SNITCH
US, 2013, 117 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Jon Benthal, Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper, Rafi Gavron, Benjamin Bratt.
Directed by Rick Roman Waugh.
Audiences have generally found Snitch much better than they anticipated. And that is probably because of their opinion of Dwayne Johnson and remembering that he started in show business in wrestling as The Rock. His early films were action shows (as have been some of his later films) and required more brawn than brain. However, over the years, he has shown that he can be a strong screen presence and can do ironic comedy (Get Shorty, Get Smart, and his turn in Tooth Fairy with Julie Andrews) as well as drama. Here he opts for drama.
The opening proclaims that the story is based on actual events, and the closing credits that it draws upon a television documentary. It is about drugs, the strict legislation against dealers and suspected dealers, the work of the DEA, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the role of prosecutors.
When his son is arrested for ecstasy-dealing, construction company boss, John (Johnson) confronts the law and, especially the district prosecutor, Susan Sarandon handling a good, strong role, with a proposal that, if he could bring dealers down, his son’s sentence could be lessened. He enlists the help of one of his workers, Daniel (Jon Bernthal) who has served time for drug offences – though he does not tell him what he is really up to – and he hauls drugs from El Paso where a Mexican cartel boss opens fire on the local dealers.
Which leads to an even bigger deal for the prosecutor, to transport millions of dollars in cash to the cartel. While the drama has been tense up till now, adrenalin is pumped all round with some spectacular car/truck chases in the American extroverted way. And the prosecutor is up for re-election and this is a publicity ploy as well.
It can be said that there is some use of guns, but far less than might have been expected. But, most of the time, it is a drama about family and the lengths a father will go to save his son.
1. An interesting film? Based on a true story? Documentary? Developed into a feature film?
2. Drug themes, American and Mexican themes? The focus on the legislation, its strictness? The work of the DEA? Their operations? The role of the law, prosecutors?
3. The Missouri setting, middle America? The look of the city? Homes, construction companies? Prisons? The trips to El Paso, from city to desert? The Mexican border?
4. The action sequences? The focus on guns and shootouts? The car and truck chases? The musical score?
5. Drugs and local dealers, the gangs, the gang bosses, the use of violence? In the seedier parts of the city? The Mexican contacts? The cartels and their bosses? Local DEA and law enforcement?
6. The introduction to Jason, talking with his friend on the computer, his reluctance about the drugs, the parcel arriving, his accepting and opening it, the tracking device, his running away, the chase through the suburbs? His arrest?
7. The situation, his mother, her being upset? The divorce? Its effect on Jason? John, his construction company, his new family, wife and daughter? Love for Jason, yet stern with him? Believing him? Jason, the interrogation, the explanation of snitches, setting up contacts for arrest? Mitigating of sentences? His refusal to act as a snitch, prepared to go to prison for years?
8. John as a character, Dwayne Johnson and his screen presence, at work, relationship with the workers, helping Daniel lift the bags, calling in favours to approach the prosecutor?
9. The prosecutor, tough, discussions with John, unable to help, the letter of the law? Her being up for election? His second visit? Persuading her that he would find drug dealers? The need for arrests with the drugs on them? Lesssening the sentence for Jason? The plan? The decision not to arrest Malik? The prosecutor, out campaigning, meeting people, her smooth talk, her tough talk about John, transporting the cash? Risking the dangers? Her final success?
10. Daniel, his story, his drug dealing, in prison, wife and son, his concern about his son with the local thugs, having moved house? The wife, the job? John looking up his files? The discussion, John pressurizing him to help, Daniel’s agreement? The visit to persuade him? Malik and his being tough, believing Daniel? The job, the plan for El Paso? The drive, getting the drugs, the gang and the cartel attacking, the boss watching, the guns, the massacre? John and Daniel’s return, the taste test, the DEA officer deciding not to make an arrest? John’s bewilderment?
11. John’s wife, wanting to know the truth, having to leave with the daughter? The phone calls? The threats from the drug gangs? Daniel and his wife, her finding the money, being upset?
12. The DEA officer, his role in arresting Jason, discussions with the prosecutor, his staff, their setup, the strategies and tactics, decisions? His not approving John’s final mission?
13. The trip, tracking the money, the DEA officer and his discussions with the prosecutor, John going to visit Jason prison, the officer in security informing the gangs? Daniel following John and wanting to know the truth? John’s setting up the truck as a decoy? Daniel, his attack on Malik and the deaths? Getting the information about the cartel boss? The contact, trapping the boss in the car with his son, his gangs and their pursuit of the truck, the gun fights, the smashes and crashes? The effect on John?
14. Jason prison, his being bashed, the bond with his father, the end, the gratitude of his mother? John as a vulnerable hero, being bashed by gangs, injured in the truck crash?
15. Drug situations, with dealers and cartels, with Mexico, and a strict application of the law, the final comments about the strictness of inappropriate sentences for first time offenders?
