Puncture

2011

Puncture

Critics Consensus

There's a compelling story at the heart of Puncture but viewers will have to pierce through the formulaic storytelling to find it.

52%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 42

54%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 4,347
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Movie Info

Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) is a talented young Houston lawyer and a functioning drug addict. Paul Danziger (co-director Mark Kassen), his longtime friend and partner, is the traight-laced and responsible yin to Mike's yang. Their mom-and-pop personal injury law firm is getting by, but things really get interesting when they decide to take on a case involving Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a local ER nurse, who is pricked by a contaminated needle on the job. As Weiss and Danziger dig deeper into the case, a health care and pharmaceutical conspiracy teeters on exposure and heavyweight attorneys move in on the defense. Out of their league but invested in their own principles, the mounting pressure of the case pushes the two underdog lawyers and their business to the breaking point. -- (C) Millenium
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Mark Kassen, Adam Kassen
  • Written By:
    Chris Lopata
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $67,071
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Millennium Entertainment

Cast

Chris Evans
as Mike Weiss
Mark Kassen
as Paul Danziger
Marshall Bell
as Jeffrey Danfort
Brett Cullen
as Nathaniel Price
Jesse L. Martin
as Daryl King
Vinessa Shaw
as Nurse Vicky Rogers
Roxanna Hope
as Sylvia
Michael Biehn
as Red
Kate Burton
as Senator O'Reilly
Erinn Allison
as Kim Danziger
Tess Parker
as Jaime Weiss
Mark Lanier
as Mark Lanier
Danae Ayala
as Nicole Morris
Troy Hogan
as Nurse Pete Downing
Claire Risoli
as Nurse Karen Baker
Jennifer Blanc
as Stephany
Matt Hill
as Street Dealer
Phil Fisher
as Bartender
Austin Stowell
as ER Medic
Amelia Jeffries
as Rita King
Shelley Calene-Black
as Hospital Administrator 2
David Maldonado
as ER Doctor
Craig Nigh
as Senator's Chief Aide
Linda Lorelle Gregory
as Denise Starks
Samuel Romero
as Neck Brace
Anthony Solomon
as Thug
Bo Johnson
as Fire Chief
Davi Jay
as EMS Captain
Cheryl Tanner
as ER Doctor
Susan O'Rourke
as News Reporter
Bob Boudreaux
as Network Reporter
Deanna Brochin
as Tiffany
David Born
as Judge Black
Patrick Henning
as Court Clerk
Barry Stiles
as Shipping Manager
Julin
as Candy
Katie Stuckey
as Nurse
Bill Ross
as Dan Jones
Jim Lawrence
as Purchasing Officer
Shondra Marie
as Administrator - Pink Blouse
Werner Richmond
as Hospital Administrator 2
Adam Kassen
as Young Doctor
Ruth García Álvarez
as Pierced Mexican Woman
Pineapple Tangaroa
as Large Samoan
Luke Waterson
as David (6 years)
Sophia Boisvert
as Kia (9 years)
Paris Smith
as Kia (12 years)
Max Maisonneuve
as David (9 Years)
Max Maissonneuve
as David (9 years)
Weldon Renfro
as Shoeshine Guy
Steve Garris
as Waiter
Marty Fleck
as Well-Dressed Lawyer
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News & Interviews for Puncture

Critics Consensus: Moneyball is Certified Fresh
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Critic Reviews for Puncture

All Critics (42) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (20)

  • "Puncture" has the unusual problem of being almost too intriguing; its based-on-true-events story seems to cry out for documentary treatment.

    Nov 3, 2011 | Rating: 3/4

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • "Puncture'' is based on an actual court case. But is this a story best served by focusing on the legal battle or the arc of Mike's flawed hero?

    Oct 24, 2011 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Ethan Gilsdorf

    Boston Globe
    Top Critic

  • Evans works so hard to look like a drug addict that it undermines the character's effort not to look like one.

    Oct 21, 2011 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Michael O'Sullivan

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • It's a thoughtful entry in the growing subgenre of whistle-blower dramas.

    Oct 13, 2011 | Full Review…

    Andrea Gronvall

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Does a commendable job of merging its David vs. Goliath elements with Weiss' personal problems, doing justice to the fact that "Puncture" is based on true people and an actual case.

    Oct 6, 2011 | Rating: 3/4

    Michael Phillips

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Electrifying in the role, Evans reminds me of other great out-of-control druggies played by Al Pacino and Nicolas Cage.

    Oct 6, 2011 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (42)

Audience Reviews for Puncture

  • Jan 28, 2017
    There's a decent story and a strong central performance, but everything else is very average.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Nov 30, 2015
    Not bad. Could have been much better, but I guess this is still worth checking out if you like legal movies or if you're a fan of Chris Evans.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 30, 2014
    A knockout performance from Chris Evans elevates what should have been a gripping true story but the writing is too ordinary and the pace drags too much to make it much more than average.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
  • Feb 09, 2013
    In "Puncture," Jaime's(Tess Parker) got a gun, which she is using to threaten her no-good husband Mike Weiss(Chris Evans), a personal injury lawyer. Otherwise, it's a pretty normal evening, with Daryl King(Jesse L. Martin) outsourcing cases to Mike and his partner in law, Paul Danziger(Mark Kassen, who directed with Adam Kassen). Their latest case involves Vicky(Vinessa Shaw), a nurse, who after being accidentally pricked by a contaminated needle, contracted AIDS. They cannot help her since she is collecting workers' compensation but they can help her friend, Jeffrey Dancort(Marshall Bell), an engineer, who has developed a single use safety needle. In response, Paul has to remind Mike not to go on a fishing expedition, especially if it involves a white whale. "Puncture" is an object lesson in that just because a movie is based on a true story, it does not exempt it from being cliched or that it will automatically make for a compelling story, coming off as turgid as it does. For example, it is anti-drug, but only in the way that using them looks really boring. As far as the safety needles go, while this is a valid issue, they only provide enough substance for an excellent PSA, a passable episode of 'Leverage' or a decent documentary; forget a narrative film. And I've seen Chris Evans do quality work elsewhere when not wearing spandex, but he can do little right in this complex role. That leaves overqualified bit players like Vinessa Shaw and Kate Burton with the movie's best moments.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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