On the Downlow (2004) User Reviews

On the Downlow is Really Low-Down *

[edwagreen · 2/10 · 13 September 2008]

A drop better than awful describes this film.

Enough already with the gay lovers in motion pictures. You have more than made your point. Even Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger would shake their heads with this one.

Two members of a gang are committed to their gang membership but are engaging in a homosexual relationship. One is really intelligent as he knows the difference between a felony and misdemeanor.

Am surprised that they didn't rename this film "Gang Members in Love" or "A Different Kind of Gang." Enough already.

I am tolerant of all people. They don't bother me, I don't bother them. That has always been my philosophy. What are they really trying to show here, gang members have compassion? So, gang members can be gay. So what? Who cares?

Tadeo Garcia: A Voice to Hear, A Talent to Applaud

[gradyharp · 8/10 · 19 February 2007]

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 rasty 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

My take On The Downlow - Contains Spoiler

[DEllis341-1 · 9/10 · 30 October 2006]

Just my two cents… 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