Jersey Justice (2014) Reviews

• Jersey Justice gets my vote!!

  honeylocust12122007-07-08

  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.

• First at bat, first hit

  gtmrusso2007-06-28

  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.

• Saw the film twice......

  Cathwithasea2007-07-08

  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!!!

• A Pulp Classic in the making....over the top!

  JillyRizzo2007-07-02

  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!

• Cult Movie Status Alert! Jersey Justice is HOT!

  DjangoTrinity2007-07-17

  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!