44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out

44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out

Year: 2003

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Yves Simoneau

ActionTV MovieCrime drugs and gangstersHeists and thrilling actionViolent action guns and crime

After a failed bank robbery, two heavily armed men hold the Los Angeles Police Department at bay for 44 minutes.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

February 28, 1997

The events occur on a calm February morning in 1997, during the late-90s era of urban policing in Los Angeles. The day escalates from routine calls to a meticulously planned armored-transport heist, culminating in a highly publicized shoot-out. The time frame anchors the drama in a specific historical moment when police tactics and gear were rapidly evolving.

Location

North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Bank of America North Hollywood Branch

The story unfolds in North Hollywood, a district of Los Angeles, centered on the Bank of America branch on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The bank’s interior and surrounding streets become the stage for a tense daylight standoff that grips the neighborhood. The setting highlights the collision between everyday life and sudden violence, drawing in bystanders, media, and law enforcement.

🏙️ City setting 🏦 Bank location 👮 Police presence

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:29

Main Characters – 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003)

Meet the key characters of 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Donnie Anderson (Ron Livingston)

SWAT officer Donnie Anderson is portrayed as a seasoned, capable leader who carries the weight of his father’s death as he prepares to lead the response. He remains calm under pressure, balancing precision with the human cost of every decision during the standoff.

🎯 Leadership 🛡️ Duty 🧭 Calm under fire

Frank McGregor (Michael Madsen)

Detective Frank McGregor anchors the pursuit with worn resolve and a hint of retirement looming. He coordinates efforts from the frontlines and the command post, pushing for decisive moves to end the confrontation while protecting civilians.

🧭 Decisive 🧱 Veteran ⚖️ Duty-bound

Henry Jones (Mario Van Peebles)

Henry Jones is a veteran officer who, along with Nicole Gomez, brings duty and precision to a tense domestic call that spirals into a larger confrontation. He improvises to shield hostages, drawing on experience and steady nerves.

🛡️ Protector 🧭 Experienced 🧊 Composed

Nicole Gomez (Alex Meneses)

Nicole Gomez supports the frontline response, helping to shield hostages and adapt to the evolving standoff. Her calm, precise actions underscore the teamwork required when plans crumble under pressure.

🤝 Teamwork 🧭 Steady 🛟 Protective

Ramon (Francis Capra)

Ramon is a central figure in the aftermath, whose presence adds complexity to the chain of decisions after the heist. His actions influence the trajectory of the day and the moral questions surrounding reform and consequences.

🧩 Indirect influence 💼 Criminal ties 🕊️ Consequences

Luis Rivera (Jullian Dulce Vida)

Luis Rivera is the bank branch manager who subtly signals new security measures under pressure, highlighting the stake of everyday workers in a crisis. His quick thinking helps shape the evolving safety protocol inside the vault.

🏦 Branch leadership 🧠 Quick thinking 🧭 Safety

Larry Eugene Phillips Jr. (Andrew Bryniarski)

Larry Phillips Jr. is one of the two armed robbers, meticulously planning the heist. His cool, methodical approach begins to unravel when his rifle jams, intensifying the tense chase toward a tragic end.

🎯 Planner 🔫 Armed ⚰️ Fatal outcome

Emil Mătăsăreanu (Oleg Taktarov)

Emil Mătăsăreanu is Phillips’s partner in the high-stakes robbery, contributing to the duo’s calculated moves. He confronts failing options as the pursuit narrows, ultimately bleeding out before aid can reach him.

🎯 Partner 🧱 Resilience 💥 Consequences

Jake Harris (Jason Hall)

Rookie officer Jake Harris is training a newer generation of responders, embodying the moment when experience and fresh eyes combine under pressure. His role underscores the ongoing cycle of policing and mentorship.

🎓 Mentor 🚨 Rookie 🧭 Growth

Kate (Katrina Law)

KTTV journalist Kate observes the city’s crisis with a reporter’s eye, discussing how media shapes public perception of police work. Her presence frames the interplay between live events and storytelling.

📰 Reporter 🗣️ Public perception 🎥 Media

Gun Store Owner (Cameron Dye)

The Gun Store Owner provides a crucial gear-and-option moment, contributing to the practical choices that shape the day’s events. This character acts as a catalyst within the broader tension between law and crime.

🧰 Gear 🧩 Catalyst 🗝️ Access

Cathy (JoNell Kennedy)

Cathy is Frank McGregor’s wife, representing the personal stakes and emotional backdrop that humanize the responders in the face of danger.

💞 Family 🏡 Home front 💬 Domestic life

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:29

Major Themes – 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003)

Explore the central themes of 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Violence & Risk

A high-stakes bank robbery thrusts civilians and officers into life-or-death decisions. The armored robbers’ meticulous planning clashes with the improvisational force of the LAPD SWAT, revealing how training meets unpredictable gunfire and gear. The sequence exposes the cost of violence on bystanders and responders alike.

📰 Media & Perception

Journalists cover the siege, shaping public understanding of the police response as it unfolds. The film juxtaposes on-the-ground action with news footage and interviews, highlighting how media framing can influence judgment and policy. The closing reflections examine the impact of televised moments on trust and accountability.

🤝 Duty & Sacrifice

Officers and civilians confront moral pressures to protect lives while adhering to protocol. The narrative emphasizes teamwork, courage, and the personal costs of service—grief, retirement, and the risks of improvisation under fire. The story centers on people doing their jobs under extreme stress, often at great personal cost.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:29

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44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out Summary

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44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out Summary

44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out Timeline

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44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out Timeline

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44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out Spoiler-Free Summary

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