Illegal Tender (2007)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Highly Overrated But Still Good

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Twenty one years ago (1985), Millie, married to Wilson Deleon a drug dealer and pregnant with her first child seems to be living a pretty stable life in the Bronx. Well one night, things take a deadly turn when Wilson is gunned down in the company of top boss man Javier Cordero. Millie soon finds out the tragic news on the same night of giving birth and is eventually warned about her future date with death with the same thugs who killed her husband. Twenty one years later, Millie and Wilson are living a quiet life in Connecticut. Pretty soon, the bad guys catch up to them once again and Millie and Wilson begin to fear for their lives. After learning the truth about his father, Wilson goes to Puerto Rico to meet with and settle the score with Javier Cordero. Cliché as it may seem, the movie is good for what it is. Its not Oscar material but its still easy to watch. Wanda DeJesus and Rick Gonzalez make a dynamic duo as mother and son. DeJesus is sexy in her role and gives a kick ass performance. Rick Gonzalez is fairly decent as the son who wants to be nothing like his father, all while delivering a bold and solid performance in his fight to end the feud with Cordero. The beautiful Dania Ramirez is a great addition as the scared, but sympathetic and loving girlfriend to Wilson. Over all, good film, simple dialogue, cool action. This is definitely a good film to watch on a rainy day.

Whats to say about Latino Scorcese reshuffle, lack of originality Cliché after cliché, Over acting, Ridiculous motivations.Decent use of music. Is this the best we can do?how about a filmmaker with the balls. Is there anyone out there? someone who's not gonna cut to the gun. "but without violence they won't come" maybe. Or at least the gangbangers wont. But you can try something else that may show a different side life. Something deeper. and Who knows maybe you'll find a voice.

Illegal Tender was OK. Simple story about a young woman who loses her drug dealing husband. Franc. Reyes is one of my favorite gangster movie people out there doing it. This story tried way to hard to throw off people on what was happening. Wanda De Jesus was amazing. She was best part of this movie. Her role as a killer mom was deep. She commanded respect. Manny Perez has a small part in Illegal Tender. Like Wanda De Jesus he was good. Enuff violence to keep action fans hooked.Would have been a better movie with more Manny Perez in it. The main character was not worth a penny. Never could get in to what he had going on. The mom was who shot every body when it was needed.

This is not a John Singleton movie as the person above me stated. And the reason it was given so little attention is because even though the cast of what most would consider unknowns is strong, it is just a generic John Singleton style movie replacing African Americans with Hispanics. If this film had been made 15 years ago it might garner more attention, but with so many generic life in the hood films made over the last two decades it is easy for something like this to slip under the radar. Good acting is not enough to carry a movie, there has to be a strong plot and character development. In fact, I'm surprised more Latinos were not upset by what seemed to me a very stereotypical look at life in a ethnocentric neighborhood. Personally, I feel a move like "Wassup Rockers" did a better and more entertaining job of looking at diversity issues, crime, bigotry, and even inter-cultural separation. Yes, its nice to see more Hispanic and Latinos in films. But if this is the roles they are getting no progress has been made and they got a long way to go.