FORGED review by John Delia

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FORGED

 

Cast: Manny Perez, David Castro, Margo Matrindale and Jaime Tirelli

Directed by: William Wedig

MPAA Rating: Unrated

Genre: Drama, Crime

Running Time: 1hr 17min

Distributed by: Maya Entertainment

 

By John Delia

 

The intense, brutal and yet heartfelt film Forged comes to Miami as part of the Maya Indie Film Series starting September 23 at the AMC Sunset Place 24.  The outstanding film takes a hard look at a broken family caused by a tragic incident.  If you like films with a violent theme that takes a close look at survival in the urban wasteland of some cities in America, then see Forged.

The movie follows Chuco (Manny Perez) a released convict who served 8 years for the murder his wife in a fit of rage.  His life behind bars has taught him how to adjust back into society, but the neighborhood he left has not changed.  When he gets back to the steel mill town of Scranton. Pennsylvania he finds the gang he ran with in need of his services.  In fear for his life he takes a task thinking it a one-time deal.  The job takes him to the area where he lived and his pick-up goes smoothly.  When he sees that part of the exchange involves a great deal of money, Chuco makes a bad decision leading to a confrontation with his son he left behind and a gang that wants to kill him.

 

In addition to the gut wrenching storyline, the main reason to see this film is the stellar acting my Manny Perez.  His characterization of Chuco tops anything he has done including one of my all time favorites Lusito in the film La Soga where he plays a cop fighting a corrupt government.  Here he rolls up the fear, brutality, anguish, cruelty and torment into a character that you learn to hate yet truly pity. 

 

In support David Castro plays Chuco’s son Machito, a wayward teen that has faced psychological and physical hardships after seeing his father kill his mother, brought up in a unloving foster home and faced survival of the fittest on the streets.  Castro makes his character believable showing hatred for his father and society, determined to kill the father that made him an outcast.

 

First time feature director William Wedig does an outstanding job showing the dank and disturbing steel mill town and the gang of thieves and drug dealers that live in its ghetto.  You can feel the dread, filth and foulness coming off the screen as Chuco deals with the dregs that control him.  The ferocity of Chuco as he kills his wife is so intense that I cowered.  If Wedig makes another film, I will be first in line to see it. 

 

Forged is Unrated but contains scenes of cruelty, language, extreme violence, drugs and a sexual inference with a youth. 

 

FINAL ANALYSIS: An outstandingly acted and directed film that should not be missed. (A) 

 

AMC Sunset Place 24

Miami, Florida

Schedule:

Friday, 9/23 at 9:40pm

Saturday, 9/24 at 9:40pm

Sunday, 9/25 at 5:15pm

Monday, 9/26 at 5:15pm

Tuesday, 9/27 at 3:05pm

Wednesday, 9/28 at 7:25pm

Thursday, 9/29 at 3:05pm

 

 

Please direct comments to:

jdelia@yeticket.com

 

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