Snitch

Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Barry Pepper, Jon Bernthal and Susan Sarandon
Distributor: Hoyts
Runtime: 112 mins. Reviewed in May 2013

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Rating notes: Drug use and violence

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.

Fr Peter Malone MSC is an associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting.

Hoyts.