Sticks (1998)

UNDERGROUND WORLD OF *Cigar Smuggling~~~~~~~~~~*

"Sticks" is a seductive adventure in the underground world of cigar smuggling. Lenny (played by Lillo Brancato, Jr.) a successful "stick man" gets mixed up with Domino's, a private club where Hollywood's high rollers share fast women and the love of illicit cigars. A shipment of Fidel Castro's personal "MARIPOSAS" has been stolen by Mark (Keith Brunsmann), a smuggler planning to sell to Domino (Leo Rossi). But Mark's girlfriend, Maria (Justina Machado) is plotting to swap the cigars for weapons to liberate Cuba. Soon, Domino's crew of corrupt FBI agents and arms dealers are after the shipment...after the smoke clears, Lenny finds out how deadly illegal cigars can be.

I was excited to see this movie when I saw it was starring Lillo Brancato (A Bronx Tale, The Sopranos) He's hardly ever in a starring role even though he has obvious talent. I thought the DVD was cool, not the best, but it was all right. The resolution wasn't that good (it was kind of grainy), but it has a few decent features. (Trivia, short biographies of the actors, and some previews) I DID like the movie though - It has a GREAT SOUNDTRACK!! Lenny had some unusual friends (a midget and a transvestite) but the acting was good. Dick Clark made a cameo playing a guy buying illegal cigars!!! If you don't like independent films, or violence, it's not for you. But if you're crazy for Mr. Brancato or you like a good plot, then I recommend this movie: its 9O minutes of fun! Find this movie & watch it! May 10, 2001

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