Adam and Mark Kassen direct Puncture, which is based on a true story, that seems made for the big screen. Mike Weiss (Chris Evans, Captain America) and Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen) are two struggling lawyers when they happen upon a case involving a nurse who was accidentally stuck with a contaminated needle. Through representing the designer of a safety needle, Mike and Paul slowly realize that this case is becoming much more than they ever anticipated.
Lets look at the bright spots. Brett Cullen. When is he NOT fantastic? This guy has been flying under the radar for so long. You’ve seen him in tons of stuff. He’s a great supporting actor and I really look forward to seeing him as a lead in something big. Marshall Bell. (He played Kuato, the guy with the alien in his belly in Total Recall.) He’s another one that’s been around forever and never gets enough credit. Oh! Michael Biehn! Wait. You’re only in the movie for like, 10 minutes. Oh, bother. (Yes, that’s a Winnie the Pooh reference)
Chris Evans lost me, especially in the courtroom scenes. I just couldn’t buy him wearing those clothes or as a drug addict. He tried to tone down his charm and in doing so, it didn’t feel authentic.
I really get annoyed when films try to be what they’re not. Puncture starts out like a regular drama about two lawyers, but as time goes by, it’s really more about another very crucial issue that effect everyone in the world. Safety needles! Why fictionalize that? It’s actually a very interesting story. There are some films like Erin Brochovich or A Civil Action that are about events in real life, but they effect smaller amounts of people and of a more isolated incident. Their stories are ripe for the big screen. This however, should have been a documentary and would have had a much larger impact. My favorite part of the film was the text at the end when they explained the truth of what actually happened. That was the movie I wanted to see.
Puncture is playing at the Tribeca Film Festival on Tuesday 4/26 and Thursday 4/28.
Rating: Read up on on the health care system and the true story, it’s much more informative. 2/10
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