'On The Downlow' - The Public Speaks
The Reviews Are In!!
I saw On the Downlow back in 2004
and thought it was pretty groundbreaking for the time. I can't wait to view it
again now that I hear it's going to be released on DVD. I thought the film was
really ahead of its time breaking stereotypes while tackling a controversial
subject matter. Especially at this time when gay themed or character driven
Hollywood movies seem to be coming out of the woodwork (I guess you can thank
Brokeback Mountain for that). I mean did we really need to see a 'love scene'
between its characters in BM to know what the film was about. Whereas Downlow
contained no 'love scene', a smart move in my opinion, instead it lets the
viewer witness one secret kiss within the rawness of a neighborhood alley. It's
the acting between actors Tony Sancho & Michael Cortez, which carries & conveys
the emotion these two gang members are feeling for each other throughout the
film. Both actors are top-notch, at ease, comfortable within the constraints of
this super low budget production.
'On The Downlow' tells a tragic tale of two Chicago Latino gang members, Isaac
(Tony Sancho) and Angel (Michael Cortez). Angel being from an opposing gang
joins up with Isaac in his gang to 'be with him'. The two try to keep this
information 'on the downlow' from gang leader Reaper (Donato Cruz), but as in
all tragic love stories things go bad pretty fast.
By now everyone knows the term 'On the Down Low' as a gay meaning phrase,
married men secretly having affairs with other men. But Downlow was filmed in
2002 before Oprah helped make the phrase main stream after interviewing an
author with a book by the same name. I hope the title doesn't frighten off movie
viewers thinking this is about the same thing. True the characters in 'Downlow'
may be gay, or possibly just sharing an emotional bond that is absent from
they're gang lifestyle. But in reality the film is about keeping secrets and the
tragedy that can happen when you play within the world of gangs.
This is director Tadeo Garcia's first feature film. According to the film's
diary on the filmmaker's website www.iconoclastfilms.com, this production
actually started out as a student project, and with the help of screenwriter
Roger B. Domian developed into a full length feature during Garcia's second year
at film school. 'Downlow' was made for the low cost of $8,000 and is based on a
previous short film Garcia made called 'Broken Warning' (which I haven't seen).
Both the short film and Downlow has won awards, not bad for a film student's
first efforts.
Even though the production may indeed falter from the low budget constraints
here and there (there were some audio issues at the screening I attended),
technicalities aside, one only needs to look past the low production values to
find a diamond in the rough. I thought it was well acted, enlightening, and
balanced between a growing tension and a bittersweet emotional sadness.
This film has something to say & I thought it said it quiet well. I would be
interested to see another film by these guys to see what they can do with a
better budget. - David
****
Raw, Gritty, Shocker and a great kiss
- LuverOfCinema wrote on 01/02/2007:When I saw the first scenes of ON THE DOWNLOW at a Gay Film Festival in California, I thought, "Ok here is another very low buget film festival filler". I figured since it won the Best U.S.A. Narrative film in New York's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it must be good"..... I watched and thought. "Is this the right movie. Is this a Gay Movie, or a gangbanger movie." Well to my surprise I stuck it out and was totally mesmerized by the film. The low budget grainy look of the film actually enhanced the realistic feeling of being in the streets in the Southwest side of Chicago, where these complicated gangbanger lovers lived. After the unforgettable kissing scene between the two guys, I was hooked and sat back, and I totally surrendered myself to the movie. The kissing scene was so intense that you could hear a pin drop...not a sound in the entire theater which must have had more then 500 people present. The acting of the guys that played the two leads were totally believable. Although there were some sound problems at the screening, it did not matter. After the movie, I saw some people crying. I was also teary eyed myself. It reminded me of how I felt after watching Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story. Shocking is the right word to express the ending. It caught me off guard. I highly recommend this film. Watch it undisturbed and to the end.
****
A Must See Movie - EC wrote on 01/11/2007:
Great film about a remarkable untold story depicted by great actors. A must have for your DVD collection.
****
The Little Film That Could, and Did., January 13, 2007
Reviewer: Doctor Richard "Richard" (Newton,, MA, United States)
It is cruel to give this film just three stars, because its heart, soul, and
spirit are five stars. It is a must-see for any one who is looking for signs of
intelligent life on the planet. The credits tout its success in many film
festivals. Only uneven pacing and an ending insufficiently violent to be
satisfying mark this as an early work in someone's arc. This is Shakespearean
tragedy, after all. The stage should be littered with corpses.
Some may want to stop reading here. Anyone who recognizes to which tragedy I
refer, or who has seen West Side Story, may guess some of the ending.
The story is about two families, here as two Chicago gangs that are its members'
families. A member of one gang has a member of the other as a lover, secretly.
The second man wants to leave his gang, and join the other. If the gang he wants
to join discovers him as a member of the other, he will be killed.
There are many other elements from Shakespeare's version included in this film,
such as a reference to the famous masquerade ball from Shakespeare, as well as
to the dance at the gym in West Side Story. I'll leave it to others to identify
more, or to disagree with me.
I hope that the makers of the film have not read the play to which I refer; that
would make the parallels downright spooky and even archetypal.
****
Romeo and Romeo in the Hood, January 15, 2007
Reviewer: Amos Lassen "Amos Lassen" (Little Rock, Arkansas) Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
"On the Downlow" (Image) is not your usual gay movie by any means. We do not
think of thugs as being gay, especially not members of radical gangs. Here is a
romantic and tragic film of love between two rival gang members of Southside
Chicago. Perhaps the title is an unfamiliar term to
you but "on the downlow" is a reference to street guys who are "straight" but
have sex with men in secret.
Angel is a member of the Latin Kings but he has a secret lover named Isaac who
belongs to a different gang. They meet in secret and no one knows of their
relationship. Angel double crosses his own gang and Isaac, at that time, tries
to get him to come into his own gang.
Tadeo Garcia has entered territory not yet explored with his direction of this
film. He manages to show us first hand the life on the streets of gang heavy
Chicago and his actors who are all first timers give excellent
performances. The film, itself, is suspenseful and
laden with twists and turns as well as gang brutality. This is not any easy film
to watch but it is enlightening and has the heart and soul not found often in
films of this sort. I did expect a great deal more violence at the end and if
there is a fault to "On the Dowlow", it is that the ending could have been
stronger. I expected to see more deaths at the conclusion.
Similar to the classic Shakespearean "Romeo and Juliet", it is the tale of two
families (gangs) where a member of one family is in love with a member of the
other family. The rest I will leave to you to discover. What is the most amazing
thing about the film is that it was made as a student project and as such it is
a bit uneven. I predict that the director will have a huge career if this film
is any sign of things to come. This explosive story opens our eyes to things we
knew nothing about and does so with power. Our two main characters live in a
society where the decisions that they make and the paths they choose to take
create a trap and a brutal end for them. Their community will not take to
secrets and rules cannot be broken.
As a film that is ahead of its time and breaks down stereotypes this is a movie
not to be missed. There is no love scene in the film just a kiss that says it
all. That kiss which takes place in the raw of a
neighborhood alley speaks legions of words and carries and conveys the emotions
of the two young men. The fact that these two guys love "on the downlow" sets us
up for the tragedy which follows them. When things go bad,
they go bad very quickly. I think what the film is really about is the danger
inherent in keeping secrets and what can happen in a world which is dominated by
gangs. The beauty of the film is the way it sends its thesis to the
audience--quietly and beautifully. What a great way for Garcia to begin his
movie career.
****
"Watch it until the end...It is amazing!!
This movie caught me by surprise. A friend dragged me to go see ON THE
DOWNLOW at the Miami Beach Cinemateque in Miami Beach about two years ago when I
was visiting Miami. The Cinemateque was a really nice cute place where they
showed art house movies. When the movie started I asked my friend why he dragged
me to see this gang banger movie. He quickly told me to just watch. He had
already seen it and thought I would like it. Well it was not long after that,
that I was completly absorbed in the story. The film is clearly low budget but
what happens is, you start to feel like it is really authentic. The grittiness
helps. The actors were great and I will never forget the kissing scene between
the two gang-bangers. It was honest, passionate, and really hot. Well after that
I just sat and let it take me in. The movie had a profound effect on me. I have
been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD and now it finally has. I
recommend this film highly. Watch it to the end. It has a shocking ending.
Submitted by
ChiTwnToday in Chicago
****
I just finished watching "On The Downlow" and I have to admit that I am extremely impressed by the beautiful yet heart-breaking tale Tadeo Garcia and Roger B. Domian have created. I relate to the material on many different levels (I am gay, Puerto Rican, and was raised in Brooklyn, NY) and it was very refreshing to see "Thugs" shown as humans with genuine emotions rather than heartless animals that should be locked in cages. The love that Isaac and Angel share is very authentic. Naturally, I have dated many guys on the "down low" in Brooklyn and it was kind of awkward watching the movie because the first hour mirrored many of my relationships. I am waking up first thing tomorrow morning and going to purchase this movie. It quickly became one of my favorite movies. I can't wait to see more movies from this company as well as the director and writer. Thanks for listening (well... Reading lol) - Sincerely, Joshua
****
Gradually movie audiences are turning more serious attention to the little Independent films for quality and meaning in story and in style and in brave confrontation with issues outside the perimeter of the Hollywood style films. A fine example is this remarkable film by student Tadeo Garcia whose first year in film school produced the outline of this little gem of a movie and whose courageous 'first film' gained the respect of screenwriter Roger B. Domain who helped him transfer the skeletal story into a full length film ON THE DOWNLOW, all on a budget of $8,000.!
From the opening scenes we can sense that we are watching a love story, but
it is a story of forbidden love: Angel (Michael Cortez) is escaping his
Chicago street gang with the help of Isaac (Tony Sancho) and the two warmly
human, supportive, sensitive young youths flee to the territory of Isaac's low
neighborhood where Isaac convinces Angel to give up his allegiance to his
former gang and pledge to Isaac's gang, a nasty
group led by Reaper (Donato Cruz). Very gradually and with incredible decorum
Garcia reveals to us that Angel and Isaac are lovers, the only time the union
is shown physically is a prolonged kiss in an open night alley, an event which
will trigger the force of destiny: it is enough as the scene is passionate yet
gracefully not graphic.
The boys' mothers plead with them to not carry guns and to avoid gang
alliance, but at the same time they lovingly accept their sons' sexuality. But
life is as it is on the streets of south side Chicago and Angel is accepted
into Isaac's gang, having to undergo the cruel initiation beating that
accompanies his joining. Reaper is later informed that Angel is an ex-gang
member of the rival gang and Isaac is the one Reaper determines should kill
the offending Angel. The two lovers try to escape Chicago but the inevitable
happens and the ending is tragic but with undertones that are subtly captured
by Garcia's eye, mind, camera, and heart: the final confrontation scene ends
with our enabled view of evidence that other members of the gang share the
same 'on the downlow' as Angel and Isaac.
Not only are Tony Sancho and Michael Cortez wholly believable in their
dichotomous roles, but the entire cast is filled with raw yet gifted talent:
Felipe Camacho as the Priest, Beatriz Jamaica as Angel's mother and Carmen
Cenko as Isaac's mother, Donato Cruz as Reaper, Adelina Quinones (a terrific
screen presence) as Laura, and all the youngsters who convincingly bring the
gang members to life. Yes, there are evidences of low budget constraints, but
the overwhelming success of the story of two young men in love against the
backdrop of hopelessness of crime is brilliant evidence that Tadeo Garcia is a
gifted talent to watch. Recommended for all audiences. Grady Harp
****
Truly The Little Film That Could!, February 19, 2007Stanley Bennett Clay "author of IN SEARCH OF PRETTY YOUNG BLACK MEN" (Los Angeles CA USA)
Rating:
- Truly The Little Film That Could!
This passioned-filled, well-acted, tragic little love story,
really knocked me out. Though this heartbreaking "Romeo and Juliet-esque" tale
of two young Latino men from opposite gangs who fall in love, cannot compete
with Brokeback Mountain's tens-of-millions in production value, this $8,000
film, touchingly directed by first-timer Tadeo Garcia, well-written by Roger
B. Domain, convincingly acted by the handsome, star-crossed lovers Michael
Cortez (as Angel) and Tony Sancho (as Isaac), and a solid supporting cast of
newcomers and fresh faces, equals the oscar-winner in heart and soul.
I know that homophobia still runs rampant in our society (How do you say Tim
Hardaway?), but Mssers. Garcia and Domain have taken a 21st Century approach
to a social reality that is as old as time itself. Neither of our
heroes--handsome, virile, macho--seem necessarily challenged by their
communities or themselves due to their sexual natures. Both their mothers seem
to casually accept their same-sex attractions, objecting more to the perceived
personality of the object of their respective son's affection, not the gender.
Nor do the gang members seem as bothered, aware, or concerned with [..] though
they throw the [..] word around freely and generically. (However, a sly
tableau near the film's conclusion is quite telling.)
What threatens the well-being of this great love is family enmity, two gangs,
enemies as sworn as the Montegues and Capulets. Our hearts go out to Angel and
Isaac, hoping that somehow they might be able to overcome the seemingly
innsurmmountable. We are bolstered toward that possibilty by the beautifully
and deeply rendered kiss these two men share that says all about their undying
committment to each other.
Still, gang loyalty and it's life-and-death ultimatum rears it's ugly head,
and with many real-life tragedies, those that survive hopefully learn a lesson
in making the world better, and the realization that love is better than
anything, and that it is even worth dying for.
I can't wait to see what first-time director Tadeo Garcia can do with an Ang
Lee budget. He already
has the heart. All he needs is 'the bucks.' Wake up, Hollywood!
****
Can't judge a film by its trailer****
****
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