Snitch Review

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."