Desperate Measures

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Desperate Measures

R

Released Jan 30, 1998

1h 40m

Mystery & Thriller

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19%

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31 Reviews

37%

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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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Desperate Measures" is a drawn-out, and purely disposable, suspense thriller.

Rated: C

May 19, 2009

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Primarily, the movie works as a showcase for Garcia and Keaton.

Rated: B

Jul 30, 2007

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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

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 18, 2005

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Frankie B

I honestly don't know why this movie has gotten such low ratings It was a fantastic movie Michael Keaton was really really good in it Andy Garcia was good in it. Action packed had a nice ending. One of my favorite movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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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

Wild Things

64%

54%

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Never Talk to Strangers

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49%

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The Score

74%

67%

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Black and White

20%

28%

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Retroactive

57%

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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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