The Samaritan (2012)

After twenty years in prison, Foley is finished with the grifter's life. When he meets an elusive young woman named Iris, the possibility of a new start looks real. But his past is proving to be a stubborn companion.

Director:

David Weaver

Writers:

Elan Mastai (screenplay), David Weaver (screenplay)

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Luke Kirby, Ruth Negga

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Foley
Luke Kirby	...	Ethan
Ruth Negga	...	Iris
A.C. Peterson	...	Miro
Gil Bellows	...	Bartender Bill
Aaron Poole	...	Jake
Tom McCamus	...	Deacon
Martha Burns	...	Gretchen
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Helena
Tom Wilkinson	...	Xavier
Rob Archer	...	Vernon Hicks
Diana Leblanc	...	Celia
Rufus Crawford	...	Construction Foreman
Andrew Butcher	...	Construction Worker
Frank Moore	...	Walker

Storyline

After twenty years in prison, Foley is finished with the grifter's life. When he meets an elusive young woman named Iris, the possibility of a new start looks real. But his past is proving to be a stubborn companion.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | father daughter relationship | released from prison | weapon | shot to death | 

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Taglines:

You've got to know a secret to tell a secret.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Samaritan

Filming Locations:

Havana, Cuba

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,744, 20 May 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,744, 20 May 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

H2O Motion Pictures,2262730 Ontario,Middle Child Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Samaritan was Samuel L. Jackson's character's nickname in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).

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Goofs

Near the end of the film, when Iris is shot and needs a blood transfusion, Foley tells the doctor to use his blood because 'it will work.' However, parents are not automatically compatible blood donors to children. They could actually have different blood types which are incompatible.

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Quotes

Iris: If you keep on doing what you've always done ,you'll keep on being what you've always been, nothing changes unless you make it change, I know what it sounds like but every morning that I wake up I think about what that really means .Nothing Changes Unless You Make It Change.

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Soundtracks

Lucid
Written & Performed by David Whalen of 'Addicted to Lipgloss'
Courtesy of Addicted To Lipgloss

User Reviews

Pastiche of film noir and crime thrillers

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.