Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Technically, the camerawork is crisp but flat, and the locations seem a little too tidy and un-lived-in much like the brand-new big rig Matthews drives from Los Angeles to El Paso to collect half a kilo of cocaine from some very bad dudes. Goofs If the system were on trial, the travesty would be the fact that major dealers are best poised to commute their penalties, whereas small-timers get stuck doing time because they have less to offer. Or that your child will get 20 years unless he informs? to almost science-fiction lengths. 'Snitch' -- 3 starsMPAA rating: PG-13 (for drug content and sequences of violence)Running time: 1:56Opens: Friday, Key developments evolving in sale of Brauer Museum artwork by Valparaiso University, Its Chicagos fake birthday: Here are 30 essential foods and drinks to celebrate, from Rainbow Cone to Malrt, Carol Stream man, 35, dies in custody at Cook County Jail, officials say, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. PBS has posted their Frontline interview with Settembrino here. The script simplifies the complicated mandatory minimum discussion into an unfortunately preachy sermon. Snitch may be intended as a critique of Americas war on drugs, but from the look of things here, the ultra-tough approach seems to be working. James Settembrino is on Facebook. In the real version of the story, 18-year-old Joey Settembrino was sentenced to ten years for which he was clearly unprepared -- he told his father, "I'm here, get me out, I'll never be able to do 10 years." California State University- San Luis Obispo, CA. Always connected. In 2017, Bernthal stars in a movie called "Shot Caller" also directed by Ric Roman Waugh. Haythe lives in New York City . The data accessible through Inforver may be managed to assist anyone learn about someone currently in their lives or search people from their past. So hes now doing life without. He appeals to those who like their stars outsize and virtuous. John beseeches prosecutor Joanne Keeghan (Susan Sarandon) for help. Designed to make empathetic citizens question the system, this strangely compelling issue pic plays less to auds hearts than to their craving for testosterone, inventing a worst-case scenario in which a freight-company owner (Dwayne Johnson) agrees to snare a cartel kingpin by transporting huge loads of narcotics across state lines to reduce his sons 10-year jail time. We have 9 records for James Settembrino ranging in age from 52 years old to 76 years old. Date: 30/11/2011 23:07 From: luckycats @ comcast.net Subject: Family Crest Plaque . Foster presents a strong defense of mandatory minimum sentences and Johnson obviously wants to leave behind his big strong lunk image from such films as The Scorpion King. Snitch turns out to be a wise move in the right direction. The best thing about Snitch is what's left of Justin Haythe's original script. Daniel James Jon Bernthal years in jail, but if you come in and you help us, and you cooperate with us by guidelines. If you can do this, find people that have drugs and purchase drugs from them, we'll act favorably in giving your son a 5K1 reduction.' Soundtracks. Barry Pepper, wearing a beanie and Fu Manchu beard, is a federal undercover agent. Why Sylvester Stallone Isn't in 'Creed III', From 'Godzilla' to 'Game of Thrones': The 10 Most Powerful Dragons in Movies and Television, The Kevin Costner Funded Film that Tanked at the Box Office. Executive producers, Jeff Skoll, Guy East, Becki Cross Trujillo, David Fanning, Justin Haythe. TONY: I was in drugs, the sale of drugs, for a total of about three years. When an 18-year-old boy is busted with 2000 ecstasy pills, his desperate father goes into the drug world to find a bigger fish. Shreveport, La. Whereas Settembrinos kid was caught selling acid, Jason is mostly just dumb and unlucky, allowing the pic to appeal more easily to ordinary parents. Even so, there is juice in this situation and these characters. "Snitch" comes from a story told in a "Frontline" documentary about the post-Reagan-era injustice of mandatory minimum sentencing for first-time, nonviolent offenders. James Settembrino Obituary It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Id like to think Barry Peppers beard was real though. "Capital in the Twenty-First Century": an economics lecture that's actually fun. Justin Haythe (born September 16, 1973) is an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Everything else is dull, drab and surprisingly preachy. Agent Cooper Barry Pepper Large, in charge and nobody's little Margie: Dwayne Johnson takes on the drug kingpins in "Snitch." Every camera angle provides some new fascinating detail, and even when it seems the beard has worn out its welcome, Pepper ties it into a tight little ponytail for varietys sake. Even so, Johnson isnt so much a relatable figure as a tougher-than-you action hero (curiously, he sounds like President Obama on steroids). Bernthal's terrific in the part of a family man dragged back into the life he thought he'd left behind. The kid claims he was set up by a government informant;. Ric Roman Waugh (Felon), originally a stuntman, has come through the ranks as an action director, but he struggles with the bits in between the action. Snitch is based on an interesting idea. Barry Pepper, always welcome, tips around the edges of the very full narrative as John's police contact, a man with a beard like Rip Van Winkle's and with second thoughts about sending a private citizen into harm's way. Viewers' request for information. Waugh's task is to make him look good: heroic, caring, credible. But this kid has no such contacts, so he faces the full 10 years. Tax Filings and Audits by Year. WATCH SCHEDULE TOPICS ABOUT FRONTLINE SHOP TEACHER CENTER. You can view more information below including . Waugh manages not to lose that. Johnson has limited acting ability, but lots of charisma. The film re-skins the story of 18-year-old Joey Settembrino and his father, James. Its fidelity, rather, is to the widespread outrage that an offender such as the teenage Settembrino could get rougher judicial treatment than the average rapist, for example. Johnson softens up as a father stuck between a rock and a hard place. He refused to snitch. It isnt offensively bad maybe a bit reliant on clichs but its lethally dull. 2 Hoosiers, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Teen awaiting sentencing in stolen vehicle case arrested in connection with shots fired incident, Snitch Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Dwayne Johnson Movie HD, Ed Sheeran thanks Taylor Swift for linking him with Aaron Dessner, ABBA's 'Voyage' avatar concert in talks to go on a world tour, Rebel Wilson describes getting banned from Disneyland over 'illegal' bathroom selfie. While you can't blame him for wanting to appeal to everyone, taking on a decidedly dramatic non-action He was the Assistant U.S. Attorney in . Analisa Nadine Velazquez When it comes to the plot, the dialogue doesnt fare much better. He doesn't tell him why he needs an introduction to a drug kingpin. The film was inspired by a documentary on PBS' Frontline about how changes in US drug laws has given deals of a minimum sentence to those guilty if they snitched on their accomplices. Vanessa Lela Loren. Notice that I do not see it as a great movie, just better than most of the rubbish he has made. He must snitch on someone higher up to save his son from 30 years in an American prison. His performance is solid, even though hes no longer billed in film credits as The Rock. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. James Settembrino. The true story the movie is based on, is about James Settembrino who in 1992 helped prosecutors by giving information about other drug dealers in order to get a lower sentence for his son Joey (who was also sentenced to 10 years due to Manatory Minimum Sentencing). Yeah, he's probably watching a movie. Connections Based on a real-life story, Snitch tells the tale of an ordinary Missouri father whos willing to do anything to help free his son from jail, including getting involved with dangerous drug cartel members. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Waugh and co-writer Justin Haythes cardboard script lays things out real simple-like, playing the sympathy card from the start: A naive teen, Jason (Rafi Gavron), is busted by drug-enforcement agents after agreeing to hold his friends Ecstasy stash for a few days. Im supposed to be writing a review for "Snitch," the latest action thriller starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but theres only one thing on my mind: a beard. A celebrated academic career and a long-term relationship with Ben Sailor (Craig Hall), a gifted musician and maker of acoustic guitars, she lives with Ben and his daughter, Zoe (Mavournee Hazel),. Most of the film is shot hand-held, in the nausea-inducing unsteady-cam style of today and mostly in close-up. The dynamic between John and his son is compelling; the dynamic between Daniel and his son is even more so. So only about 15 minutes of "Snitch" is based on reality; the other 97 minutes are purely hypothetical. other drug dealers. 3. The film is based on a true story of a father who risked it all for his son. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Davenport man sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to lying to grand jury, Two women found dead of gunshots in rural Linn home, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, Bettendorf students at walkout fear for their peers' lives, Iowa hotel wins license despite rodents, soiled bedding and dog feces in guest rooms, Louisa deputies recover missing man from Mississippi River, Beyond Van Gogh immersive art exhibit coming to Davenport, Chicago man wanted in six jurisdictions in three states allegedly caught burglarizing Davenport Walmart, New Bettendorf wine bar to host events, classes from TBK Bank Sports Complex, GOLF: PGA Tour introduces drastic scheduling changes; affect on JDC unknown, Clark's buzzer beater stuns No. But Jason refuses to make a deal to reduce his sentence by turning in someone else. mandatory minimums for certain non-violent, first-time drug offenders.) Johnson holds the reins here. James L Settembrino, 53. He is best known for his book The Honeymoon, and the screenplay for the film Revolutionary Road, directed by Sam Mendes. Screenplay, Justin Haythe, Waugh, inspired by the Frontline documentary Snitch., John Matthews Dwayne Johnson Robert Clark was an Alabama defense attorney in Clarence Aaron's first They're interested in convictions.") 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This one actually works. The seriousness of its intent and the calibre of its supporting cast make it watchable, and Johnson benefits from the higher goals. Director and co-writer Ric Roman Waugh is a former stuntman and he executes some nifty chase and accident scenes. Details have been changed to protect the famous - in this case, producer and star Dwayne Johnson, who plays the father. Even so, director Waugh (who came up as a stuntman) delivers higher-grade obviousness than many movies offer. Hes technically fine, but its hard to find his effortless charisma underneath the characters blandness and the films preachy importance. Waugh is a believer in shaky cam, which makes the end freeway chase a typical mess of edits. FRONTLINE. Despite being more dramatic than explosive, Snitch should land in the $25 million-$30 million range a typical non-franchise haul for the Rock. And Snitch, co-written and directed by Ric Roman Waugh, was a solid performer at the box office last winter (taking in $43 million domestically). Johnson may be capable of more dramatic expression, but he'd have to share the reins to find out. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In 1992, 18-year-old Joey received a ten year mandatory minimum sentence for His character, John Matthews, runs a successful haulage business in middle America. Henry's parents. ANNOUNCER: In the war on drugs, one of the more important weapons. You have to to prove the cases under our system of laws. He refused to make a deal. Johnson plays John Matthews, who owns a transportation company. The son had already refused a similar deal. Designed to make empathetic citizens question the system, this strangely compelling issue pic plays less to auds' hearts than to their craving for testosterone. BOB CLARK: Snitches are used by the government because it makes their life a lot easier. | The true story the movie is based on, is about James Settembrino who in 1992 helped prosecutors by giving information about other drug dealers in order to get a lower sentence for his son Joey (who was also sentenced to 10 years due to Manatory Minimum Sentencing).