Race Against Time (2003)

People are voting emotionally.

Just perfect...

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

In the future, US corporations take advantage of permissive suicide and health care laws to harvest human body parts. Those with healthy organs may trade them for a cash sum, upon death. If you plan to die quickly, you will get more money. Our story's hero is lowly high rise construction worker Eric Roberts (as James Gabriel). He is a poor widower, but in excellent health. "I never get sick," states Mr. Roberts. However, Roberts' son Daniel Magder (as Bobby) may not be so lucky. The child has contracted the dreaded "Ralph Virus" once thought to be extinct. It kills furiously fast, but there is a cure...Alas, the vaccine is prohibitively expensive. With his son literally at death's door, Roberts signs a contract with the wickedly corrupt "Lifecorps" corporation, for $300,000. Roberts must turn over his body for harvesting in exactly one year, but the money will cure Bobby. Of course, things can go wrong...Roberts is a reliable lead, as usual. He spars well with villainous Cary Elwes (as Burke), who is exceptional as elevator doors close on his face. Athletic blonde Sarah Wynter (as Alex) provides feminine companionship, but corporate officer Diane Venora (as Helen Steele) is the one with the more interesting yen for Roberts. "Lifecorps" sleaze Chris Sarandon (as Anton Stofeles) has little to do; it would have improved the story to have him be in desperate need of a Roberts body part. Robin Wilcock (as Rupert Elliot) is impressive. For a TNT Presents TV Movie, "Race Against Time" delivers the goods.****** Race Against Time (7/23/00) Geoff Murphy ~ Eric Roberts, Cary Elwes, Sarah Wynter, Diane Venora

James Gabriel is a construction worker desperately trying to earn sufficient money to pay the hospital bills of his critically ill son Bobby. When a major safety incident sees him confront his supervisor, he is fired and left with no job. Unfortunately, the same day, he learns that his son's condition has worsened and, unless he gets a very expensive vaccination, he will die within 12 hours, a day at absolute most. With no other option James signs an agreement with company Lifecorps to sell his body for harvesting for organ transplants a year from now in exchange for $300,000. However when his son dies due to Lifecorps refusal to give him the vaccine ahead of payment, James returns the money and tells them where to put their contract. The Corporation takes this as a verbal refusal of contract and gets a court order to complete early – setting Burke and his men on him to bring him in.Despite the mostly low-rent cast (no offence Roberts, Elwes, Wynter and Vendora but you're hardly A-list are you?), TVM status, afternoon scheduling and the fact that channel 5 was showing it, I decided to give this a go anyway. The plot offers a simple set-up to basically create a Running Man situation where a Corporation chases down its "property". The film offers plenty of potential for commentary on the future of Corporations, the commercialisation of health care and the role of individuals within this corporate world and I was hoping for the film to bring that out. It seems to lack the intelligence to go much beyond the surface but the concept and world set-up are interesting enough. The plot is reasonable simply but perhaps has too many leaps of logic and action-movie style silliness to allow me to take it too seriously. It moves with a nice slick pace though and, although I knew where it was going, I still quite enjoyed it as it moved along. Towards the end it starts to get sillier and more unlikely even within its own frame but again it worked at the level I was watching it at (even if it could have been better).The cast are so-so for the most part but do OK considering the material and budget. For all his faults, Roberts always gives the impression that he is trying hard, even if he knows the film is weak. He makes a solid leading man here and is good value for this film. Elwes is hardly inspiring but he produces a serviceable villain. Sarandon and Vendora are not used as well as I would have liked, which was a shame as both seemed up for it. Wynter (who I only know from 24) was good enough but severely hampered by the fact that her character made very little sense – she quickly resorts to running, shooting and shouting in favour of anything more interesting to do.Overall a so-so sci-fi that I enjoyed even though it gradually loses touch with the interesting material and just becomes a silly action movie towards the end. The cast help cover up the lack of budget but it never really gets above the level of TVM, although it works on that level.

"Race Against Time" may be a formulaic television movie, but this should diminish the film. Eric Roberts is great and Cary Elwes is devilishly better in an awesome movie called "Race Against Time."This is one of the most brilliant movies I have seen. The performances are awesome and best of all it is suspense filled. In addition to the suspense, "Race Against Time" brings non-stop, edge of your seat action and drama to a movie that has a star who acts in nothing but action movies.I must give praise to the writers and director of "Race Against Time" because they took an awesome script and turned it into a work of art. A man signs his life away to save his son but when he discovers his son is dead, he breaks the agreement and runs for his life. Who wouldn't watch this movie after reading the plot? I know I would watch it.The cast is phenomenal in "Race Against Time. Eric Roberts seems to get better and better with each role he takes. Roberts expands his acting skills from action to being a dedicated and caring father. It is always good to see that an actor can be versatile. However, the best actor in this whole movie was the evil Cary Elwes. Elwes is the ultimate bad guy and he portrays the villain never well. I wish I never got on the wrong side of Mr. Elwes. Besides Elwes, the climax of this film makes this film so good."Race Against Time" is a heart-pumping, heart-warming, suspenseful and edge of your seat thriller that will involve you from start to finish. If you enjoy Eric Roberts you will enjoy "Race Against Time." TWO THUMBS WAY UP.

Eric Roberts is good and Cary Elwes is devilishly better in an awesome movie called "Race Against Time."This is one of the most brilliant movies I have seen. The performances are awesome and best of all it is suspense filled. In addition to the suspense, "Race Against Time" brings non stop, edge of your seat action and drama to a movie that has a star who acts in nothing but action movies.I must give praise to the writers and director of "Race Against Time" because they took an awesome script and turned it into a work of art. A man signs his life away to save his son but when he discovers his son is dead, he breaks the agreement and runs for his life. Who wouldn't watch this movie after reading the plot? I know I would watch it.The cast is phenomenal in "Race Against Time. Eric Roberts seems to get better and better with each role he takes. Roberts expands his acting skills from action to being a dedicated and caring father. It is always good to see that an actor can be versatile. However, the best actor in this whole movie was the evil Cary Elwes. Elwes is the ultimate bad guy and he portrays the villain never well. I wish I never got on the wrong side of Mr. Elwes. Besides Elwes, the climax of this film makes this film so good."Race Against Time" is a heart-pumping, heart-warming, suspenseful and edge of your seat thriller that will involve you from start to finish. If you enjoy Eric Roberts you will enjoy "Race Against Time." THUMBS WAY UP.