SNITCH (2013) – The Review

Alright, let’s forget these late Winter blues! Let’s head to the multiplex and see Dwayne Johnson (still “The Rock” to ‘rasslin’ fans forever) blast the bad guys! Those sleazoids don’t stand a chance against him, he’s invincible, he’s unstoppable, he’s…tearing up? And getting beaten up? This movie is inspired by true events, so he’s playing pretty much a real guy. And what’s Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon doing here? This movie’s full of surprises (the least of which is the fact that this early year release is not a complete dud). Mind you there should be enough destruction to please his audiences. But the big shocker is that it has a message (that’s hammered in with a factoid after the final fade out). Looks like Mr. Johnson is looking to expand his “brand” (and stretch his acting muscles) with his newest effort, SNITCH.

The character that gets all the action rolling is eighteen year-old Jason Collins (Rafi Gavron). He’s living with his mom Sylvie (Melina Kanakaredes) after she divorced his dad John Matthews (Johnson). One day he accepts a delivery package from his vacationing best pal. The box contains a big bag of ecstasy and a tracking device that alerts DEA agents that sweep in and arrest Jason. A panicky Sylvie calls up John, who’s started a new family (younger wife and toddler pre-K daughter) and owns a big construction firm. After a discouraging talk with their lawyer, John contacts the politically ambitious state’s attorney Joanne Keeghan (Sarandon). Under the new tougher drug trafficking laws Jason will get a mandatory ten-year sentence unless he gives up another drug dealer (that’s why his pal set Jason up). This was Jason’s first time and he knows no other drug dealers. Things look hopeless till John comes up with a plan. He’ll get one of the ex-cons that’s working at his construction company to introduce him to some dealers and then get those names to the feds who will then spring his son. After much persuasion (and bribery), a recent employee with a drug bust in his past, Daniel (Jon Bernthal) reluctantly agrees to set up a meeting (Daniel’s got a wife and young son and doesn’t want to return to that life).  Using a company semi, the two make a drug run for local pusher Malik (Michael Kenneth Williams) which catches the attention of his boss, the ruthless ‘El Topo” (Benjamin Bratt). John thinks he’s earned a lesser sentence for Jason by delivering Malik, but Keeghan wants the kingpin Topo. Can John and Daniel set him up for the federal agents without endangering all their loved ones?

Johnson is expanding on his screen persona by playing a fella’ that doesn’t have it all together. We’ve seen him play the heir apparent to Sly and Arnold in several films, along with forays into comedy and kid flicks (he was THE TOOTH FAIRY remember?). This is a real dramatic departure for him. Like Russell Crowe in THREE DAYS LATER he’s an average Joe who has to get dirty in order to save a loved one, the type of role Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson would’ve taken years ago. He’s filled with regret about letting his son push him away while starting this new marriage. We see him worry about the brutality of the thugs that he must deceive (downing quite a few scotches). This is the most vulnerable we’ve seen him in a screen role. The film also establishes a new screen action star in Bernthal (perhaps best known for his terrific work on TV’s “The Walking Dead”). He strives to protect him family (trashing some street gang thugs trying to recruit his young son) while his time with his boss almost tears them apart. It will be interesting to follow his future film choices. Speaking of TV actors, Williams expands on his roles in “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Wire” for the cold, sinister, unpredictable Malik. He’s one scary dude who’s only topped by Bratt’s cold-eyed, slow-talking menace as the big boss (he was almost doing a riff on Ricardo Montalban). It turns out that the folks on the other side of the law aren’t completely trust-worthy either. Sarandon’s career politico is much more interested in winning the next election than helping John get his son out of jail. Barry Pepper’s undercover agent is more up-front with him. He’s honest about the deadly risks and chafes at her maneuvering (even calling her “Dragon Lady” out of earshot).

Stuntman turned writer/director Ric Roman Waugh does indeed have a great talent in laying out the action sequences. The final truck/car freeway gun battle produces more thrills than a similar sequence in A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD. And the meetings between John and the drug bosses are packed with a nervous tension. Unfortunately several scenes turn into shouting matches and he includes too many flashback bursts, perhaps to remind us of John’s motivations (our memories are better than that). This doesn’t serve this modest thriller well and contributes to a lull prior to the big finale. It just seems to be 15 or 20 minutes too long. But the film is a pretty entertaining “B” picture (Johnson has two big blockbuster “A” flicks coming out over the next few months). And the movie’s heart is in the right place. If the flash card before the end credits is factual then these mandatory drug trafficking sentences need to be overhauled. This is a good effort by Johnson in testing more realistic subject matter. And for an early year movie, SNITCH is entertaining, informative, and heads above some of the dismal early year releases clogging up the cinemas.

3.5 Out of 5 Stars