Movie: Puncture
Release Date: September 23, 2011
Studio: Millennium Entertainment
Director: Adam Kassen, Mark Kassen
Screenwriter: Chris Lopata
Starring: Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, Brett Cullen, Marshall Bell, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin, Roxanna Hope, Tess Parker, Kate Burton, Vinessa Shaw
Genre: Drama
Official Website: Puncture-the-movie.com
While most audiences are looking forward to Chris Evans this summer as a Nazi-fighting superhero in Captain America: The First Avenger, there’s another film that may slip under the radar. Puncture tells the true story of Mike Weiss (Evans), a young Houston lawyer who seems dedicated to his profession and the clients he works for. There’s a catch though: he’s a drug addict with a seedy lifestyle.
The combination of his ethics when it comes to doing his job and Evans’ charisma make him surprisingly likable. But things get much more serious when he decides to take on the case of an ER nurse (Vinessa Shaw) who contracted HIV three years prior when she unsuccessfully attempted to give a shaking patient an injection. She’s been given worker’s compensation for this horrible accident, but her lawsuit has to do with the medical supplies groups’ refusal to purchase new, safer syringes invented by her friend, Jeffrey Dancort (Marshall Bell).
At first, him and his law partner, Paul Danzinger (co-director Mark Kassen), wonder why the companies don’t simply use these safer devices that would prevent 800,000 accidents per year. But they soon uncover an industry that is run by the wealthy who put dollars ahead of saved lives.
Though they fight for what’s absolutely the right thing, they have little support due to the financial influence the larger corporations wield. The movie effectively shows the painfully meticulous steps that need to be taken by the two lawyers representing Dancort in order to establish this as a legitimate case. As the film goes on, one roots for them to keep making that extra step which will hopefully place these syringes in every hospital in America. A slimy executive (Brett Cullen) defending the big businesses acts as a human representation of their biggest obstacle: the man with the money often comes out on top.
This is a story that we’ve seen before (Erin Brokovich, for example), but we rarely – if ever – get a crusader for the greater good that’s as flawed as Weiss. The commitment he has for his profession is very much real, but drugs often put the case and his career in jeopardy. We get some of the broader strokes of how it affects him: he’s late for a meeting, his wife leaves him, and there’s the risk of being caught by the police.
But it’s the finer details that drive home how dangerous his addiction can get. While Evans is in good physical condition, he always has a haggard, sick look in his face, and getting caught doing drugs by a Senator almost gets him off the case. This adds an extra conflict to everything, and gives the movie a more personal edge that it may have otherwise lacked.
Directors Adam and Mark Kassen both display incredible skill making their feature directing debut. Much of the work done with focus and shot placement/composition would be impressive for those making their fifth movie, let alone first. Unfortunately, not every choice made by the duo works. There’s the occasional stylistic flourish, such as shots that try to emulate his drug-induced state, or music choice that feels too obvious. These feel like mistakes that new directors are bound to make and gives them room for improvement with future features.
And that sums up Puncture as a whole: the problems here are noticeable, but much of the film impresses to the point where those flaws are an undercurrent in the lean tale. I’m glad that a true, inspiring story such as this one didn’t get a movie adaptation that glossed over the main hero’s flaws. Due to both Evans’ charismatic performance and confident direction from the Kassens, our lead remains an endearing human being, keeping a vital link with the audience.
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.
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