American Me
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Movie Reviews of American Me
Movie Review: Could have been as good as the Godfather...
Summary: 5 Stars
While this is one of my favorite movies, there were many scenes in it that bothered me. I was very pleased to finally see a good movie about Chicanos growing up in America. It's easy to look at these characters and call them stupid. However, one must keep in mind that they grew up in a place where they and their parents were hated because of their skin color. No, it doesn't justify joining a gang and selling drugs. But in the end, who is more wrong?
Santana's parents were zoot suiters. I'm willing to bet a lot of people who watched this movie didn't even know what really happened to zoot suiters in those days (not that I'm saying this movie is a history book). I also realize there are always at least two sides to a story. But anyway, the so called "zoot suit riots" were about the "heroic" sailors beating these zoot suiters up (many of them were only kids) and putting them "in their place". The cops were "most helpful" and arrested them (zoot suiters) after they were beaten.
Time passes, but little changes. Children were born to them and grew up poor, without hope and with lots of anger. What are they to do? No, they are not victims, but they are also not stupid kids who chose a life of crime when they had so much going for them. What did they have going for them?
Santana, Mundo, and JD end up in juvie and eventually prison. They formed one of most powerful prison gangs known as "La Eme". In their mind, they are a success story. They are doing what think is right for their people. They are protecting their people in prison and controlling the drug trade that already existed.
Santana eventually meets a woman who he takes an interest in. It is through her that he realizes he is two people. One is the one she loves. He's the innocent one who is like a child and knows little about the outside world. The other is evil and is the head of a powerful gang. And a certain point in the movie, Santana feels there is no hope for him. He's all grown up now and knows nothing more than his life in prison. He even realizes he's not 100% Chicano.
I would have liked this movie more than Scarface and The Godfather if it weren't for some VERY disturbing scenes. Don't get me wrong, I realize this is a prison movie. However, IMO, there were a few things this movie should have cut out or shortened. The rape scenes (there were at least 3) were MUCH, MUCH longer than necessary.
I think Santana summed this movie up best when he said the following: "You know, a long time ago, two best homeboys, two kids, were thrown into juvie. They were scared, and they thought they had to do something to prove themselves. And they did what they had to do. They thought they were doing it to gain respect for their people, to show the world that no one could take their class from them. No one had to take it from us, ese. Whatever we had...we gave it away..."
Movie Review: An underrated masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
This poignant, exciting, realistic tale of human iniquity and eventual spiritual resurrection evokes, and is mostly equal to, "Once Upon A Time in America". Olmos' directing and acting are both brilliant; in a genre where there's a strong temptation for the actors to ham it up with gang signs and baggy pants, he has inspired real sincerity and genuine emotion. Never for a moment do any of the protagonists seem like they are trying to act cool; it's entirely convincing. The voiceovers - You Ride, Behind Pride, Thinking you can hide; the music - the killing of one of Santana's own accompanied by the desperate "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"; the wealth of expression on the actors' faces - as when Santana learns his mother has died; all add up to create an extraordinary atmosphere. Colors, light, shadows are all beautifully arranged; an especially effective scene being when La Eme and Nuestra Familia file into the prison's cinema, their light and dark blue shirts the only colors. Superb performances by JD, Mundo, Puppet, Little Puppet, Cary; sorry, I don't know all their real names, but they are to be congratulated. Make sure you wait for the closing credits to hear "Ain't No Sunshine".Movie Review: Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the most brilliant film I have seen about East Los Angeles. It's about consequences which follow action, and about those victims that fall between them. It's about the true struggle that Mexican-Americans face in the Barrio and about the air of violence and hatred that these children grow up in. Violence conceives violence, and creates a cyclical conundrum in which escape is futile. I see that the Editorial Reviewer on this page wanted to see a solution to our problem. Well miss O'Gorman, if we could find a solution, trust me, we would fix it. As for now, things stay as it is (to some extent) portrayed on the film. The film uses juxtapositions of scenes of love with scenes of violence and creates an aesthetic captured only by great story tellers (such as Tolstoy which you see the main character reading in the film). This film is beautiful and Olmo's life's work. A must see for those interested in ELA culture.Movie Review: Eye Opener 2 Real Life In The Streets
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie back in 1992 and several times after that, this movie will capture you and intrigue you. While I would not recommend this movie to the younger crowds, it is definately an eye opener. To think that Eddie Olmos received threats for making this movie from the EME, it's crazy. It really shows you life in the streets and behind prison.
Saddly several people were killed after the complition of this movie, for having ties with it. A lot of knowledge went into producing this movie and to give a realistic scene and life in the barrio.
A must to own and a must to have. Eddie Olmos really got recognized for his work after this movie.
Get it.
Movie Review: B 8776
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie captures the real gang banging life within the walls of prison. Folsum Prison is accurte in all the scenes. What is most chillinging is the values that are so intense in the prison system. Never show weakness, ride behind pride and violence without thought are tools for survivial. I highly recommend "Blood in Blood Out" to compliment the California Depatment of Corrections life style.