"Will you do it? Will you give my son your bone marrow?" It even reads funny, and I had to laugh out loud when Andy Garcia, in a husky voice, asked a strapped down Michael Keaton this question. Poor dialogue almost killed this movie in which Andy Garcia plays a cop willing to go to any extent to save his son who is dying from lukemia. Unfortunately, his only hope is a highly intelligent and ruthless mass murderer in the guise of Michael Keaton. Of course, anyone can realize that the only reason he would accept to do such a thing would be his chance to escape. That predictability aside, it's the escape itself that is most fun to watch. Sure, it played out like a comic book, but that's the kind of stuff I like.
It was interesting to watch Keaton play out the character who, as ruthless as he is, still has a likeable side. This wasn't just another DiNero/Cape Fear acting rip off, Keaton added a pinace that few actors would have been able to provide the character. Garcia himself did a good job with the lines and character he was given, although going a little over the top and out of his character range at times (I don't seriously think a cop would actually drive a motercycle through hospital doors). I didn't find out his name, but the kid who played Garcia's son even did an outstanding job of carrying along and advancing his character, that of a young child who's already accepted the possibility of death.
The climax of the movie had a lot less energy than what had come before, but it was fresh and far more interesting than a big blow up ending would have been. Worth the $4.50 I paid to see it.