Nick of Time (1995)

"Taut suspense thriller.  Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
"Powerful and unforgettable!  Ron Brewington, American Urban Radio Network
"A real nail-biter.  Bob Slade, WRKS-FM
"A thriller with originality, ingenuity and nonstop suspense.  David Sheehan, CBS-TV

Editor's Note In John Badham's NICK OF TIME, Johnny Depp stars as Gene Watson, a mild-mannered, widowed accountant, and the father of six-year-old Lynn (Courtney Chase). While in Los Angeles's Union train station, they are abducted by a mysterious couple posing as police officers, Mr. Smith (Christopher Walken) and Ms. Jones (Roma Maffia). They give Gene a loaded gun and these orders: assassinate the "flaming liberal" governor of California (Marsha Mason) within the next 90 minutes, or they will kill his beloved daughter. Gene reluctantly agrees, and he is taken to the Bonaventure Hotel where the governor is making an appearance. Tension mounts as the clock ticks and Gene must outwit his conniving kidnappers. Shot in real time, the action of the movie is documented in the actual 90 minute running time of the movie. As Gene faces his gruesome task, minutes slip away, creating a palpable tension and a breathtaking reminder of every agonizing second. Christopher Walken is at his devilish best, wickedly tormenting the innocent hero. Reminiscent of Hitchcockian dilemmas, Gene is an ordinary man trapped in an extraordinary situation, forced to act before it is too late.

	Bill Smitrovich
	Charles S. Dutton
	Christopher Walken
	Courtney Chase
	G.D. Spradlin
	Gloria Reuben
	Johnny Depp
	Marsha Mason
	Peter Strauss
	Yul Vasquez
	Roma Maffia
	Roy H. Wagner - Cinematography
	Mary E. Vogt - Costume Designer
	John Badham - Director
	Kevin Stitt - Editor
	Frank Morriss - Editor
	D.J. Caruso - Executive Producer
	Arthur B. Rubinstein - Musical Score
	Cammie Crier - Producer
	John Badham - Producer
	Philip Harrison - Production Designer
	Patrick Sheane Duncan - Writer/Story

Randomly accosted in L.A.'s Union Station, a man is given 90 minutes to murder an innocent politician or his daughter will be killed in this real-time action thriller starring Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken. Entertainment Weekly
"...The plot is neat....A wild ride with enough forward momentum to hurtle you over the plot holes." 05/24/1996 p.108

At-A-Glance Film Reviews 0 of 10
Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken star in this engrossing thriller. An innocent man is captured and forced to assassinate someone. We identify with Depp well, so that Walken's usual screen menace is made all the more threatening. The interesting thing about this film is that it takes place in (approximate) real time. Frequent references to the current time are made, and it makes for a nail-biting effect. Unlike a lot of thrillers, this is one where it's hard to see how the protagonist could possibly pull through. He's no dummy -- he's clever and quick-thinking, yet it seems not enough. - Sam