Jersey Justice

I just saw a screening of this film last night and I must say that writer/director John Hunt has come up with a very strong first effort. Everything about this project, from the script to the cast to the overall look of the film avoids the amateurish mistakes that so many first time directors bring upon themselves. The performances of the leads really bring the material to life. Blanche Baker as Polly is the center of the film, playing a woman who loses her son to terrorists and her husband to street thugs. There isn't a false note anywhere in her performance. She conveys tenderness and toughness in all of the right places, truly becoming the woman pushed to extremes. The villains of the piece (Bo Svenson, Steve Giambattista, Brian Anthony Wilson, TJ Glenn and Sal Mazzotta)go about their nastiness with delicious ease, and the people who help Polly get justice (Maria Soccor, Johnny "Roastbeef" Williams and a hilarious Ed McCool)propel the story along quite nicely. The real revelation is the obvious chemistry between Jerry Lyden's Detective Bell and Christopher Mann's Agent Lane, two old friends who've seen it all and go about the business of solving crimes with a mix of seriousness and gallows humor. Someone should build a whole movie around them! All in all, a good effort from John Hunt's crew. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to do next.

I read about Jersey Justice in my local paper, and thought I might check it out to see what all the fuss was about. Saw a whole lot of indie movies in Jersey and most are small little movies made by some young guys and a bunch of wannabe actors and cute kids from the suburbs. "Jersey Justice" is the first real movie I've seen in a long time that has a plot and real actors and great moments of real thrills.

Its like a revenge movie that has an old school approach, no frills. John Charles Hunt wrote/produced/directed this movie with a real heartbeat. The characters are stock roles but have an original mark of distinction. Polly O'Bannon is the 'soccer mom avenger' from Bucks County who chases some killers into the hell-holes of Jersey to get some old time JUSTICE! I liked the references to Jersey in the script and the bar fight is one of the most outrageous 15 minutes I've ever seen in any movie (big budget or small).

Blanche Baker stars in this indie and I hope I see her do bigger roles like this in the future. She is brilliant and clever in the lead. Jerry Lyden and Chris Mann are on their game and the flatfoot and the FBI honcho on the trail of a crazy lady with a mission. Good to see big ass Bo Svenson again and he is great as ever. TJ Glenn is very good in the bad-guy lug biker role. The bald headed monster with the tattoos (Steve Giambattista) adds just the right amount of villain juice to his part. Maria Soccor is hot and watch out for the hot sauce! Finney (Ed McCool) is funny as hell and every time he is on screen, I know I'm having a good time. Helluva good movie!

My husband and I were privy to a showing of "Jersey Justice," a new New Jersey independent film. This indie was well-written, well-directed and well-acted. The characters were worth caring about. This is a "pulp" film without too much gratuitous violence. It is certainly a "revenge" film in the vein of Standing Tall. Certain frustrations borne out of particular political characters' actions of present day were interspersed throughout the film. Overall, this is a very enjoyable film with lots of interesting characters. You are constantly wondering how all the "loose ends" will finally tie up. You can certainly feel for the lead character, Polly's, frustration and turmoil from early on in the movie, throughout. Mr. Hunt certainly keeps us wondering about the outcome of the movie, right up to the last 20 minutes. A big thumbs up to the cast and crew for a great deal well done.

A first time for me, seeing an indie movie in a café in Doylestown called PUCK LIVE on a nice Sunday afternoon. "Jersey Justice" is a smart and fast low budget digi-film with a good plot. Soccer mom with a shotgun hunts down bad people (mob, bikers, trailer trash chicks)while the cops and FBI scratch their heads. Not to take a movie about a vigilante middle aged woman too seriously, John Hunt's little movie has all the fun of those old time drive-in grinders that would have starred Jan Michael Vincent or Bo Svenson (who pops up in this flick...nice touch).

Not as uber-cool as Abel Ferrera'a urban classic "Ms. 45" (which is one of the greatest NYC nightmare movies)or even "Death Wish". The best part of watching "Jersey Justice" is it's wink and nod to those films with respect. The real reason I liked this movie is the actors were doing such a good job. Blanche Baker goes all out to make us like her, and it works. She works hard to get laughs in the moments we can laugh along with pathos in the ugly sequences. The support actors range from perfect (Ed McCool and Jerry Lyden made me laugh) to serviceable (Big Bo Svenson in a few scenes, lesser know locals). The café setting was fun (beers with a movie rule). John Hunt talked up after the show and thanked his crew and the stars for a game effort. A lot of talent from humble movie people.

Loved the story line, and also loved the humor in it. Some VERY funny line's! Awesome and Very well done!!!! I'm glad that I saw it the second time, I was able to see some scene's parts in scene's that I missed the first time. Great acting, great cast, just a great film. I'm really looking forwarded to it being distributed. Best of Luck on the film, I am for certain it will be a hit out there. Blanche Baker was perfect for the roll that she played!!!! Great seeing her in a film again. Finny, what can I say about Finny? He was the bomb, played such a wonderful roll, and was just too funny! All the other cast were wonderful. This truly is a must see movie, I would not hesitate to see it again.

YOU ROCK!!!