Review of Puncture (2011) by Chris S — 22 Sep 2011

Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) and Paul Danziger (Mark Kassen) are best friends and partners at their law firm. They've just stumbled onto an incredible case that could either help them make it big or completely ruin them. Jeffrey Dancort (Marshall Bell) invented a safety syringe that can only be used once and prevents health care workers from accidentally getting infected with dirty needles. The problem is that no hospital in the United States wants to use it even though there are over 800,000 accidental pricks a year. Every lead they have soon becomes a dead end and results in these Houston lawyers banging their heads against the wall in frustration. Mike and Paul are pushed to the limit as this case begins to take its toll on both their friendship and their law firm. Meanwhile, Mike's drug addiction becomes a serious issue; not only for Mike's personal well-being but also as a hazard to him and his partner ever standing a chance of winning this case.

This movie is based on a true story and I don't know if it's because of that that the film is so consuming, but you're sucked in from the opening scene. Most movies that heavily revolve around the law or the courtroom are usually okay at best since they don't really appeal to my taste, but Puncture is different. There's more weight to the film than the average drama and its message packs a pretty forceful punch. At its roots, it's as if Mike took on this case to save lives. But was it all for his ego? Does he not want to settle because he feels like the courtroom is the only place he really feels like he succeeds? Mike's drug problem adds this whole different world to the entire film. Mike and Paul basically have the lives of thousands of people in their hands and Mike is gambling with his on a daily basis. Whether he'll actually clean himself up and watching to see if Mike and Paul can actually win this case are part of the reason the movie is as mesmerizing as it is.

The solid cast is definitely a plus for the film. Mark Kassen shows a fairly wide range of emotion as he tries to juggle being professional, his wife nearing childbirth, and handling the unorthodox ways of his best friend. Brett Cullen also makes his presence known as Nathaniel Price. He's handling the same case on the opposite end of the table and the ball is essentially in his court, but he seems to spend an awful lot of time getting to know Mike and Paul. Despite just handling business, it's as if he's trying to map out what their next move is. Marshall Bell portrays an extremely driven individual that just wants to see his needles utilized in hospitals across America. But Chris Evans is the lead for a reason. His emotion and range is just incredible. It was almost unbelievable realizing this was the same guy who played Captain America earlier this year, but that's what qualifications for a talented actor should be; the ability to show a wide range of emotions, choosing roles that are vastly different from your previous film, and being unpredictable. Evans accomplished all of these things flawlessly in Puncture.

Certain things about the movie were a bit distracting. Perspective and camera angles were visually appealing and rather dynamic and there were some blurring techniques that were quite great, but scenes where the camera should have been steady weren't. Everything felt shaky at all times. It could have just been the print the theater received, but that doesn't seem very likely. Puncture was also filmed in Houston, which is really cool for people who live in the area. Puncture is getting a limited theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. That doesn't happen very often, so soak that in. Lastly, the conclusion fills you with so many different emotions; hatred and dislike for a certain character, sadness, and a sense of accomplishment. It fits the overall tone of the film superbly and is very satisfying.

Puncture is a captivating drama that is both tense and eloquently acted by its extremely talented cast. It's a constant uphill battle that leaves you trying to catch your breath by the time it's all said and done. Chris Evans is at his absolute best and delivers one of the most engrossing performances of his career. With a sharp script and a rather fascinating story based on true events, Puncture could be one of the best sleeper hits of the year.