Jersey Justice

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.

Local Filmmaker Premieres 'Jersey Justice'

By: LIndsay Warner, The Evening Bulletin

07/25/2007

Currently in limited pre-release screenings to garner interest for a wider release, "Jersey Justice" is a small-budget film created by a movie buff on his first venture behind the camera. But "Jersey Justice" doesn't feel like a low-budget, first-time film, and it seems likely Hunt will get his funding. Revolving around a 24-hour period in which Polly O'Bannon's (Baker) husband is shot and killed in a mix-up between several Philadelphia thugs, the shocked housewife turns to violence to avenge her husband's undeserved death. Collecting weapons and supplies in record time, O'Bannon hits the road looking for her husband's killer, attracting a variety of colorful characters similarly thirsting for revenge - or a good road trip - along the way.

Felix Romeo, played by Maria Soccor, New York model and actress, a rough & ready biker with her own incentive for revenge, strongly flavors the script with her defiant independence, while Irish drunkard Finney (Ed McCool) lends a car and a touch of humor to the mix. John Williams (Johnny Roastbeef in "Goodfellas") also crops up as Big Bill Romeo, the bartender at "Mrs. Jay's," a shady biker bar where the first part of the revenge plan is enacted. Although O'Bannon is on a vengeful killing spree, Baker's portrayal of the character lends a sympathetic tinge to her portrayal - though it seems unlikely that O'Bannon would be able to proceed as far with her plans as she does without police intervention.

Still, the story is entertaining, fast moving and a nice twist on the often-used male revenge thriller. The shady dealings of the gang at the scene of the murder confuse the plot slightly, but Hunt retains a strong connection to O'Bannon throughout, using her humanity to maintain empathy.

Just got back from the preview screening of "Jersey Justice" in East Greenville PA. John Hunt's first film is a surprise indie movie with a great plot, an homage to the drive-in movies of the 70's. Not to say it's in the same as Tarentino/Rodrigues' "Grindhouse", but as much fun because the attitude is rough and the strong doses of humor make it pure PULP!

The prologue gives us the characters, a Christian family- son is off to Iraq (business contractor)- slime ball Bossman (70's screen star Bo Svenson as Texan "Halabirton-esque" creep in an extended cameo)and a news clip of Ole' George W Bush....you know it's trouble ahead. Mother Polly O'Bannon (Blanche Baker of "16 Candles") gets the phone call that son Derek has been kidnapped by terrorists and likely killed. Dad Jack (a likable Ken Schwarz) is trying to keep his sanity.

The story kicks in as Polly and Jack try to adjust to Derek's death, but they are hounded by the press and a couple of shady dicks in a sedan. On a trip to Philadelphia to collect their sons belongings, and crossing paths with a couple of murdering thugs in Old City, Jack is gunned down in an alley (not pretty) and Polly runs for her life. A few twist's in the fast plot, as Polly turns the tables on Jacks's assailants. The thugs are now being hunted down by the clever (and quite crazy) Polly O'Bannon. I thought that "Jersey Justice" had the same sense as the Michael Douglas' "Falling Down" when Polly goes through the day as if she were out shopping and doing errands. She buys a shotgun at a gun shop in Cherry Hill (very funny dialog) and terrorizes a pretty young lady at knife point in a bathtub.

The police and FBI are two steps behind Polly and the gunman. Agent Paul Lane (Christopher Mann of HBO's The Wire) thinks Polly might have lost her mind and heads to Jersey. Detective Vic Bell (veteran character actor Jerry Lyden of "Goodfellas") holds the fort in Philly. The story jumps the rails into a bizarre twist when Polly meets a tough dyke bartender (Maria Soccor looks like Russ Meyer's star Tura Santana) and barfly Finney (Hilarious Ed McCool is a real find). It's off to a biker bar and a halfway showdown with a gang called "The Hawks", lead by a hulking goon named Carlo (T.J. Glenn does a good impression of Big Bill Smith) as bartender Bill Romeo (Johnny 'Roastbeaf' Willaims hit's the right tone)tries to keep order when all hell breaks loose.

Not to give it all away, but lets just say that there are a few subplots involving the mob, fixer henchman, corporate lackeys, and a mystery man who pulls the strings. When you think you know what's going to happen, you don't. The action is very brisk, and the setting is right in the heart of Jersey. The ending is a fine wrap-up with a suggestion of a sequel.

The actors are first rate, with Blanche Baker leading the pack. She owns the role, with sly touches of crazy humor along with good dramatic moments. Big Bo Svenson is at his best, in a part tailored for his stature- BOOO HISSSSS! Newcomer Steve Giambattista is truly menacing as a biker thug out to stop Polly. Christopher Mann as the FBI guy on the track is very commanding, and his scenes with Jerry Lyden (alway fun) are pure gold, great chemistry. Watch for Gervase Peterson ("Survivor Season 1" reality TV)as a lackey and Brian Anthony Wilson as "Jules" the enforcer (big as a house).

The real pleasure is John Hunt's fun script (with lines pulled from Billy Jack) and great low budget value. Very talented but the budget shows with some goofy performances and slapped together set pieces. It's Blanche Baker who makes the movie a real treat, a steady role for the petite and pretty "Soccer Mom Avenger" with a shotgun. The audience filled with real bikers from Reading PA were roaring with belly laughs. Hunt was on hand to thank the actors who came out to be part of the screening. I had a ball!

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.

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.