American Me (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Edward James Olmos

Writers (WGA):

Floyd Mutrux (story)
Floyd Mutrux (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.

Plot:

A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Gang | Mafia | Folsom Prison | Gang War

Cast

Sal Lopez	...	Pedro Santana
Vira Montes	...	Esperanza Santana
Roberto Martín Márquez	...	Acha (as Robert Martin Marquez)
Dyana Ortelli	...	Yolanda
Joe Aubel	...	Tattoo Artist
Rob Garrett	...	Zoot Riot Bystander
Lance August	...	Young Sailor
Cody Glenn	...	Older Sailor
Don Pugsley	...	Police Officer
Panchito Gómez	...	Young Montoya Santana (as Panchito Gomez)
Albert Joe Medina Jr.	...	Street Mechanic
Alex Solís	...	Street Mechanic (as Alex Solis)
Raymond Amezquita	...	Abuelito
Steve Wilcox	...	Young JD
Richard Coca	...	Young Mundo

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #31589)

Filming Locations:

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The enforcer leader of the Aryan Brotherhood during the killing spree in Compton is played by legendary biker-movie star William Smith.

Quotes:

Montoya Santana: The state is so lame, they paid for the game.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Role Models (2008)

Soundtrack:

Corazon Corazon

Stunning

This is a stunning, disturbing, brutal tale of prison life within the California prison system, and the Mexican gangs. This movie portrays very well how ugly, and destructive, this world and this life is.

Well-acted by Edward James Olmos and William Forsythe. Character portrayals are done very well, and you almost wish these guys would come to their senses and turn away from this life. But, deep down, you know this is impossible. Emotionally disturbing portrayal of how Santana's parents horrible humiliation could literally ring down through the years, and sadly affect generations, literally blowing up this family for decades to come. A poignant message as to how the racist past of this country could have such devastating consequences. But, that's just an aside.

Well-done, thoughtful portrayal of both the tight brotherhood these guys were capable of sharing, contrasted with the utterly brutal and vicious methods used to keep order, and to settle scores.

A movie which attempts to show us the varying forces and pressures, and the twisted logic, which make a situation like this possible.