Manito

Starring:Franky G, Leo Minaya, Manuel Cabral, Jessica Morales, Julissa Lopez, HÃ©ctor GonzÃ¡lez, Panchito GÃ³mez, Lavidania Ramirez, Casper Martinez, Lou Torres, Adeal Irizarry, Edwin De Leon, Jeff Knite, Jay Dog, Gilly Delgado, Yovanna Jose, Tiffany Yates, John McGrath (VIII), Petra Quinones, Monique Vasquez
Director: Eric Eason
Studio: Film Movement
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

MANITO, winner at the Sundance Film Festival, is the June selection in The Film Movement Series. Subscribers receive a socially important film such as Manito to own on DVD each month. is a riveting story of two brothers set against the volatile backdrop of a changing inner city. Shot in cinema verité style, MANITO reflects a community when it transformed from drugs and violence to one of the most vibrant Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. Although the dealers were disappearing their violent legacy remained casting a shadow over the neighborhood and its residents. Junior Moreno (Franky G.), an ex-convict struggling to get his life back, is a product of that legacy. His brother Manny, (Leo Minaya) the salutatorian of his high school class, embodies hope in the neighborhood. On the night of his graduation party, Manny faces an ill-fated decision that could change his life forever, while Junior tries to prevent his little brother from becoming another casualty. With gritty, luminescent cinematography and unflinching portrayals of characters that embody the heart and soul of the neighborhood, writer/director Eric Eason brings us an electrifying feature debut in the finest tradition of independent filmmaking.

Customer Reviews:

Compelling storytelling . . ........2006-12-04

This is a fine film by just about any standard. It has a story to tell about living in Latino New York, and what it has to say is about family, community, and a kind of desperate heroism. The central character, Junior, (Franky G) is a fiercely determined man with a criminal record trying to hold the generations of his family together, even while compromising his commitment to his wife and maintaining a long-held rage against a father who once betrayed him. The title character, Manito, is his younger brother, who on the day of his graduation from high school represents the aspirations of the entire family to rise above its current social and economic position. A nerve-jangling crisis throws that all into jeopardy.

Shot on a shoestring in all of the five boroughs of New York, as the director Eric Eason reveals in the DVD commentary, the film is set in Washington Heights. Making use of handheld cameras throughout, the film has a strong, documentary feel, and the editing keeps the story careening forward, often truncating scenes as soon as we get the gist of them. Meanwhile, Franky G's physical presence in the film gives it momentum and energy of yet another kind. A gem of independent filmmaking that upholds the Sundance tradition of providing a showcase for new and original talents.

Best movie I've seen in a long time.......2006-08-21

I caught this movie by accident this weekend on cable. Just thought I'd kill some time while having lunch. But an hour and a half later, I hadn't eaten a thing because I got so into this movie. I have not been so involved with a movie, so concerned with the characters, nor left speechless at the end, as I was with this movie. This movie is so real, you know the scenes from this movie are playing out all over the big cities in the US. As I Latin, I particularly felt for this family, angry at how no matter how hard you try, you can't escape your roots. You ask yourself why life can be so unfair, and of course there are no answers. This is one you cannot miss, and I recommend it to everyone. It makes you realize that "one wrong move" is all it takes to change a life.

It's worthy.......2006-04-16

I say that this film is worthy because a while ago a film entered into Sundance and won an award, it was a guarantee I would enjoy it. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case now with movies I've bought or rented with the Sundance logo on them. However, Manito was definitely worth the accolades and praise. I loved how this film just grabbed me. From the moment Manny and his date are on the subway and the thugs enter the car they're in, my stomach was in knots. The film was so real I felt I was a standy witnessing the action instead of just watching it on television. Whoever did the casting for this movie did an excellent job of choosing the actors. Franky G brought such an intensity to this role that it was mind blowing. If anyone thinks he's just some hunky guy they will be proven wrong by his acting skills. I was warned that the movie kind of ends abruptly and it did. But I didn't get upset because it left it to my own imagination about what would happen next. As a previous reviewer stated, there was no easy wrap up for their situation anyway.

I'm glad I actually bought this movie for my collection instead of renting it. I will definitely want to watch this over and over.

Shelley Halima
Author of Azucar Moreno and Los Morenos

Form and Function In Film Art.......2006-02-08

MANITO is a fine little independent film that does what few of the big movies have tried: the manner of shooting an intimate family film set in the ghetto atmosphere with a hand held camera gives it the immediacy and grit of the story far better than the expensive multicamera shoots of other similar tales with big budgets. Writer/director Eric Eason succeeds in inviting us, the outsiders as audience, to witness the machinations of a family at war with itself as though we were in the hall, at the window, or behind the wall. The result is a powerful, unpretentious little film with clout.

Manito (Leo Minaya) is the younger brother of Junior (Frankie G) who has succeeded in school and in social life in a way that eluded Junior. Junior is an ex-con (we learn later how unjust that title is) who is basically a ne'er-do-well womanizer, but still works hard to make a living for his wife and child. When Manito (or Manny) wins a scholarship on graduation, Junior is bound to celebrate his love for his little brother and his pride in Manny's achievements with a big party. The father of the boys is the poison that drives the potential celebration into a disaster in a manner that summarizes all that is evil in the environment in which the brothers have survived. The story ends in a tenor that leaves as many questions unanswered as it does in finalizing the tale.

Franky G is the only known actor among this talented but inexperienced cast. And despite the many small roles he has had serving as eye candy (and justly deserved!) for big movies, here he proves that he can indeed inhabit a role and give us a character who, despite his antisocial behavioral aspects, is a man we grow to love. The entire cast engages our attention as a verismo experience and witnessing the trials and smiles of this family sheds a warmer light on the Hispanic than most of the big movies afford. We doubtless - and hopefully - will be hearing and seeing more from Eric Eason. Grady Harp, February 06

Action Movie Set Against Family Tensions in the Barrio.......2005-02-07

Action story played out over a background of family tensions. A potentially 'happy ending' is thwarted by the violence of real live in the Barrio.

Average customer rating:

Manito

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Fifteen years ago, their Washington Heights neighborhood was dubbed the crack-cocaine capital of the world, but today it is transforming into one of the most vibrant, Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. While the drug dealers continue to disappear, their violent legacy still casts a shadow over the neighborhood and its residents. Junior, an ex-convict struggling to get his life back on track, is a product of this legacy. His younger brother Manny, the salutatorian of his high school class, embodies the hope of the future. On the night of his graduation party, Manny finds himself faced with an ill-fated decision that could change his life forever.

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