Illegal Tender (2007)

Director:

Franc. Reyes

Writer (WGA):

Franc. Reyes (written by)

Release Date:

24 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Always protect the family.

Plot:

When the thugs who killed his father come looking for him, a young Latino man and his mother flee from their home.

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Mother Son Relationship

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 21	8:00 PM	MAX
Sun. July 27	3:10 AM	MAX
Thur. July 31	4:00 PM	MAX

Cast

Michael Philip Del Rio	...	Lugo
Samuel Molina	...	Older Man
Rick Sepulveda	...	Joey
Manny Perez	...	Wilson DeLeon Sr.
D.C. Benny	...	Ceasar
Mercedes Mercado	...	Latina Killer #1
Carmen Perez	...	Latina Killer #2
Zulay Henao	...	Mora
Jessica Pimentel	...	Young Millie
Angelic Zambrana	...	Young Jessenia
Julie Carmen	...	Nilsa
Ronald Escobar	...	Javier's Man #1
Gary Perez	...	Javier Cordero
Rick Gonzalez	...	Wilson Jr.
Dania Ramirez	...	Ana

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Hillsdale, New Jersey, USA

Company:

New Deal Productions

Trivia:

The film was shot in just 28 days with locations in New York and Puerto Rico.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Randy is "playing" on his Xbox 360, there are no working control pads connected to it. There are no wired controllers plugged in to it, and if he is using a wireless controller, the controller light on the front of the Xbox should be on. It isn’t.

Soundtrack:

LIVING

Not worth the $10.

This movie was entertaining, but the acting was horrible. I expected way better work from John Singleton and from actors like Wanda DeJesus, Dania Ramirez and Rick Gonzalez. There were so many holes in the plot that dramatic scenes were turned into slapstick comedy. There were also many anachronisms (a bodega scene in 1985 featured candy and snacks with 2007 packaging) and continuity errors (Wilson's little brother bruised his face after falling off his bike; the bruise was healed later that day. Wilson grew up speaking English, but managed to speak fluent Spanish once he arrived in Puerto Rico). I did like the music in the film, though, and I'll probably buy the soundtrack. I think I understand the vision that John Singleton may have had in making this film, but unfortunately he used a formula that was successful in the '90s and it doesn't work for Illegal Tender.