You know the film. It’s a film you have never heard of. The cast might be composed of actors you know and love or complete unknowns. A documentary that sounds interesting about a topic you might like. You stumble across it on streaming and wonder if it will be worth two hours of your time. This series will be devoted to reviewing films like these, the strange items that pop up when you are looking for a flick on the streaming service of your choice. This is “We Found It On Streaming”
FILM: Samaritan
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Run Time: 102 Minutes.
Streaming Service(s): Amazon Prime
Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong violence and strong language.
Did you know that Sylvester Stallone was once considered to play Superman back in the 1970s? Of course, this sounds like a big deal today but back then, any man of a certain age who made money in his particular field was considered. Charles Bronson was considered. As was Clint Eastwood.
Of course, he didn’t get the job, Christopher Reeve did. And while Stallone did appear in several comic book films of varying quality (from Judge Dredd to Guardians of the Galaxy), he never played a Superman-like character. That is, until Samaritan came along.
Samaritan was Granite City’s greatest hero. Nemesis was his greatest enemy. He was also his twin brother. A shared family tragedy when they were children sent them on opposite paths. Their conflict came to a head 25 years ago when they faced off as Samaritan tried to stop Nemesis from destroying Granite City’s power grid. the fight came to a tragic end as the power plant they were fighting in exploded, killing both men.
Or so they say. Conspiracy theorists in Granite City believe that Samaritan survived and retired after the conflict. One of those theorists is 13-year-old Sam Cleary (Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton), who has been searching his neighborhood for clues as who could be the missing hero. He hits the jackpot when the local garbageman, Joe Smith (Stallone), saves him from getting beat up by some local gang members, showing superhuman strength and invulnerability in the process. Sam makes it his mission to prove that Joe is the Samaritan. All the while, a new Nemesis (Pilou Asbæk) has popped up, looking to finish what his predecessor started.
While Samaritan did appear in comic books, it actually was a spec script first. The comic book came out after the script was picked up but before the film was made. So, technically, it wasn’t a film adapted from a comic book, but a film that got its comic book adaptation before the film was made. For the record, Astro City readers, this is a different Samaritan than appears in that series’ pages.
Before I review the film in earnest, let me reiterate something I have said other times on the site: I am a fan of action films, especially those from the 1980s/ As such, I have a soft spot in my heart for Stallone. Stallone can be a very charismatic actor when he wants to be. But even I can admit he could be stiff and wooden at times too. We get a Stallone here that registers somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.
There are a lot of things that work in the film. and some things that do not. Sometimes at the same time. Let me give you an example. The film is lest grim and gritty than it is bleak and dreary. In my opinion, the film does a pretty spot-on portrayal of what being a member of the working poor is like. It’s a reality where mothers have to borrow five dollars from their kids to be able to take the bus to work only to find an eviction notice on their door when they come home. It is a world where crime and the easy money it promises becomes a very viable option.
But this sets a tone that is almost too bleak and dreary. It is oppressive to watch this at the start, because hope is nowhere to be found. This film is like a Zack Snyder film if that film stopped taking Prozac.
The film is also quite predictable in a lot of ways. Not only does it follow many of the same superhero movie and action film tropes you know and love, but it also has a plot twist in that is so overly telegraphed that if you are surprised by it, I have some oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you.
This is not to say that the film is all bad. Cyrus, aka the new Nemesis, is a more nuanced villain than you typically get in a superhero film. His idolizing Nemesis instead of Samaritan is a nice touch. Nemesis is more of a hero to him because the Samaritan seemed only concerned with helping the rich and powerful and Nemesis was all about sticking it to the man. Pilou Asbæk’s performance helps in this regard. He adds a lot of charm to the role. You actually can see why all his lackeys are willing to risk their life for him, as he seems to genuinely care about them. It is a very well-rounded performance until the last act where Cyrus becomes a megalomaniac.
The acting is good all around. Walton is good as Sam, a role that is really five or six roles wrapped up into one. He has to be an annoying pest to Joe, be tempted to the dark side by Cyrus, and helping his mother (Dascha Polanco) with their financial situation. He manages to meld all those aspects seamlessly.
My final verdict on the film is that I liked it but wished it leaned more to the fresh and original concepts it did so well than it falling back on time worn tropes. It was entertaining, but it could have been better.
Have you found a film on streaming that you’d like us to look at? Leave it in the comments and it might appear in a future installment of this feature.
