Jack the Giant Slayer won the box office this weekend with $28 million, but it's not exactly a great feat: the Nicholas Hoult flick had a huge budget and didn't quite achieve blockbuster status. Identity Thief finished second and added $9.7 million to its growing total. The weekend's other new releases, 21 and Over and The Last Exorcism Part II, reaped $9 million and $8.3 million, respectively. Rounding out the top five was Dwayne Johnson's Snitch, which took in $7.7 million.
Though it sunk to second place last week, Identity Thief won the box office this week, earning $14.1 million. Dwayne Johnson's new release Snitch took in $13 million and second place, while animated flick Escape From Planet Earth came in third with an $11 million haul. Romantic tearjerker Safe Haven came in fourth with $10.6 million, and A Good Day to Die Hard rounded out the top five with $10 million. The week's other new release, horror flick Dark Skies, earned $8.9 million.
I recently caught up with Barry Pepper, who stars as a rough-around-the-edges cop in the new thriller Snitch. Pepper discussed whether he could keep up with Dwayne Johnson, who plays a father seeking to free his son from jail. To find out what he had to say about his intimidating costar, watch the interview.
Those expecting to sit down for a rock 'em sock 'em action thriller may be disappointed to find that isn't the case for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's latest film, Snitch. Instead, you'll find a mediocre drama laced with social messages, as well as some restrained action sequences. Johnson plays John, an ordinary guy who owns a construction company. When a friend sends his son Jason (Rafi Gavron) a package of illegal pills in the mail, the district attorney's office aims to make an example out of him by sending him to prison for at least 10 years. The only way for Jason to reduce his sentence is to assist law enforcement in taking down suppliers, which he refuses to do. Against the advice of a US attorney (Susan Sarandon) and the DEA agent on the case (Barry Pepper), John takes it upon himself to infiltrate local drug rings in order to free Jason. The story is almost too insane to believe it's inspired by true events, which it is. Ultimately, Snitch employs some Hollywood tricks and twists, but not enough to make it compelling.
Get my top three gripes about the film after the jump.
Jon Bernthal plays opposite Dwayne Johnson in the dramatic thriller Snitch, which opens this week. At the film's press day in NY, I got the chance to chat with him about his tense part. Just as his ex-con character decides to get on the straight-and-narrow, his boss (Johnson) asks a very dangerous favor. Watch the interview to find out more about the film — and why you shouldn't call Snitch a buddy movie.
Dwayne Johnson plays a father who takes matters into his own hands in the thriller Snitch, and I recently got a chance to sit down with the actor. He talked about his role in the film and likened his busy upcoming year to a "Dwayne Johnson smorgasbord." Watch the interview for his take on Snitch and his other 2013 movies, like G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
If you're planning on heading to the theater this weekend, you may want to steal a look at this week's new releases. Dwayne Johnson plays a father who takes it upon himself to free his son from jail in the dramatic thriller Snitch, but if you're seeking more chills than thrills, Keri Russell is starring in horror flick Dark Skies. Which will you be seeing? Flip through the pictures and let us know!
Dwayne Johnson has just become my favorite vengeance-seeking movie dad — behind Liam Neeson in Taken, obviously. In Snitch, Johnson plays a father who vows to get his falsely imprisoned son (Life Unexpected's Rafi Gavron) exonerated, by any means necessary. He agrees to work with the FBI and infiltrate the violent underworld of drug running, and his connections soon lead to a notorious crime boss (Benjamin Bratt). It becomes clear that if he makes one wrong move, his entire family will be in jeopardy.
I love that Johnson's playing the regular dad with a by-the-books job — who happens to be very skilled at driving in high-speed chases. Susan Sarandon as the FBI agent also elevates the action fare, and I'm moderately curious about Bratt's ability to keep up that surprisingly heavy accent for an entire film. Snitch is set to open on Feb. 22, and you can watch the trailer after the jump.
