Snitch

When his troubled teenage son, Jason (Rafi Gavron), accepts a shipment of ecstasy for a friend, gets caught in a DEA sting, and is sent to prison for 10 years, Missouri trucking company owner John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson) is determined to get him released--by any means necessary. Because of the federal mandatory minimum laws, the only way that can happen is for Jason to set up another drug dealer for a fall. But Jason doesn't know any other drug dealers, so John cuts a deal with a politically ambitious U.S. attorney (Susan Sarandon) to become an informant and help the DEA catch a kingpin in exchange for his son's freedom. John's conduit into the drug underworld is one of his employees (Jon Bernthal), an ex-con trying to go straight. Loosely inspired by true events, director/former stuntman Ric Roman Waugh's film is not your usual Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson action flick, as far more time is spent delving into John's father-figure character than in serving up mindless violence. Problem is: the film's plot loopholes are large enough to drive a semi through. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Ric Roman Waugh and editor Jonathan Chibnall, a “Privileged Information” making-of featurette (50 min.), deleted scenes (6 min.), bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a flawed film.] (S. Granger)