Mercy Streets

Mercy Streets is a 2000 Christian action drama film written and directed by Jon Gunn. It starred Eric Roberts and Stacy Keach, among others.

Plot

Mercy Streets is the story of twin brothers, John (David White), a con man and Jeremiah (David White), a pastor, who are forced to switch lives. After being released from prison, John is looking to make a new start, and agrees to work for his father figure and mentor Rome (Eric Roberts). When John attempts to double cross Rome, it sets off a chain reaction which turns the lives of both brothers into turmoil. While on the run from Rome, John steps into the calm suburban life of his twin brother Jeremiah and turns his good life upside down.

Jeremiah, a well-loved and respected priest, is forced into the criminal underworld of his brother when he is taken hostage by Rome and blackmailed into taking part in a counterfeiting scam. Haunted by the guilt of what he believes to be his brother s death, Jeremiah struggles to atone for his wrongdoing and redeem his faith by going along with the plan. However, Rome s simple plan begins to go horribly wrong when Jeremiah escapes and comes face to face with the brother he thought was dead. They both cannot turn away from the consequences of their actions or the love and forgiveness of God.

Cast

  • Eric Roberts as Rome
  • David A. R. White as John / Jeremiah
  • Cynthia Watros as Sam
  • Shiek Mahmud-Bey as Tex
  • Lawrence Taylor as Dan
  • Stacy Keach as Tom
  • Robert LaSardo as T.J.
  • Lisa Furst as Sunny
  • Kevin Downes as Peter
  • Robert Lyon Rasner as Concerned Passerby

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 13% based on eight reviews, which is not enough to form a consensus. The average rating was 4.1/10. Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 28 out of 100, based on five critics.

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times said, Despite a competent cast and all the energy Roberts in particular contributes, the filmmakers cannot sustain enough momentum to keep their film from seeming contrived and preachy. Ted Baehr of Movieguide said, Mercy Streets is a masterful piece of moviemaking with a strong Gospel message.

year2000
ReleaseDate2000-10-31
RuntimeMins106
RuntimeStr1h 46min
PlotEstranged twin brothers – one a con man, the other an Episcopal deacon – accidentally switch places… and find God in the process.

DirectorsJon Gunn
WritersJon Gunn, John W. Mann
StarsEric Roberts, David A.R. White, Cynthia Watros
Produced by

Greg Bowerman, Karen Bowerman, Bobby Downes, Kevin Downes, Jon Gunn, Geoff Ludlow, Travis Mann, Dan Wells, Marta Wells, David A.R. White
Music by

Steffan Fantini

Cinematography by

Chris Magee

Film Editing by

Jon Gunn, Jeffrey Lee Hollis, Brett Winn

Casting By

Penny Perry

Production Design by

Michael Pearce

Art Direction by

Laird Pulver

Costume Design by

Mila Hermanovski

Makeup Department

Carly Flynn, Pamela Hackeman, Teresa Vest

Production Management

Kevin Downes

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Lori Mellman, Joel Morales, Alvin Mount

Art Department

Heather Brumley, Michael Dotson, Mike Dowell, John Fitzherbert

Sound Department

Lee Archer, Tom D. Backman, Colin Bates, Danielle Donaldson, Gordon Ecker, Paula Fairfield, Emily Gaydos, Eric Justen, Jon Klein, Greg Mauer, Carla Murray, Bruce Nyznik, Susan Pusateri, Paul Ratajczak, Shelley Roden, Shelley J. Smith, Angie Stanghetti, Jon S. Trebilcock, Marc Verboys

Special Effects byPaul Staples
Visual Effects byDale Stelly
StuntsRick Avery, Perry Barndt, Gregory J. Barnett, William De Vital, Jaime Hernandez, Mike Jordan, Randy Kunkleman, Monte Rex Perlin
Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Benevides, Eric S. Boland, Ian S. Casas, Dale Cole, Janos Csoma, Justin Fonda, Ana Gatchell, Richard Gormley, John Hankammer, John T. Martin, Alex Metherell, Nathan Morris, Brad Parsons, Darren Rydstrom, Ryan Vanlossberg, Justin Von Lossberg, Robert Christopher Webb, David Westenberger

Animation Department

Michael Dowell

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Jo Ella Cox

Editorial DepartmentChris Weber, Gary Weber, Chuck Winston
Location ManagementLayne Downes

Music Department

Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon, Phillip Kim

Script and Continuity Department

Marvel Wakefield

Transportation Department

Geoff Ludlow, Willy Ortlieb

Additional Crew

Scottie Bairstow, Lory Bennetts, Nancy Bennetts, Jim Dessel, Layne Downes, Ana Gatchell, Lynn Giotto, Travis Gist, Marc Harper, Bobbi Hutchins, Jack Hutchins, Randy Kunkleman, Paul Lauden, Ryan Lopez, Alvin Mount, Larry Pankau, Jennifer Range, Rachel Reigns, Kenneth Stewart

ThanksKatherine Biagini, Gavin Black, Rick Bonn, Karen Dowe, Marc Fantini, Temmi Fantini, Bryan McCurry

GenresAction, Drama, Crime

Companies

Signal Hill Pictures

CountriesUSA
LanguagesEnglish
ContentRatingPG-13
ImDbRating5.2
ImDb Rating Votes568
Metacritic Rating28
Short DescriptionMercy Streets is a 2000 Christian action drama film written and directed by Jon Gunn. It starred Eric Roberts and Stacy Keach, among others.
Box Office Budget

$600,000 (estimated)

Box Office Opening Weekend USA

$79,607

Box Office Gross USA

$173,599

Box Office Cumulative Worldwide Gross

$173,599

Keywords

Caper crime,deacon,twin brother,twins,church