PUNCTURE provides a great service in documenting the corruption surrounding an innocuous-sounding but important medical device: the safety syringe. Yet in the hands of a first-time screenwriter and co-directors, this cinematic retelling of the late Houston attorney Mike Weiss's (Chris Evans) gripping, uphill battle with insidious corporate forces in the late 90's falls into such an instantly recognizable formula that much of its entertainment potential is lost.
It begins with Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a pretty, young local ER nurse, who accidentally sticks herself with a needle while attempting to sedate a shaking PCP addict. Then flash forward three years to the shirtless, rippled CAPTAIN AMERICA physique of Chris Evans as hotshot personal injury lawyer Weiss, snorting coke and speed-talking through a case in his hotel room.
And… I'm already bored. (And tempted to call their number, 1-888-GOT-PAIN.) It's already crystal clear that Evans is the anti-hero meant to grow on me (didn't happen) as he slugs away for justice. Tony Goldwyn's CONVICTION (2010) comes to mind, another gripping, true underdog story (Hilary Swank vs. small-town police corruption) and also sadly reduced to mediocrity. But similar to ERIN BROCKOVICH or THE CONSTANT GARDENER, PUNCTURE faces off with nasty, behemoth corporations – yet feels like a retread from the get-go.
>> Read the rest at Upcoming-Movies.com
No comments:
Post a Comment