Don't Believe the Hype

Am I Missing Something?

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Lewis Hicks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is a boozing reporter who took for granted his ex spouse as well as his son who he misses weekend visits with because he's always onto the next biggest scoop. If his personal relationships could hit rock bottom any further, his current girlfriend ends up dead at the hands of a serial killer. Hicks shows up at her place after the fact but chases down the culprit and gets knocked out in an alleyway. He finds a diary with names and dates for more killings to come. The lead detective investigating the case has something against him from a slate in a past story and won't listen to what he's telling him now. Now Hicks feels it's his obligation to take on the investigation himself for redemption in his own life. The victims all have in common a troubled little boy at an orphanage who had more things happen to him at an early age than most can call claim to. Hicks starts to get too close and as a result the evidence starts to point to him instead of the real killer who always slips in and out without anyone else seeing. From then on out it turns into a cat and mouse game of good vs evil before more victims' lives are claimed.The "big" twist in "Ticking Clock" is more related to science fiction than an action or thriller, and causes you to suspend your disbelief and except the facts at face value. This direct-to-video feature comes across like a scraped episode for "Millennium," with a similar, strange tone of drama and horror, where everything is baked in shadows, panned to get atmosphere, time stamped and generates tragic piano pieces to build mood. Though a share of the dialogue doesn't feel practiced, the suspense feels like false theatrics and the "acting" feels done on the first or second take, not to mention it has sentiment slipped in and can feel melodramatic without chemistry of the cast to back that up. This also attempts to be snide and sarcastic but the interaction between the actors can feel just as forced at times. The most important aspects this picture asks are: Is someone really able to get a second chance out of life? Is it possible to correct mistakes in the past? Is one able to put right what went wrong? Though, correcting one thing can cause another to have to be adjusted and so on until things are a mess all over again. Though answering those questions can be done without having to jump through hoops to get there by watching a film that feels quickly put together. Here's another question: If the filmmakers don't have both their feet in this, then how can they expect the viewer to? (Also submitted on http://fromblacktoredfilmreviews.blogspot.com/)

Hmmm where to start, it's hard to review this movie without giving spoilers so I'll just give you the basics of the movie. Cuba is divorced and is struggling to cope with his life and the struggles that go along with it. When he finds a killers book with names and dates in it he goes after him, trying to stop his next attacks.When the movie started I laughed, I'm sorry but does anyone notice that each one of Cuba's movies start off with him drinking or him sweating? Just something I noticed. The movie goes at a pretty good pace. It does have some tension and pop-up moments that'll give you a startle but nothing major. The storyline is OK, you may figure out what's going but if you don't the twist in the movie is a half decent one but could have been done a little better.The acting is a always a problem in Cuba's movies and it was suspect again in this one. I do have to say it's better than a few of his other performances even though there are a few rough patches throughout the movie. I did enjoy Mcdonough's acting, it gave support to Cuba and added interest to the movie.Overall you may like this if your a Cuba fan but don't expect anything mind blowing and don't expect anything better than an average straight to DVD release. I give this a movie a 6/10 because I give credit to Cuba for improving since his last performances but he still has a ways to go.--Forza Azzurri

I suppose it's cheap MIDI music but its application is so wrong, didn't anyone tell them? The detective is interviewing Hicks and they are playing stringy music? Imagine two people creeping around a dark building hunting each other with guns trying to be as quiet as possible, that is when they'd play this stringy music, not when a detective is interviewing Hicks. Unfortunately it is like this all the way through the movie and there aren't many scenes without music though it is such a relief when they do come along. Hicks is getting his gun out of his locked box, a CRASH of cymbals as he loads the magazine.... so wrong. The elements in this movie could have gone towards something better but they B-movied it. Please, if in doubt about what music to play where then remember, less is better. Hicks meets the orphan kid, there is no music until Hicks asks 'Hey buddy how old are ya?' and the kid replies 'what the f**k you want Mr?' then Bummmmmm... super dramatic bass-line and stringy tinkly piano music ... so wrong.

An investigative reporter (Gooding) comes home to find his girlfriend brutally murdered and chases the killer (McDonough). After finding a diary with names and dates of future murders he tries to stop them. Most of the time B movies like this one are boring and drag on and on to a lame conclusion. This one is a rare exception. This movie had me riveted and second guessing myself all over the place. A very original movie that has a huge twist in it that could have ruined it, but was done so well that it actually helped make the movie better then I was expecting. Very tense in some parts and will keep you hooked until the final frame. A MUST SEE, even for non horror fans. A very original, surprising and enjoyable experience.I give it an A-