael Keaton

Peter McCabe

Andy Garcia

Frank Conner

Brian Cox

Captain Jeremiah Cassidy

Marcia Gay Harden

Dr. Samantha Hawkins

Erik King

Nate Oliver

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Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures (1997) Desperate Measures (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Widowed cop Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) is determined to secure a bone marrow transplant for his son, Matt (Joseph Cross), who will die of leukemia if a suitable donor isn't found. Conner discovers that incarcerated serial murderer Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is a match for Matt, and the psychopath eventually agrees to donate marrow, but he escapes from the operating room just before the procedure. Conner quickly follows, but the scheming McCabe won't be easily apprehended.
Director
Barbet Schroeder
Producer
Gary Foster, Susan Hoffman, Lee Rich, Barbet Schroeder
Screenwriter
David Klass
Distributor
TriStar Pictures
Production Co
Eaglepoint, Mandalay Pictures, TriStar Pictures
Rating
R (Violence|Language)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 30, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.7M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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