Too much of everything

Absolutely Fantastic

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a major championship game. The police, led by Captain Peter Holly (Charlton Heston) and SWAT commander Sergeant Button (John Cassavetes), learn of the plot and rush to the scene.This film probably maintains a level of popularity (if it has one) due to its cast, as the film itself is largely forgotten. But it should not be, as it takes the threat of a sniper (much like with Dirty Harry) and puts him into a crowded, confined area:a football stadium. Security today may never allow such things to happen, but the thought is scary.There is plenty of action, but even more suspense. And that is what makes it more than just an action film. Who will be targeted? What is the sniper's motive? So much unknown.

If you like 70s movies (which I do) or Charlton Heston (which I do, as an actor only) this movie has much too like. I enjoyed just looking at the outfits and cars and the old LA Coliseum. But there is not much to this movie. Sniper sets up in stadium. He gets noticed and rest of movie is trying to get to him. A helicopter should have been dispatched immediately with 4 snipers on board sending withering fire at this guy. Of course this does not make for a movie but off the bat the idea that this guy is protected is annoying. But that's the whole movie, did it really need to go on for almost 2 hours? There is no twist, no motive, no background here. It would have been interesting to see more about the sniper and why he is doing this. Too many football scenes padding the film. The riot scene at end is well done, but that's about it. Overall kind of weak, which is why this movie is not too well known.

Saw this really late last night on one of the Cinemax channels. I'm a sucker for 1970's films plus it had John Cassavettes so I needed to see it. I thought it was suspenseful, probably resonated more today due to the recent execution of the Beltway Sniper.Anyway, comments I wanted to make was a couple of items made me chuckle. For one, the QB for the Los Angeles team, am I remembering right and it was Lloyd Braun? Same name as the character from Seinfeld. If it was, could it really be a coincidence.Plus the scene where the loan shark thugs hang Klugman out the window...classic.

First of all, I love all-star seventies movies loaded with cranky old men like Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam, and David Janssen.The first half of Two-Minute Warning is a bit slow, taking a little too much time setting up characters and situations. The second hour is where all the excitement is, making up for the first as the sniper is spotted and the SWAT team begins taking their positions.Really good editing adds much to the movie as we get contrasting shots of the game, the police, the sniper, and the clueless crowd (some of it through the sniper's scope) including a very paranoid Beau Bridges noticing things his fellow spectators do not.The last twenty minutes are incredibly suspenseful and sad.It was quite ironic seeing John Cassevettes, the sensitive artist, arguing with the lover of all things gun, Charleton Heston, over the fact that he would rather shoot the creep first and ask questions later while Heston wants to take him alive!What I didn't like was the fictionalization of the football game, the creation of "Championship X" being a thinly veiled version of the Super Bowl with two bland looking made up teams referred to as Baltimore and L.A. Apparently the NFL didn't approve of the idea of a psychotic sniper at the Super Bowl!I think it's time for a remake of Two-Minute Warning with modern stars and special effects and the participation of the NFL!