Manito 2002

Manito 2002:
    This is a powerful film illustrating a Puerto Rican family in Washington Heights NY celebrating the high school graduation of a son.  The family throws a big party, one of Manny's classmates comes to the party and he makes sure she gets home safely but they run into trouble on the subway.  Two hoods take Manny's graduation money, chase them to Marisol's house and she gives him a gun to defend himself.  He needed to stay there but decides to go home instead, the hoods are still hanging around, they try to beat him up and he shoots one of them.  His brother Junior is always just on the verge of success or failure and he also makes a wrong choice trying to help Manny that changes his life too.

    Most of the actors are first-time actors but they draw you into their characters, it seems like a real family and you feel their struggles.  It's a strong story of people trying to make it, they get caught up in circumstances and make the wrong choices.  One wrong choice leads to another wrong choice but it's been happening in the family for a long time.  This film was shot on digital video with a tiny budget.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

77 min, Drama, directed and written by Eric Eason with Leo Minaya, Franky G., Jessica Morales.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.7 out of 10, 95% critics 64% audience on Rotten Tomatoes