Illegal Tender

Illegal Tender is a 2007 American crime film that seamlessly weaves elements of action, drama and suspense into a riveting narrative. Directed by Franc. Reyes, the movie features a compelling performative ensemble that includes Rick Gonzalez, Wanda De Jesus, and Dania Ramirez.

At the crux of the story is the protagonist, Wilson DeLeon Jr., played with striking intensity by Rick Gonzalez. Wilson is an admirable young man, enrolled in Trinity College, endowed with exceptional intelligence, good looks, and a loving girlfriend, Ana, portrayed by Dania Ramirez. Wilson is endowed with everything a young man could want; however, his seemingly perfect world houses a secret past that threatens to rip his present apart.

Wilson's mother, Millie, is played by Wanda De Jesus, delivering a performance that is simultaneously warm and gritty. Millie is a strong, determined character whose fierce love and dedication for her children is the driving force of the plot. Millie, having become a widow when Wilson Jr. was just a toddler and her other son Randy was unborn, had to brave many hardships. She was left to fend for her children after her husband, Wilson DeLeon Sr., was brutally murdered because of his unlawful business.

The shadow of their tragic past looms large over this family. Millie, a badass mother, instills the identity of her slain husband into her sons, all the while struggling to escape their dark history. A majority of her life revolves around preparing her sons for a catastrophic confrontation to ensure their survival. Meanwhile, her eldest son Wilson Jr. struggles to balance his life as a common student and a son devoted to avenging his father's murder.

Though Wilson is drawn to mobility through his studies, he inherits an innate sensibility for the violent world revolving around drugs and crime from his father, a fact unknown to him until he is of age; a duality he didn’t ask for. With the life of a promising college student as a façade, Wilson keeps getting pulled back into his family's criminal past, not by choice but rather from the circumstance of their dire predicament.

Illegal Tender revels in juxtaposing these parallel worlds, nurturing an atmosphere of intense suspense. The domestic life of a suburban family on one end and the brutal world of organized crime at the other. Wilson Jr's struggle to navigate these contradicting aspects of his life creates a tug of war between his pursuit of a normal life and a compelling need to protect his family. Will he be allowed to live a simple life, or will he be forced to follow in his father’s footsteps, thrown into a world of crime full of danger and violence?

The film takes audiences on a journey that alternates between the tranquillity of suburban Connecticut and the rough terrain of Puerto Rico's underworld. The director's approach to the visual storytelling proposition offers a striking contrast in depicting these two radically different environments. The cinematography amplifies the tension and gives a raw, real-life view of the world inhabited by Wilson and his family.

Franc. Reyes' direction in Illegal Tender is commendable; he seamlessly translates all these elements onto the screen with great efficacy. Furthermore, the movie shows traces of the director's keen understanding of familial familial relationships and the darker realities of life.

On a thematic level, Illegal Tender treads the path of loyalty, courage, and the struggle for identity while dealing with a harsh reality where the line between right and wrong blurs. It further pins down the question of whether one can truly escape their past and how it shapes their decisions in extraordinary situations.

The performances are solid across the board. Rick Gonzalez convincingly portrays the polarized existence of his character, depicting vulnerability and strength with equal measure. Wanda De Jesus shines as a steadfast mother, a beacon of resilience and determination, while Dania Ramirez delivers a credible performance as the girlfriend caught up in a wave of unforeseen events.

In conclusion, Illegal Tender is an intense, action-packed film that showcases the issues of identity struggle, past traumas, modern dilemma, and family loyalty. It's a gripping tale that offers a dose of thrilling suspense and electrifying drama, making it a must-watch for fans of crime films.