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Manito, 2002,
73 minutes, Rated R
By Ramona Prioleau
Manito
vividly captures two days in the life of brothers attempting to stay
on the straight and narrow in Manhattan's Washington Heights, a
community once vilified as a drug bazaar.
Manito stars newcomer Franky G as Junior Moreno a drug peddling
ex-convict, now paint contractor. Although Junior has renounced his
dope dealing past, he still has game - playing women and his clients
with street savvy aplomb.
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© 2003 Film Movement
Franky
G
as Junior Moreno
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As sunrise streaks across a day bursting with hope,
Junior and his extended family prepare for his brother Manny's
graduation party. But Junior's world is one where boundless
possibility is fleeting and one false move can derail an otherwise
promising future. As Junior goes about his day, running to and fro,
hustling his clients, friends and family with the cunning that one
expects from a reformed street corner pharmacist, it's difficult to
root for the smooth dude that oozes guile.
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However, the repulsively gallant Junior is
undeniably sincere when it comes to his hermanito Manny (Leo Minaya),
the embodiment of a brighter tomorrow for the Moreno clan. Junior's
fierce devotion to Manny is achingly profound and engenders sympathy
for the reprobate. Junior's unmitigated loyalty also overcompensates
for the brothers' emotionally absent dad, Oscar Moreno,
a man so stoic that it takes great effort to glimpse the humanity
buried deep beneath his indifferent façade. Manuel Cabral delivers a
noteworthy performance as Oscar, playing the resigned, rather than
proud papi with discomforting allure.
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So that audiences would have no
familiarity with the film's actors and to accentuate the
pseudo-documentary experience, the filmmakers cast the film with
cinematic unknowns. Manito introduces the world to many talented,
fresh faces and includes an all around outstanding feature film debut
by Franky G. Franky G, a former running back in semi-professional
football, nails his scenes with the same intensity that one expects of
an athlete used to leading the charge on the gridiron. Franky G
macks, bristles and explodes in a high testosterone performance
underscored by a fantastic portrayal of brotherly love. The camera
adores Franky G and his aura is electric throughout the film.
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In Manito, writer/director Eric Eason
deliberately defies Hollywood conventions regarding cinematography and
narrative structure. Filming in a seemingly inconsistent cinema verite
style, the filmmakers vary lighting, camera angles and film resolution
to lend a home-movie aspect to the production and to transform the
audience into unwitting witnesses to the Moreno family tragedy. By
doing so, Eason highlights a story with magnificent heart that
pulsates from beginning to end. Although only 73 minutes, Manito is a
well scripted and finely acted film that resonates with incredible
force and sincerity.
M
June 2003
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