The Ministers [Import]

Considering the two major stars and intriguing plot synopsis, I expected a lot more from this movie than it delivered. It had a low budget feel and many technical errors in plot and editing that were confusing and amateurish. John Leguizamo did a good job with the dual part of twins, one disfigured by fire, both on a quest for revenge against slumlords and crooked cops, but they hardly represent a "secret shrouded religious order" as promised in the plot synopsis. Instead, they are merely two bickering brothers living in a crummy apartment, occasionally "shrouding" their faces with ridiculous fright wigs. Harvey Keitel does a fair job with what he is given, but he isn't given much. This is miles away from his performance in "The Bad Lieutenant", and not all of the blame lies with Harvey. Indeed, the character he portrays and his overall performance are entirely forgettable.

Why is the "dirty cop" part necessary? It has no bearing on the story. Why is everyone always angry, shouting, and arguing? Is the arrest of the drug kingpin by Santana a dream or reality, and why is it filmed so differently than the rest of the movie (with a "tacked on" look)? The accidental killing of the third, religious brother is poorly staged and completely unconvincing. A seasoned cop, running into a stranger standing openly on a well-lit corner does not "accidentally" shoot them in the chest. The whole mistaken identity concept that occurs afterward is absurdly unlikely. Santana, supposedly a young rookie, appears to be at least 35 years old. None of the characters resemble the alternate actors chosen to portray them at an earlier age, except for Harvey who looks the same (very old) all the way through, etc. etc. etc.

Overall, this productions comes off as a poor man's version of "Boondocks Saints", with a drastic reduction in dynamic acting, humor, clever dialog, and exciting plot. I rented it at RedBox for $1, and that's all I think it's worth. In fact, had I been informed of the numerous deficiencies in this movie, as I am informing you, I would not have rented it at all.

This little indie is the second movie John Leguizamo produced and stared in for Franc Reyes, the other being Empire, Reyes first film.
When I first saw the movie poster...I though...meh...they are trying to capitalize on the Boondock Saints 2 that hit theaters around the same time, but because I love Johnny Legz and Harvey Keitel...I figured I would give this a shot. While there are slight similarities between the two films THE MINISTERS is no Boondock Saints..and that is a good thing. It is original, and visceral in it's own right. The story is a large one that spans decades but is crammed into a one hour and twentyfive minute film, because of this it seems like the writing is rushed...or perhaps it is the editing which makes the film feel a bit rushed... I guess Reyes does not have the clout to pull of a 3 hour flick yet in his career...this film could have been allot better with more time spent on character development and story arch. That being said I do not think this was a bad movie at all...in fact I LOVED IT.
Johnny Legs plays twins Dante and Perfecto, from the Bronx New York. The two had an accident in the 70's and feel like the lord has given them the go ahead for a little divine vengeance. Reyes does well with what he is allotted in terms of run time, and John Leguizamo and Harvey Keitel are stellar...in the film would have not been the same without them. This was one of Keitel's best performances in years...if not ever.
The story develops in a way that can be a bit predictable because of the pacing but it is action packed, and highly entertaining....a must see to start your new year.

From the box @ the rental store, I'd assume that this was about intrigue within the church. However, the story is quite different. John Leguizamo turns in a solid performance as two twin brothers, Dante and Perfecto Mendoza. Orphaned due to a landlord's placing assets over people, they embark on a vigilante mission against wrong-doing fat cats. There's a bit of a modern-day Robin Hood feel, albeit the brothers execute rather than rob. Celeste Santana plays a cop whose policeman father was gunned down. She falls in love with the brother who was not disfigured by fire. The story unravels bit by bit as the hidden relationships and conflicts bubble to the surface. Harvey Keitel plays the partner Joe Bruno. Wanda DeJesus gives a nice performance as Captain Diaz. While not a classic, this is a strong character-driven crime drama. Enjoy!