Written & Directed By: Ricardo Sean Leonard
Cinematography By: Mikko T. Monen
Cast: Judy Marte, Adam Rodriguez, Paul Caledron, Manny Perez, Gleendilys Iona, Stephnaie Ortiz, Michael K. Williams
I don't like to bad mouth independent films. Since it is usually a strugglefor the filmmaker to get ti made but through hard work get's it done and that kind of determination should be admired. Having said that i have to say that this film needs a lot of work.
This is a film that probably was better on the page then the actual filming would suggest. i can undersatnd the smallness of the environment in which it takes place in seems to be a perfect place for this convoluted story. it has a ensemble cast all with there own motives and a kind of shifting lotalty that no one can trust each other.
The film has intersting characters but it's own follow through is so scattershot and heavily edited. tht it makes it feel ridiculous at times. though the cast trie and givesit it's all. the material tends to let them down and make it seem all for nothing.
The film seems to want to be a gritty tarantino-esque hood movie without the sense of humor (Unintentionlly).
The film though has many problems, Most of the popular actors like Michael K. Williams are only around for cameos or extended cameos. another big problem that occured to me during the film is that each character seems to have grown up around criminals and criminalbehavior but still try to maintain an innocence. Then at the drop of ahat they turn into cold blooded killers with no remorse for no reason. i could see if it at least affected them in some way, but the film just has them do it without a second thought.
The film only has one or two sympathetic characters. It also keeps showing us a needless flashback of the main character as a child and a even that happened. i understand that it's better to show then tell in a film, but here i believe is one of the fewinstances where the opposite would have been preferred.
It plays like a typical hood movie, except it has some actual interesting characters that would better be used in a tighter film.
The females in this film are beautiful and give great performances. Especially Judy Marte who i remember from such films as ON THE OUTS and RAISING VICTOR VARGAS. Here she shws once again that she is a actress of great beauty and range. i only hope that other directors tap into her talent and cast her in their films she would surely be their secret weapon.
GRADE: D
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