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. WATCH SCHEDULE TOPICS ABOUT FRONTLINE SHOP TEACHER CENTER. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Although set mainly in Missouri, Snitch was filmed in Shreveport, La., which robs the movie of authentic color and sense of place. As much as it is a gigantic clich to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. He doesn't tell him why he needs an introduction to a drug kingpin. A 23 year-old college student, Clarence received three life sentences in a drug conspiracy trial based on the testimony of informants. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Matthews has to make terrible choices, risking other people's lives. '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. 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." Even so, there is juice in this situation and these characters. Viewers' requests for information. "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. DON FOSTER, U.S. Attorney: As far as snitches go, if theyre helping to solve this terrible drug problem we have in this country, then we will continue to use them, as long as theyre truthful. selling LSD. Its hard to be convinced hes a vulnerable everyman in a realistic drama when his physicality and presence lords over every other character on screen. This one is different: the sentiment is not gross, just thick. So at that particular point I had them send a letter to my attorney stipulating that he would recommend a 5K1 reduction for my son if I went out and did substantial assistance by implicating and arresting people who were dealing in drugs.". 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),. On January 25, 2007, James Settembrino was charged by federal criminal information with 1 count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Thats why PBS and similar news sources resonate with our team at WordWrite. An 18-year-old who makes a mistake may not have anyone to trade up. Connections (The script implies that Jason's misjudgment is the result of acting-out over his parents' divorce.). The show is produced by the WGBH Educational Foundation, the parent company of WGBH-TV in Boston, which is solely responsible for its content. Im more than thankful, however, that writer/director Ric Roman Waugh thought it was necessary because its one of the only interesting things "Snitch" has to offer. He is one of the producers, which shows that he wants to do better movies. You can cancel at any time! prosecuted Joey Settembrino. (In 1994 Congress enacted a "safety-valve" permitting relief from mandatory minimums for certain non-violent, first-time drug . Each time John visits his incarcerated son, he sees that the young man is being brutalized and becomes even more determined to set him free. Duplicated download links may be due to resubmissions or amendments to an organization's original return. James Settembrino Phones & Addresses 264 Orient Way, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 1 Saint Catherine Blvd, Toms River, NJ 08757 Prospect Park, NJ + - OpenMapTiles OpenStreetMap contributors Inforver Work Company: Lifesavers inc. Aug 2009 Position: Cpr/first aid instructor Education Most of the film is shot hand-held, in the nausea-inducing unsteady-cam style of today and mostly in close-up. Whereas Settembrinos kid was caught selling acid, Jason is mostly just dumb and unlucky, allowing the pic to appeal more easily to ordinary parents. J. In the meantime he'll continue to alternate between actioners (Fast Five, April 29) and family films (Journey 2: The Center of the Earth, September 23). Thats not to say Johnson turns in a bad performance in "Snitch." In the last few years he's been a pro wrestler, children's movie star ("The Game Plan"), action star ("Fast Five") and a children's action movie star ("Journey 2: The Mysterious Island"). Co-producer, Jillian Longnecker. "Capital in the Twenty-First Century": an economics lecture that's actually fun. | Malik Michael K. 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Details have been changed to protect the famous - in this case, producer and star Dwayne Johnson, who plays the father. Theres no color or character to the conversations, which instead just drably move "Snitch" from scene to scene. Missouri Agent Cooper Barry Pepper Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. 'We want convictions and that's why we do it.' It isnt offensively bad maybe a bit reliant on clichs but its lethally dull. | Even so, Johnson isnt so much a relatable figure as a tougher-than-you action hero (curiously, he sounds like President Obama on steroids). Home. 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). Waugh's task is to make him look good: heroic, caring, credible. 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). 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. Daddy deals: Dwayne JohnsonCredit:Getty Images. Daniel James also has a son; one more conviction and this man goes to jail forever. (10 years turns into 30 years, the suburban dad is built like a professional wrestler, etc.) The film is based on a true story of a father who risked it all for his son. A Summit Entertainment release, presented with Exclusive Media, Participant Media, in association with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, of an Exclusive Media production, in association with Front Street Prods. Waugh would like to redress that imbalance, but since courtroom dramas arent nearly as fun to watch as action movies, he focuses on a one-of-a-kind plea bargain between the kids concerned dad, John Matthews (Johnson), and hardass federal prosecutor Joanne Keeghan (Susan Sarandon, who makes strict seem sexy), who is seeking re-election, and therefore willing to go easy on Jason in exchange for a high-profile arrest. He is Joey's father. Barry Pepper Plays an Agent Acclaimed. I'm not entirely taken in by Settembrino's side of the story, but it could be a great character for Mr. Johnson, especially with the right poetic license. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. His character, John Matthews, runs a successful haulage business in middle America. Alternate Versions The film is based on the real-life story of James Settembrino, whose tale was told in a PBS Frontline documentary. Elizabeth of York b orn 1466 d ied 1503. But dad is ready for high-risk solutions. Goofs The election-minded U.S. Attorney (Susan Sarandon) takes the deal, and Matthews plots to entrap a local dealer (Michael K. Williams, Omar from "The Wire") with the reluctant help of one of his ex-con workers (Joe Bernthal from "The Walking Dead"). The IRS Form 990 is an annual information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly. James Settembrino, a/k/a "Jim Setti," a/k/a "Jim Bella," Case No. Frontline is currently owned by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, which acquired the company in 2017 in a deal that valued it at more than $1 billion. His teenage son Jason (Rafi Gavron, Nick & Norahs Infinite Playlist) willingly accepts a shipment of the drug known as Ecstasy. 3. He was the Assistant U.S. Attorney in . Dwayne Johnson is in negotiations to star in Snitch, an action thriller that New Line has been developing for years. Posted by Jeff Ezzell on May 21, 2018. James Settembrino is on Facebook. | Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Settembrino had a drug bust set up with the government, but the arrangement fell through, and his son still served the time. James Settembrino is Joey Settembrino's father. Worst of all, the action sequences feel entirely out of place with the rest of the film. The revelations came from a pro-Russian war blogger on Telegram. Johnson softens up as a father stuck between a rock and a hard place. PBS has posted their Frontline interview with Settembrino here. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good. 'Well, you go do something. DON FOSTER: He thought he was going to win. Also known as James L Settenbrino. In an attempt to obtain a lower sentence for his son, Matthews turns to one of his employees, Daniel James, an ex-con trying to go straight. I have no problem using snitches. The key players are all family men (including Matthews connection to the underworld, played by The Walking Deads Jon Bernthal), making it hard not to feel that the whole thing has been rigged for maximum indignation. Waugh manages not to lose that. Both men urgently want to save their sons from their respective environments. Is snitch based on a real story? Settembrino had a drug bust set up with the government, but the. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie. The action thriller Snitch centers on a suburban father who goes undercover to reduce his son's prison sentence. In real life, James Settembrino was the father of an 18-year-old who received a 10-year sentence for the possession and sale of LSD. A better look into the topic can be found in Eugene Jareckis documentary "The House I Live In.". Dwayne Johnson turns in the best performance of his career in a transitional role that very well may lead to more serious movies.