Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
An ordinary man is suddenly forced into a plot to kill a politician in exchange for his kidnapped daughter's freedom.
Nick of Time is a gimmick-driven thriller that unfolds in real time, which gives it some novelty but the concept ultimately overwhelms execution. The plot is thin and relies heavily on contrivances to maintain tension, with the villain's scheme feeling implausible under scrutiny. Depp's performance is committed but constrained by a reactive role, while Christopher Walken delivers his trademark menace effectively. The real-time cinematography is competent but not distinguished. The ending resolves too neatly and without much surprise, deflating the tension the film worked to build. Its main claim to distinctiveness — the real-time conceit — is interesting but not fully exploited to its potential.