Bound by Honor (1993)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers (WGA):

Ross Thomas (story)
Jimmy Santiago Baca (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 April 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny.

Plot:

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz...

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Heroin | Cousin | Gang | Half Brother

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Damian Chapa	...	Miklo
Jesse Borrego	...	Cruz
Benjamin Bratt	...	Paco
Enrique Castillo	...	Montana
Victor Rivers	...	Magic Mike
Delroy Lindo	...	Bonafide
Tom Towles	...	Red Ryder
Carlos Carrasco	...	Popeye
Teddy Wilson	...	Wallace
Raymond Cruz	...	Chuey
Valente Rodriguez	...	Frankie
Lanny Flaherty	...	Big Al
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Lightning
Geoffrey Rivas	...	Carlos
Karmin Murcelo	...	Dolores

Also Known As:

Blood In, Blood Out (Australia)
Blood In, Blood Out... Bound by Honor

Runtime:

180 min | USA:190 min (director's cut) | 330 min (original cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

Arabic | English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

France:-16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Sweden:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

At the time of the film's release, there were two soundtracks planned. One consisted of only prerecorded music featured in the film released under Disney's label, Hollywood Records. The second one was to have featured Academy Award winner Bill Conti's aggressive Latin score and was to be released by Varese Sarabande Records. While the first album, was released under the films' new title, Bound By Honor, Conti's album was immediately canceled during its'production run under the film's original title, Blood In Blood Out. The film's abrupt title change may have been one of the reasons this album was canceled. This run of the CD actually does exist, but not made available to the general public despite the fact that a more than a few copies of it have leaked out onto the market, mainly for promotional services within the film industry. This CD has the unique distinction of being one of the rarest soundtracks in existence and rarely available for sale. A listing stating "Score album on Varese Sarabande" next to the record company's logo is posted during the film's End Credits and on the back of the film's VHS, Laserdisc and DVD releases.

Goofs:

Continuity: Miklo had two parole hearings, supposedly several years apart, but all the members of the parole board are wearing the same outfits and sitting in the same places for both hearings.

Quotes:

Miklo Velka: When you expect nothing and get everything, that's destiny.

Movie Connections:

References "The Twilight Zone" (1959)

Soundtrack:

Superfreak

Barrio Epic

Based on the real life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, Bound By Honor covers two decades in the latter half of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of half brothers Benjamin Bratt and Jesse Borrego and their cousin Damian Chapa. Growing up more or less together, all three start out as gang bangers, but each has a different destiny and in many ways one's destiny is caused by the actions of the others.

Borrego gets injured in a gang retaliation and works hard to not become a cripple. He does however become both a painter of note and a drug addict of considerable appetite. A tragedy there sets him and Bratt apart.

Bratt also winds up in a feud with Chapa. When both were young gang bangers and looking to retaliate for Borrego, Bratt and Chapa are arrested. Because this was Bratt's first offense he got a choice of the military or jail time and he chose the Marines. Chapa however was sent to prison, to San Quentin to be precise where he joined the Chicano prison gang La Onda. Pretty soon Chapa is high in the gang councils and deep in the politics of the prison. Bratt in the meantime joins the LAPD and destiny makes these two collide.

Bound By Honor has an epic quality almost a kind of Chicano Gone With The Wind. The mostly Hispanic cast do a great job in depicting life in the Barrio. The film runs just about three hours and it's a tribute to director Taylor Hackford that your interest doesn't flag for a minute.

Hackford also creates many interesting supporting characters two numerous to mention, always the mark of a good film. But your interest is always in the three leads. You get to care about what is to become of them, what destiny has in store.

There are certain similarities between Bound By Honor and the Edward James Olmos film, American Me. Personally I give a slight edge to this one, don't miss it if it is broadcast.