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Manito

EMAILPRINTFilm Movement

Manito reviews
71
8.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 23 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Eric Eason

Directed by: Eric Eason

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 13, 2003

Running Time: 78 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Franky G., Leo Minaya, Manuel Cabral, Jessica Morales, Julissa Lopez, Héctor González, Panchito Gómez, and Lou Torres

Set, and vibrantly photographed, in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, Manito is the fictional story of two days in the life of two Latino brothers, Junior and Manny. Employing techniques of cinema verite, the film vibrantly captures a neighborhoodand the people who live there. (Film Movement)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

As a dramatist Eason has a classicist's sense of structure and movement to complement his sense of the cinematic. Manito, which has a special grand jury prize from Sundance among its 10 awards, is a small film with a big impact.

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88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Manito sees an everyday tragedy with sadness and tenderness, and doesn't force it into the shape of a plot.

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88

Chicago Tribune Patrick Z. McGavin

The film recalls Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets" and the minimalism of films such as Lars Von Trier's "The Idiots." Eason and cinematographer Didier Gertsch keep the cameras tight on the actors' bodies and faces, creating palpable unease.

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80

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Eason's twist of fate and too-sudden ending seems as rooted in Washington Heights as the music that pours from the neighborhood's car windows, the smoke that billows from its late-night eateries, and the stoic resignation inscribed on its inhabitants' faces.

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80

Chicago Reader Ted Shen

Franky G.'s performance as the protective yet combustible older brother is as real as it gets.

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80

Slate David Edelstein

Manito is the rare little movie that gets bigger as it goes along--so big that it can hardly contain its own emotion.

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80

Variety Dennis Harvey

Furiously paced -- just shy of the sensory-overload point -- pic duly merits comparison to its spiritual granddaddy "Mean Streets," not in the usual imitative sense but rather in the freshness, character acuity and low-budget high style brought to a different NYC ethnic milieu.

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75

Boston Globe Janice Page

Because Manito is really just an opera without the violins or Viking hats, you probably don't need to have everything spelled out. Its Spanish-English script is secondary to the universal language and timeless drama of family, community, dreams made and dreams dashed.

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75

Premiere Alex Kranz

Until the point that changes everything, Manito is more a portrait of a neighborhood and its various characters--and this is the even more impressive part of the film. Once the disasters start to domino, the story becomes a bit familiar, a bit manipulative.

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75

New York Post Megan Lehmann

A leisurely, scene-setting start, peppered with authentic banter and winning localized humor, fleshes out the characters in Manito so well you feel as if you live alongside them.

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75

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Toward the finish, the movie takes a regrettable curve into melodrama, but the excellent performances never waver.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

A low-budget wonder: rough and gritty around the edges, filmed for what looks like a budget of $1.98, but bristling with energy, passion and intimacy.

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70

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Though a dramatic (even melodramatic) narrative eventually takes shape, what you remember is the succession of moods and observations through which it emerges.

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70

LA Weekly Jon Strickland

Eric Eason's assured debut succeeds in the way Larry Clark's “Kids” succeeded -- through a feel for the rhythms of street life, and some extraordinary casting.

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70

Village Voice Mark Holcomb

Unusually impassioned indie.

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60

TV Guide Ken Fox

Eason balances the clichés of a fairly standard story with convincing realism and a powerful momentum that never flags.

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60

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

Has an appealing rawness.

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60

Film Threat Merle Bertrand

With Manito's raw portrayal of its characters and stripped-down cinematography, the undercurrent of impending tragedy is palpable.

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50

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

If you shy away from that sick feeling in the pit of the stomach that comes when watching good people make bad decisions, then best to steer clear of Manito, a low-budget indie that reaches near-Greek proportions of tragedy brought on by lousy decision-making.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bill B. gave it a9:
Fantastic first film. Totally distinct. A great director has landed. Dying to see his next film!

Sweetman S. gave it an8:
Powerful and devastating glimpse of life in the NYC Washington Heights Latino community.

Amy N. gave it a 9:
A startling good first film. Remarkable use of real locations embue the tale with the full flavor of a Manhattan neighborhood rarely depicted in film.

Bill Q. gave it a 9:
affecting portrait of the struggles of a minority family to for a better future while escaping the past. Really moving and really real.

Martha B. gave it a 7:
solid little movie, sort of like "girlfight" or movie like "real women have curves". It points the spotlight at a world we rarely see in movies. Frankie G. is a Domincan God to be worshiped!

Ronald R. gave it an 8:
Slow beginning. incredible middle. devestating ending. Give it an 8. Would have been higher but the flick is too short (only 89 minutes) I wanted more film!!!!

Alexander T. gave it a 9:
WOW--wasn't prepared for such a well conceived, well cast and well executed, and truly ambitious movie. Reminded me less of "mean streets" and more of the gritty dogme films like Dancer in the Dark and Celebration, etc. It certainly ain't for everyone. But--then truly interesting films usually divide audiences. This is uncomercial moviemaking at its most heartfelt.

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