American Me (1992)
Genre: Biography / Crime
Duration: 125 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Edward James Olmos
Stars: Edward James Olmos, Vira Montes and William Forsythe
IMDb score:
7,1 (11.623)
Releasedate: 13 March 1992
American Me plot
"In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power."
Montoya Santana grew up with a strong sense of his Mexican identity, and now in prison he still runs the Mexican mafia's drug trade. After the death of his mother he is released, but he still does not know true freedom.
Actors and actresses
Montoya Santana
J.D.
Mundo
Young Montoya Santana
Young J.D.
Puppet
Pedro Santana
Yolanda
Deacon
Julie
Reviews & comments
Brabants
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- 2910 messages
- 2162 votes
This film is often compared to 'Blood in Blood Out'. Of course, both feature Latino gangs and Bajas stories, and for that reason bear quite a strong resemblance. However, for me, 'American Me' is just a little more realistic. The rise and fall of this Mexican mobster is depicted in a very convincing manner. There is no fear of violence, and no detail is spared. Hats off to Edward James Olmos. Both his direction and role in the film are of a commendable standard.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 4107 messages
- 3078 votes
And so I took a gamble again, because this isn't a well-known title to me, so I didn't really know what to expect. But once I got home, it turned out to be a 'safe bet'.
It takes a bit of searching at first with the backstory in the 1940s, but with real knowledge and photos of the 'zoot suit riots' in mind, the whole thing starts off well because it is striking and recognizable. Together with the clash regarding paternal authority, it forms the basis for standing up for yourself above all else and getting the best out of a situation no matter what. So be it, it is criminality, a path that is as obvious as it is easily taken. Once in the system, it turns out to be a case of going from the frying pan into the fire. And violence pays in that world.
American Me doesn't mince words in that regard and is brutal and realistic. Rape, murder, trafficking, drugs, smuggling, and riots. No buddy film or a glorious escape here, but raw reality. Once free again, it turns out that things have changed for good; one has been swallowed up by the world and can think of nothing but trafficking, violence, humiliation, and death. How is that ruined for good...? It is the phase after leaving prison that things slacken a bit and become less interesting; a gang war and the struggle to remain dominant do the trick, however. Just like the image of generation after generation experiencing the same thing and making the same mistakes/steps. And then, of course, there is the image of the new generation seizing power, after which the old guard is discarded. A never-ending story in that sense.
American Me isn't great, but it is extremely solid in its portrayal of crime and gangs in America. Furthermore, I would like to mention that the music is enjoyable. Although I won't be reaching for this film again anytime soon, it is certainly watchable once.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Filmkriebel
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- 10204 messages
- 4774 votes
Not good. Olmos lacked the character to make something special out of his rise-and-fall gangster film about Latinos. It is undeniably too talkative with that voice-over, boring and lifeless when the love object appears, and too caricatural when it comes to the portrayal of Latinos. He caused quite a stir in the Latino community at the time. The camerawork also disappointed me: most shots are simply dry zooms on faces. There is little that is creative or stimulating. It encourages you to stop watching rather than keep watching.
The predominantly good figures escape me here. The first hour in prison was actually the best part; after he was released, it was all downhill.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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