American Me
In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.
In what The Hollywood Reporter calls "a brilliant debut" award winning actor Edward James Olmos sets the screen ablaze with his directorial bow - a powerful, stunning examination of a Latino crime lord, set against a backdrop of prejudice and hopelessness. Olmos starts as Santana, a youth from the streets of East Los Angeles, who becomes the leader of the Mexican Mafia behind the gates of Folsom Prison. With his two childhood friends, Santana rules the prison with an iron fist, continuing a vicious cycle from which there is no escape.
After serving his sentence, Santana is back on the streets for the first time since his teenage years. But he learns life on the outside is as rough as it is behind bars. For the harsh reality of barrio life and his blood stained past will not give Santana the chance to turn his back on his former way of life.
With a vehement anti-drug and anti-gang theme, American Me is an explosive and unforgettable epic.
Member Reviews
Uncommonly absorbing, introspective movie about cliques, clans - Porkchop
American Me (1992), is an uncommonly absorbing, introspective
movie, not so much dealing with gangs, as dealing with the subject
of one's own identity in face of other individuals, other groups,
other cliques.
Clearly, to a lesser or greater degree, viewers will relate to
peer-pressure scenarios, whether as part of the military, working
for a company, an association, a community organization, etc.
Edward James Olmos, plays the leader of the eMe, spotlessly
portraying the leader who is highly sensitive and aware of what
constitutes leadership, which is the importance in creating,
maintaining a particular image for success in the clique, which is
to say in controlling perceptions at large, to command as well the
respect of rival group members.
He is great at this, having graduated to the boss position from a
"professional" track record, extending from youth to adulthood,
always with the same particular type of people or members
comprising his organization, or those of rivals.
The cinematography is impeccable, as is the case with the sound,
and musical accompaniment or soundtrack, with subtitles and a true
wide-screen.
There is a fair bit of gang jargon throughout, despite the
subtitles will mystify viewers.
There are a few eyebrow raisers, such as the thousands of junkies
scattered across cities, that rely on the toxicity of the
substance they consume, or the horrific scenes.
In gangs or cliques, nobody is above the clan's or clique's
commandments, including the top dog, as the disciplined members
are pigeon-holed into a lifestyle (they often know of no other)
and as such, become dependent professionals in both behavior and
conduct after a period of time - their reactions to any deviance
being mechanical, and automatic. This upbringing and lifestyle, or
belief system, can be larger than life, larger than what humans
sometimes can control Depressing! - Willibrord
Although there are some very cheesy bits in this film (perhaps due to Olmos's being a first-time director?), overall it was very affecting. It felt very real. The supporting cast, while doing a pretty good job, is absolutely overshadowed by Olmos's blistering performance as a crime lord doomed to misery from the very moment of his violent conception. The final scene, where a very young boy commits his first murder in order to be accepted by the gang, perfectly illustrated the desperate cycle of violence.Sad, real sad - Chucky
This docudrama depicts the life and times of a man who's very conception was a tragedy. it begins with two Latino couples who plan to go out on a date. They all meet at a tatoo parlor, the men were zoot suiters and the gals were hot, unfortunately they ran into some sailors who also thought the girls were hot and 3 of them gang rape here while her date gets the living daylights kicked out of him out on the street. Fast forward to the boys teenage years where due to the lack of acceptance from his father the fellow turns to being a street punk. He and his friends bite of more than they can chew with a rival gang and they run for their lives. Out of desperation, they break into a store and hide, the owner, a bitter, angry man, uses a shotgun to show the boys how upset he is at their intrusion. They end up in juvinile detention whetr our central character learns that the law of the jungle prevails inside, he becomes top man in the Mexican mob and lives his life, never free ands never certain who fathered him.
Member Reviews
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Uncommonly absorbing, introspective movie about cliques, clans - Porkchop
American Me (1992), is an uncommonly absorbing, introspective
movie, not so much dealing with gangs, as dealing with the subject
of one's own identity in face of other individuals, other groups,
other cliques.
Clearly, to a lesser or greater ...Depressing! - Willibrord
Although there are some very cheesy bits in this film (perhaps due to Olmos's being a first-time director?), overall it was very affecting. It felt very real. The supporting cast, while doing a pretty good job, is absolutely overshadowed by Olmos's blistering ...Sad, real sad - Chucky
This docudrama depicts the life and times of a man who's very conception was a tragedy. it begins with two Latino couples who plan to go out on a date. They all meet at a tatoo parlor, the men were zoot suiters and the gals were hot, unfortunately they ran ...