When Eastern European criminals Oleg and Emil come to New York City to pick up their share of a heist score, Oleg steals a video camera and starts filming their activities, both legal and illegal. When they learn how the American media circus can make a remorseless killer look like the victim and make them rich, they target media-savvy NYPD Homicide Detective Eddie Flemming and media-naive FDNY Fire Marshal Jordy Warsaw, the cops investigating their murder and torching of their former criminal partner, filming everything to sell to the local tabloid TV show "Top Story."
Acting
Karel Roden and Oleg Taktarov commit to absolute unhinged villainy.
Direction
Herzfeld's music video energy meets crime thriller pacing.
Writing
Absurdly prescient about reality TV and viral violence.
Director
John Herzfeld
Robert De Niro
Eddie Flemming
Edward Burns
Jordy Warsaw
Kelsey Grammer
Robert Hawkins
Avery Brooks
Leon Jackson
Melina Kanakaredes
Nicolette Karas
Karel Roden
Emil Slovak
Oleg Taktarov
Oleg Razgul
Vera Farmiga
Daphne Handlova
John DiResta
Bobby Korfin
James Handy
Captain Duffy
Darius McCrary
Tommy Cullen
Bruce Cutler
Bruce Cutler
Charlize Theron
Rose Hearn
Kim Cattrall
Cassandra
David Alan Grier
Mugger
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released months before 9/11, its FDNY hero and NYC destruction imagery became accidentally haunting. The film's cynicism about media spectacle now reads as almost quaint.
The title references Andy Warhol's '15 minutes of fame' quote. Kelsey Grammer reportedly took the role specifically to play against his Frasier image as a sleazy TV host.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
