LONG SHOT

Title--  Long Shot

Release Year--  2017

Running Time--  40 Minutes

Director--  Jacob La Mendola

Cast--  Juan Catalan, Alma Oseguera, Melissa Catalan, Larry David, Todd Melnik, Beth Silverman, Sam Fernandez, Tim Gibbons, Kym Whitley, Robert Gajic, Eric Gagne, Tasha Boggs, Judge Leslie Dunn, Detective Martin Pinner, Detective Juan Rodriguez, Deborah Wong Yang 

In 2003 Los Angeles Dodgers fan Juan Catalan, is wrongly charged with the murder of Martha Puebla when his lawyer turns to an unlikely source to get him freed.

On May 13, 2003 Juan Catalan shows up for his job and is arrested for the murder of 16 year old Martha Puebla.  Martha Puebla testified against Juan’s brother and after being picked out of a picture lineup by a reliable witness the police arrested and charged Juan with the thoughts of revenge on their minds.  Juan, knowing that he was innocent and in trouble, remembered his cousin recommending Las Vegas lawyer Todd Melnik.  

Melnik goes to Los Angeles to meet with Juan and find out Juan’s alilby.  Juan tells Melnik that he could not have killed Martha because he was at a Dodgers game.  He then explained that he bought his mother Dodgers tickets, knowing that she was not interested in going so that he could go to the game.  He then took his daughter and two of his buddies with him to the game.  Melnik goes to Dodgers Stadium and speaks to the owner, Sam Fernandez, explaining about his client and is given access to all the video that the stadium filmed.  Melnik finds Juan and his daughter on the video but it is too grainy to use in court.

Melnik goes back to Juan and tells him about this and Juan recalls that something was being filmed at the stadium that day.  He says that he attends games all the time and he had never seen any kind of film crews there before, so he remembered that day being different.  Melnik then goes back to the stadium and contacts media relations to find that some kind of production company was there and a phone number is listed.  Melnik calls the number to find that it is HBO.  Melnik goes to the HBO studios and talks to someone to find out that an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was being filmed there.  From there Melnik gets permission to view the tapes to find out if there is anything that can save his client.

This is such a good film.  The story is compelling.  It is another story of false identification and redemption but it is different somehow.  Juan’s ability to remember that something was different about the Dodgers game that day is truly what saved his life.

My favorite part is when they are looking at the tapes and see the moment that would help free him.  Robert Gajic, the PA that allowed Juan and his daughter to return to their seats after they had gone to get ice cream is the most amazing.  From the moment the audience is shown the piece of tape and then show the look on Gajic’s face as he is being shown the tape is just so emotional.

There is one thing I did not like about this film and that is the camera.  When they interviewed the people in the film, it was only from forehead to chin in most shots that weren’t file footage of other events.  To me it is a little unnerving, that close to someone the entire time.  The other negative (not for me personally but it may be for other viewers) is that this is a Netflix only film.  So if you don’t have Netflix, you don’t get to catch this one, which really is a shame because it is pretty good watch.  It’s only 40 minutes long, so take the time to catch this one and Don’t Forget the Popcorn!