Mercy Streets (2000), released on DVD on September 22, is a suspenseful crime drama and inspirational movie written and directed by John Gunn (Dandelion Dust, My Date with Drew).

Mercy Streets, the story of estranged twin brothers (both played by David A.R. White), is a gripping crime drama with an inspirational leaning which deals with love, hate, forgiveness, and reconciliation. In a twist of fate, each brother is thrown into the other's life and must learn — on the fly — what the other brother deals with in life.

John is a con man who wants to go legit but Rome just won't let him. Jeremiah is an aspiring priest/preacher who has much to learn about the real world and the woman he loves. A chance meeting brings out all the feelings of hate, betrayal, guilt, and resentment that each brother has tried unsuccessfully to come to terms with for many years.

As the movie begins, John is being released from prison, hopeful of going legit, getting a fresh start and never having to go back to prison. All those hopes are dashed as he is picked up by Rome, the con man who rescued him after his brother abandoned him for dead when he was 14 and nursed him back to health. But you will soon have no illusions about Rome (wonderfully played by Eric Roberts). Rome is hard not to like, but unfortunately we all learn very quickly that he is definitely not a nice man. It becomes very evident that he feels he owns John — lock, stock and barrel. Rome immediately tells John about the 'job' he has lined up for that very day — a con. They haven't even left the prison grounds before Rome lays this on him.

The scene cuts to his brother Jeremiah behind the pulpit at the church practicing for his first sermon coming up in a few days. He is trying very hard to do well. However, as he is preaching, his best friend, a police officer named Tex, falls asleep, and his beautiful girlfriend Samantha truly tries to appear encouraging despite the fact that the sermon is way too long and boring. Jeremiah lacks any real enthusiasm for life, or a deeper understanding of his topic. And unfortunately, he's not very knowledgeable about women either.

Article Author: Fran Parker

Fran Parker blogs at BambisMusings and MyPassionIsBooks. She enjoys reading and writing, and although she has had a blog since 2003, she really didn't start seriously blogging until 2005. Her passions are books, movies, hiking, camping, mountains, …

Visit Fran Parker's author page — Fran Parker's Blog