Quick Review – Snitch

A father goes undercover for the DEA in order to free his son who was imprisoned after being set up in drug deal.

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Director: Ric Roman Waugh

Writer[s]: Ric Roman Waugh, Justin Haythe

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jon Bernthal, Susan Surandon, Barry Pepper

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My Rating

2.5/4 – Snitch is  a consistently toned thriller featuring “The Rock” in his most interesting character of his acting career. It’s no award winner, but it was good to see him in something a little more meaty, and he delivered what he needed to. The overall product is a little flat, but it’s not overly flashy nor does it try too hard to impress or thrill.

The Place Beyond the Pines

A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective.

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Director: Derek Cianfrance

Writer[s]: Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccino, Darius Marder

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, Bradley Cooper

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TPBtP opens up with long one-shot take introducing Ryan Gosling as “Handsome” Luke, a dirt-bike cage rider in a carnival. The scene gives you a perfect snap-shot of the film’s cinematic and thematic style, and I could tell right away that I would appreciate the craftsmanship from a technological viewpoint. But there is much more to a film that than look and sound.