The Samaritan

2012
5.6| 1h30m| R| en| More Info
Released: 17 May 2012 Released
Producted By: Quickfire Films
Country: Canada
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.thesamaritanfilm.com/
Synopsis

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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Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!
Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Der_Schnibbler 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.
classicsoncall Films like this don't seen to rate very highly on IMDb although they will find their adherents. I thought it was a pretty good caper film with more than it's share of twists and turns. Sometimes these movies try to be so clever that they implode on themselves, but this one caught itself up once we come to know the relationship between ex-con Foley (Samuel L. Jackson) and the young hooker Iris (Ruth Negga). Thereafter it becomes the grift that Foley didn't want to get tangled up in, in the first place. A couple of things that didn't ring true for me was how quickly and easily Xavier (Tom Wilkinson) decided that Foley should launder his eight million dollars for him. Just like that - what?!?! Even crazier was the idea that Xavier actually had the eight million in a suitcase with him when all the players came together. Personally, I thought Helena (Deborah Kara Unger) hanging herself was going to turn out to be an element of the grift, but referring back to my earlier warning, things didn't go in that direction.Anyway, I'm satisfied that Ethan (Luke Kirby) got what was coming to him. I thought he was a punk and in way over his head to attempt a con job like this one. Too bad about Foley but that's the way the bullets fly. One thing I'd like to know, is how much Miro (A.A. Peterson) kept for his trouble stitching up Iris. Hopefully enough to retire himself.
Roger Burke This story is a pleasant surprise: not only because it doesn't deserve the low score at IMDb, and not only because Samuel Jackson provides an excellent characterization of an ex-grifter and ex-con who is forced into another caper. It's also refreshing, paradoxically, because the story echoes aspects of that classic Korean flick, Old Boy (2003).If you haven't seen Old Boy, however, then you can still see this as a credible piece of entertainment. In a nutshell, Foley (Jackson) is persuaded by Ethan (Luke Kirby) to conduct another grift – upon a thoroughly unpleasant Xavier (Tom Wilkinson), a high-powered business mogul, crook and murderer who is always looking for ways to turn a few million bucks. Foley is unwilling, but Ethan prevails – because he has an advantage Foley can't ignore. Ethan brings in two women – a working girl, Iris (Ruth Negga) and Helena (Deborah Unger) – to assist with the grift. On the night of the caper, though, it all begins to unravel when Helena can't make it...even when eight million is up for grabs.Jackson is excellent as the tired, old ex-con who just wants to be left alone; Kirby is perfect as the wanna-be con artist who needs help from an old grifter; Negga does a good job as a possible love interest; Wilkinson overacts somewhat as the heartless bad guy; Unger, though, acts as though she's in a trance, the only sour note. Watch, especially, for Foley's parole officer, Deacon (Tom McCamus), in a small but effective part – with a decided twist.The plot moves quickly for the most part. And, it has sufficient surprises and twists to keep any viewer's interest. Be aware, though, this is not to the standard of, say, The Sting (1973) or that other classic, The Spanish Prisoner (1997). That said, Samaritan deserves more than five.I give it six out of ten. Recommended for all adults.November 9, 2013
Robert Bowling The Samaritan was surprisingly good in the sense that it had a pretty well drawn out story line and that the characters all seemed to make sense. There were quite a few twists and turns in the movie that seemed to drastically change the story - in a good way. The one huge plot twist was very big, but you can possibly see it from close to the beginning if you really pay attention to the details. I rated this movie a 7/10 because I feel as if Samuel L. Jackson could have done a bit better, but the female role was done extremely well. I would give her a 10/10 for this movie. As I said, this movie was actually a lot better than I had expected it to be.