Watch Two-Minute Warning

Two-Minute Warning is a tense thriller from 1976, directed by Larry Peerce and based on the novel of the same name by George La Fountaine. The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, and Jack Klugman. The story centers around a mass shooting at the Super Bowl, a tragic event that feels all too chillingly relevant even today.

The film opens with a tense, foreboding scene in which a sniper scopes out the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the Super Bowl is set to take place. As the city gears up for the big game, we're introduced to a wide cast of characters, each with their own story arc that will soon converge in a harrowing way. There's the police captain, played by Heston, who's tasked with overseeing security for the event. There's a hotshot sports reporter (Cassavetes) who's looking to score the scoop of a lifetime. There's a pair of gamblers (Balsam and Gena Rowlands) who've come to town to place a big bet on the game. And there are the fans themselves, from families with young children to rowdy groups of college students, all united in their excitement for the Super Bowl.

As the game gets underway, tensions continue to rise both inside and outside the stadium. We see glimpses of the sniper, who's setting up his rifle in a nearby tower. We see the police preparing for the worst, trying to pre-empt any kind of violent incident. And we see the fans, caught up in the joy and excitement of the game, unaware of the danger looming just outside.

When the shooting finally starts, it's fast, brutal, and chaotic. The sniper begins picking off fans at random, turning the Super Bowl into a bloodbath. The police race to contain the situation, but their lack of manpower and resources means they're quickly overwhelmed. Amidst the confusion, the various characters we've been introduced to are forced to confront the horror unfolding around them. Some band together in a desperate bid for survival, while others are tragically cut down before they can even react.

Two-Minute Warning is a film that feels both old-fashioned and startlingly modern at the same time. On the one hand, it's a product of its time, with its grainy film stock, cheesy '70s fashion, and somewhat stilted dialogue. On the other hand, its themes of mass violence, police response, and media coverage feel all too relevant today. Even the setting of the Super Bowl, then as now a prime target for any would-be terrorist, feels eerily prescient.

Whether you're a fan of '70s cinema, a fan of the actors involved, or just a fan of gripping thrillers, Two-Minute Warning is a film that's definitely worth seeking out. It's not always the most subtle or well-executed film - there are moments where the action drags or the dialogue feels clunky - but it's undeniably effective at creating a sense of tension and unease. By the time the film's climactic moments arrive, you'll be on the edge of your seat, unsure of who will survive and who won't.

One thing that sets Two-Minute Warning apart from other films is its lack of an antagonist in the traditional sense. There's no mustache-twirling villain plotting a terrorist attack, no shadowy cabal of evildoers pulling the strings. Instead, the shooting is presented almost as a force of nature, a sudden, inexplicable eruption of violence that nobody could have predicted or prevented. It's a chilling reminder that sometimes the most horrific incidents are the ones that are the hardest to comprehend.

Overall, Two-Minute Warning is a film that's well worth watching for anyone interested in thrillers, crime movies, or '70s cinema in general. It's a tense, exciting movie that will keep you guessing until the very end, and its themes of mass violence and police response feel all too timely in today's world. Whether you watch it as a history lesson, a cautionary tale, or just a gripping piece of entertainment, it's a film that's sure to leave an impression.

Two-Minute Warning is a 1976 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 46.