Rated
PG-13 (Drug Content and Sequences of Violence)
Running
Time: 1 Hour & 52 Minutes
Cast-
Dwayne
'The Rock' Johnson-John Matthews
Jon
Bernthal-Daniel James
Melina
Kanakaredes-Sylvie Collins
Rafi
Gavron-Jason Collins
Nadine
Velazquez-Analisa Matthews
Susan
Sarandon-Joanne Keeghan
Barry
Pepper-Agent Cooper
Michael
Kenneth Williams-Malik
Benjamin
Bratt-Juan Carlos 'El Topo' Pintera
David
Harbour-Jay Price
Harold
Perrineau-Jeffrey Steele
JD
Pardo-Benicio
Directed
by Ric Roman Waugh
 |
| Dwayne Johnson takes on a more serious role in Ric Roman Waugh's latest film, "Snitch." |
Note: Screened on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at AMC Loews 34th Street 14.
As
much as we'd like to believe that our country's laws are infallible, such a
belief is not only naïve but is simply untrue. With an estimated 2.2 million prisoners, the United States has
the highest documented incarceration rate in the world and one of the
contributing factors to this increase is the passing of mandatory minimum drug
sentences in 1986 during the Reagan Administration. Under this new law, prison
time was now determined by the weight of the drugs involved in the offense. In
addition, prisoners must serve 85% of their sentence…without the possibility of
parole. Even more damning is the fact that judges can no longer 'factor in the
character of the defendant, the effect of incarceration on his or her
dependents, and in large part, the nature and circumstances of the crime.' The
only way to receive a reduced sentence is to act as an informant against others
(become a 'snitch') and hope the prosecutor is willing to cut a deal. This has
unfortunately created a situation where the punishment no longer fits the
crime. Judge Mark W. Bennett of the Northern District of Iowa remarks in an
article for The Nation (which you can
read in its entirety here) that many of the
drug offenders he sent to prison were small-timers and 'other than their
crippling meth addiction, they are very much like the folks I grew up with.' Yet
all of them were 'charged with federal drug trafficking conspiracies—which
sound ominous but are based on something as simple as two people agreeing to
purchase pseudoephedrine and cook it into meth. They don't even have to
succeed.' Highlighting the hypocrisies of these laws is "Snitch," the
latest film from stuntman-turned-director Ric Roman Waugh starring Dwayne 'The
Rock' Johnson. Although "Snitch" has its heart in the right place,
the film is ultimately let down by a clichéd, leaded script that buries the
social issues it tackles under a layer of preachy dialogue and overwrought
melodrama.
After accepting a shipment of ecstasy from his best friend, Jason
Collins (Rafi Gavron) is quickly arrested during a DEA sting led by Agent
Cooper (Barry Pepper) on the charges of possession with intent to distribute.
His estranged father John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), who owns a successful
trucking business in Jefferson City, Missouri, is initially angry with his son but
anger turns into shock when he learns that Jason could be facing up to thirty
years in prison due to federal mandatory minimum sentences. Desperate to save
Jason, John uses his connections to get a meeting with federal attorney Joanne
Keeghan (Susan Sarandon) and asks her if there's any way to reduce his son's
sentence. He comes away empty-handed as the only route available for his son is
to snitch on other drug users (even recreational ones), something Jason refuses
to do. Left with no other choice, John decides to take his son's place and
agrees to bring down a local drug dealer named Malik (Michael K. Williams) in
exchange for a one-year stint in prison for Jason. However, Keeghan immediately
changes the deal when an opportunity to nab a major Mexican drug lord named
Juan Carlos 'El Topo' Pintera (Benjamin Bratt) arises. The politically
ambitious attorney offers to grant Jason his freedom if John can take down El
Topo but not only will this put his family in danger, it could cost him his
life as well.
"Snitch" is loosely inspired by a Frontline documentary on PBS that detailed how James Settembrino went
undercover for the feds in an attempt to reduce his eighteen-year-old son's
sentence but the prosecutor later reneged on the deal because it would've
required too much paperwork on his part. Settembrino's son eventually pled
guilty without cooperating and served ten years in prison, all because of
someone's laziness. No one can deny that Ric Roman Waugh's film means well and
has its heart in the right place but "Snitch" needed a more
experienced director at the helm (such as Steven Soderbergh, who tackled the
war on drugs in his 2000 magnum opus "Traffic") as Waugh's approach
to the material is too heavy-handed, its social commentary reduced to an
overwrought melodrama that fails to grasp the complex issues that surround our
nation's bitter war against drugs. The beginning of the film establishes that
Jason did in fact agree (albeit hesitantly) to accept a shipment of ecstasy
from his best friend. The problem with the current system is that the
punishment does not take into account the circumstances of the crime. Jason may
have had ecstasy in his possession but it was his lack of judgment and peer
pressure that landed him in jail. However, does he really deserve the same prison
sentence as someone who is involved in a massive drug conspiracy? Of course not
but the script treats Jason as if he's been falsely accused and completely
misses the point as to why mandatory minimum drug sentences need reform. "Snitch"
also suffers from trying to do too much; it's a crime/drama film at heart but
at the same time it wants to make a political statement and appeal to action
fans. To garner the audience's sympathy, Waugh oversells the drama to the point
where it feels like a cheap soap opera. Not to mention the script is completely
devoid of any surprises, relying on tired clichés and treating its villains as
little more than caricatures. The first forty-five minutes plods along with
pointless scenes of John literally reading about drug cartels on Wikipedia and
endlessly shuffling through paperwork while the second half fails to drum up
much suspense or tension when he finally goes undercover. The shaky camera is
meant to convey a sense of immediacy to the film but it ends up being an
unwelcome distraction that leaves dialogue scenes almost unwatchable.
Leading
the cast is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who's enjoying a banner year in 2013,
winning his eighth WWE Championship and starring in an additional three films
from now until May. Johnson was never a great actor to begin with but like
Schwarzenegger before him, he made up for it with a charismatic screen
presence. "Snitch" gives Johnson a chance to prove that he can handle
a serious role and surprisingly, he succeeds. Sure, sometimes it's hard to
believe that this hulk of a man can be taken down by a couple of two-bit thugs
but he manages to give an affecting performance as a desperate father trying to
save his son. Jon Bernthal brings the same level of intensity that made him a
household name on AMC's "The Walking Dead." Unfortunately, his
character's subplot of a reformed ex-con who is forced back into the drug game
gets the short end of the stick. The rest of the cast don't fare as well. Barry
Pepper is saddled with a terrible Fu Manchu beard while Susan Sarandon is
reduced to spouting exposition behind a desk. Michael K. Williams' attempt to
instill menace as a drug dealer garners laughs instead, with Benjamin Bratt
barely registering as cartel leader 'El Topo.'
"Snitch" was released
on February 22, 2013 to mixed reviews with 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics
noted that it 'features one of Dwayne Johnson's more thoughtful performances
[but] the presentation of [the film's] underlying message is muddled by
lackluster storytelling and some tonal inconsistencies.' Audience reaction
during Wednesday's advance screening was mildly positive, although it's poised for
only a modest debut at the box office since most moviegoers will be gearing up
for the Academy Awards on Sunday. Waugh's attempt at tackling a controversial
issue like mandatory minimum sentences is admirable but "Snitch"
fails to offer anything that could be called compelling. At best, this is worth
a rental, nothing more.
Final
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
"I know I'm the one who put us all in this danger. And I gotta live with that…but there is no way I'm going to let either side dictate our fates. No way."
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