Prior to portraying “Captain America,” Chris Evans gave an energized performance in “Puncture” as a crusading lawyer. Based on a nineties’ health industry case, moralistic Mike Weiss (Evans) is stymied challenging the controlling pharmaceutical/medical supply firms and powerful legal system. With the odds stacked against him, he also copes with personal demons for he’s a closeted drug addict hooked on heroin. The case in point is the introduction of a “one-stick needle-syringe” in 1998 which would revolutionize the medical profession, but the medical supplies conglomerate negates it. Mike’s attempts at bucking the system incur the wrath of the opposition composed of some dangerous individuals who mean nasty business.
With firm conviction, filmmaker brothers Adam and Mark Kassen’s feature film directorial debut casts Chris Evans in the dramatically charged role as the tattooed, drug addicted attorney. Significant support by a substantial back-up cast includes Marshall Bell’s characterization of the safety point syringe inventor Jeffrey Dancourt, with co-director Mark Kassen as Weiss’ attorney/partner, and Vinessa Shaw’s poignant characterization of a nurse afflicted with HIV. The smarmy prosecuting attorney is well-played by Brett Cullen in this “David vs. Goliath” story exploring the foibles of the American justice system.
Image Source: Collider
