Michael Keaton (
Batman and
Batman Returns) and Andy Garcia star in
Desperate Measures, a movie that
desperately tries to live up to the cliche action movies that are always so popular. The result is a mixed reaction of decent action and outlandish turns, which provides a satisfactory but not overwhelmingly impressive film.
Michael Keaton is the antagonist protagonist in the movie, the killer who kills countless people but develops a strange soft spot for the dying boy. It seems like he really does want to save the boy, but of course would rather save himself, but his hesitant feelings towards the boy seem to destroy his hardcore "badness" that the movie was trying to portray. Michael Keaton fits the role perfectly, but he could have used a better story to develop his character.
On the other side, though, is Andy Garcia, who really should be held responsible for most of the deaths in Desperate Measures. He is beyond desperate to the point of insanity in this film, and by the end, that is the downfall of the movie. Not only as a father, but as a police officer as well, he breaks into the FBI database, is the reason why several police officers are shot, and then causes a major traffic accident in the middle of the freeway. No matter whether his son is dying or not, his actions are extremely unrealistic.