Murder by the Minutes
Ten 'til Noon
Review by Ross Anthony

Here’s a film with a synopsis and slant suspiciously reminiscent of “Pulp Fiction.” That’s not a bad thing. I quite enjoyed PULP, so such a slant drew me to this picture.

Bad guys and innocents come trigger-to-barrel. A simple “job” is greatly complicated in an interesting fashion by all involved from the street thug to the top thug. Most of the events take place during the ten minutes just before noon -- hence the title. Those ten minutes play out on screen several times -- one time for each set of players and respective location. Since phone calls are made, watchers get to hear the “other sides” of those conversations when the caller’s ten minutes are revealed. It’s cool, although those phone dialogues could have been edited in duration as their repetition becomes a tad tedious.

Another suggestion: Since the opening scene is the weakest (Freeman doesn‘t quite come across believably), I’d have suggested a shuffle of the ten minute slots. Perhaps open with the security guys watching the erotic video scene.

Admirably, the film employs another rule-breaker, the credits begin to roll before the last scene. Fade-to-Black, but don’t leave the theatre. I respect the attempt here, but the effect doesn’t quite work. At credits, I felt a great deal of disappointment toward the film for not resolving itself climactically. And even though the last scene, which plays after half a minute of credits, is itself quite amusing, it still wasn’t enough to dissipate that feeling of disappointment. Perhaps there could have been some other type of odd break inserted that wouldn’t leave viewers to assume the film is ending.

While most of the acting, production, and tricky writing is good, the film overall lacks depth, intensity, hard-hitting drama, and message. Still, with a little more "something," I could see these filmmakers making something quite special in the future.

-- Book Contest --


  • Ten 'til Noon. Copyright © 2005.
  • Starring Rick Wasserman, Jenya Lano, Alfonso Freeman, Rayne Guest.
  • Directed by Scott Storm.
  • Screenplay by Paul Osborne.

Grade..........................B (2/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Wednesday, 14-Mar-2007 19:53:18 PDT