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Some movies just have the we have seen this all before look about them. Can we fault a movie for having this type of plot, or is it merely just a product of a generation transfixed by big time explosions and big time action scenes with little or thought towards making a lasting statement. The problem there lies in, because many of these fairly typical movies of which are being spoken have the potential to make social and political statements. Yet they just simply don’t and what we are left as an audience is just another shoulda, coulda, but didn’t film.
After his son Jason is sent to prison for drug related crimes, John Matthews will do anything to get him released. After agreeing to work with the DEA, Matthews uses an employee of his business named Daniel James to help him get access to some of the drug runners in town.
Are we simply just not used to this from Dwayne Johnson. Is this just not the same tired old heroic performance from him that he has done countless times. All the arguments have been heard that this is a more fragile, vulnerable performance out of him. One might be able to give him props for that if it wasn’t one of the worst performances of his career. He just never looked or fit the bill. Everything seemed to play out perfectly, his lines seemed forced, his character never really taking shape. Perhaps I am being the Debbie Downer about the performance he did give, but with the talent that surrounded him Johnson just became the man wishing he had the talent to carry this film. If youre looking for pure muscle and adrenaline perhaps Johnson is the perfect man for the job; but if you are looking for skill, honesty and realism perhaps his counterpart in this film Jon Bernthal is the man of the hour. Skilfully, articulately, but not surprisingly proved to be the stronger link between the two of them, providing exactly what a typical action movie needed a character we could care about.
When you lose focus on the central character and his overall mission, the whole idea of the film seems pointless. At points during this film, Daniel James felt more like the main character whose eventual fate I cared about then whether or not Jason made it out of prison in the end. Perhaps it is because he is the key to all the other characters having an impact on the plot, or the fact that Bernthal is a solid actor but for some reason Daniel James the everyday man is just a much better character then John Matthews the heroic business man.
There is little about this film that is redeeming beyond the fact Jon Bernthal is fantastic, the middle act becomes fairly typical and never really goes anywhere, eventually setting up for an ending that is beyond absolutely ridiculous (a hard place to reach). Even despite the flaws at some point during this film you will root for either John or Daniel. It is that type of a film, with an under dog story that does pull you into its grasps. You may be like me and choose to root for Daniel James, or you may choose to root for the clichéd action hero, either way if this film makes its audience lock onto a certain character, the writers have done their job properly.
So far in the 2013, Jon Bernthals performance in this film stands as one of my favorites. I dig the guy. He has potential, I saw that while he was on The Walking Dead and he shows it here again. The future is bright for this guy, and one day he will be headlining films. Snitch is solid fun, don’t take it too seriously with its political and misguided messages. Enjoy it for a good character drama, with a decent story.
6/10
