The Samaritan

Bon film !

"Nothing changes unless you make it change." After 20 years in prison for killing his friend Foley (Jackson) is out and is determined to go straight. Less then a day after being released he runs into some old friends and discovers the old life isn't easy to escape from and the only way out is to go back in. I have to start by saying that I have never been a Samual L. Jackson fan. I liked him in "Pulp Fiction" but he plays that character in every movie that he has done (except "Resurrecting The Champ"). This movie is no different, although for some of it he is toned down and isn't screaming every line. The movie itself is really not original. Guy gets out of jail and wants to go legit...meets people he used to know...has to pull off one last job...yada yada yada. While the ending of the movie is really good and helps the movie getting to the end is a struggle. Some parts are good while others are pretty boring and tends to drag on. There are really interesting plot points that are brought up and forgot about which makes no sense. The movie isn't all bad though and if you are a Sam Jackson fan you will really enjoy this one. For me the last movie he did "Meeting Evil" was much better. Overall, not a bad movie but nothing to rush and see. I give it a C+.

I can't work out Samuel L Jackson - he's an A-list actor, who repeatedly turns up in these 'straight to DVD' type films. Fury has received no theatrical cinema release, no real marketing campaign and little online publicity except simply appearing among countless other releases. Jackson plays an ex con who's spent most of his life in prison and is now trying to go straight in his old age. Guess what, he doesn't. He gets sucked into a web of blackmail by a face from his past and soon he's involved in a dodgy and dangerous scam. Okay, so the plot isn't that original, but maybe that's the point. There's nothing new here, but that's not so bad. Fury ticks all the boxes. It has plot twists, shoot-outs and some double-crossing. It'll never be a classic, like Pulp Fiction, but if you like heist, gangster or con-artist movies (as it borrows from all genres), you may get something out of this. Plus it has Samuel L Jackson, who always puts in a good performance. Not amazing, but enjoyable if you're in the mood.

The plot: An ex-con looking to go straight is blackmailed into one last grift. I'm a huge sucker for film noir, so it's not like I could pass up a chance at watching a gritty crime thriller with Sam Jackson. I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the critical disdain, but I figured it'd be worth a try. I think some of the critics were a bit harsh, but this isn't really a great movie. There are certainly some good aspects to it, but the aggressively derivative elements really drag down the score. If it had been less of a pastiche (and outright ripoff) of certain movies, this could have been good. Unfortunately, to mention its primary inspiration would be a huge spoiler. If you're tolerant of "homage", not looking for a unique story, and are a fan of either noir or Sam Jackson, then there's a fair chance that you'll enjoy The Samaritan. I found it quite watchable, but I was not impressed with the directing or writing. The acting, on the other hand, was fine. There are only two or three scenes with Sam Jackson's trademark outbursts of angry yelling, so you might want to load up Pulp Fiction again if that's what you're looking for. Any true Sam Jackson fan has sat through some really terrible movies. This is nowhere near the bottom, but it's somewhat frustrating in that you can see how this could have been a good movie if they'd tried a little harder.

Typical Hollywood garbage. Formulaic, predictable, and clumsily borrowing plot devices from foreign films with heart who have done it a million times better. As is typical of Hollywood trash, the movie makes it seem like it's edgy and risqué. But, ultimately, it never crosses any lines, in the end it always plays it safe. Meanwhile, the feeble-minded, arrogant, narcissistic American audience of dummies is allowed to maintain their moronic sense of moral superiority over the rest of the world. Garbage. No wonder it's on Netflix.

Of course the major selling point for this movie is Samuel L Jackson in the lead role. Even in a low budget b movie like this he gives a solid performance. The standard of acting is also pretty good from the supporting cast. I would love to find a bar like the one owned by Gil Bellows' character - no customers - excellent. Instant service. Or was it that they couldn't afford any extras? The major sticking point for me was that neither the characters nor the story engaged me enough. Believability also went out of the top floor window about half way through. At this stage a major plot revelation is made which is clever but the way Jacksons' character reacts to the revelation defies belief. The plot then dovetails into the second half grift operation. Just hearing the words "grift" and "mark" rings alarm bells - the words are used so often in the film - OK i get it. its still no Grifters or House of Games though. Just another tragic film noir.

I am stumped as to why an actor like Samuel L. Jackson, who regularly appears in big budget Hollywood movies, would be doing in a low budget Canadian movie. Apparently he was very attracted to this project, since he's also listed as one of the movie's producers. And the movie does have some positive attributes. Though low budget, it looks pretty slick, with good cinematography and intricate camera techniques. The acting by Jackson and the no-name Canadian cast is also pretty good. However, the screenplay is kind of inadequate. To be fair, it puts in a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. But for the most part, the movie travels down a very familiar path that will have you repeatedly saying, "I've seen this before." This isn't a terrible movie, but it's not very successful. By the way, this is one of the few Canadian movies to be set in Canada and involving Canadian characters... but the Canadian aspect of the movie is presented in such a soft and blink-and-you'll-miss-it manner that most viewers will think the story is taking place in the United States with American characters.

Whilst the plot at times seems rushed and the execution of the story the same you can't help but love the noir elements of this film. There's also a clear love of mood by the director as the film is soaked in atmosphere helped by a fantastic soundtrack, brilliant lens work and strong performances by the two main leads. I was expected low rent B movie fodder but instead managed to really involve myself in 'The Samaritan' (Called FURY for some stupid reason in the UK). I loved the mood, the styling, Samuel L Jackson's performance. The film has it's heart in the right place and I think with a bit of tweaking could have been genuine neo noir classic. I enjoyed it!

What would you do if your daughter is a drugged up prostitute? Well if you have just come out of prison you would f..k her or so this film would have it. Having little reason outside this twisted incest concept with not much else in the way of the plot. The action is minimal and only begins in the last quarter, by then it is just the dumb and the dumber. Total nonsense that really begs to ask the question of the logic behind its story. Any ex con would have ended this minutes after leaving prison. The title is deceiving being called by another name and so is the write up on it. A disappointment knowing these actors can act, but a failure seeing them reduced to this weak plot. 4 out 10 if your hillbilly you might enjoy it

This plot has it all: action, drama, unexpected twists, love, murder, living between hope & regrets. Jackson plays Foley, who after coming out of prison after 25 years having killed his best friend, tries to catch on with friends and acquaintances from the past, who are all long gone or live normal lives. Only the son of his former partner, whom he was forced to murder, is interested in getting Foley to participate in a confidence act in order to trick 8 Million Dollars from a very dangerous man. Each confidence artist sets up the the other player with not only dirty tricks but also with unforgivable consequences: Foley is setup to fall into love and a sexual relationship with his own daughter, which gives the twist a quite shocking taste, not only to the viewer but also Foley after discovering it. Trying to protect his daughter he tries to put distance between her and himself without success. She is drawn herself into the world of confidence artists and both father and daughter must fear for their lives to get out of this dangerous web of deceit. How will it end? You need to watch it in order to find out, I give this one here an honest 8 of 10.