Product Details

• Actors: Raymond Amezquita, Joe Aubel, Lance August, Javier Castellanos, Eric Close
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: July 19, 1995
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630250354X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,433 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars American Me: True events of Prison life, August 18, 2000

By 

Gabriel Rodriguez (Globe, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Me [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I felt this movie gives a true, powerful glimpse on real prison life, and the lives of criminals that believe that what they do is needed to survive. This movie was gripping from beginning to end. People must realize that this is a movie that shows what it's like in reality. The content in this movie occurs everyday! This video can give you an awareness of what occurs in reality. This is an excellent video, and I suggest you go rent right now!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to reality, April 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: American Me [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is some info for anyone who thinks this is just a movie. Welcome to the reality of L.A. gangs. This movie was not just a story made up in someone's head, it's the truth, that is why this movie is so explicit. Jail is never a place where anything is sugar coated and neither is this movie. A big thumbs up to Mister Olmos on the history of The Mexican Mafia. If you don't agree, do the research on the movie characters, it's an eye opener.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An underrated masterpiece, July 7, 2005

By 

Volunteer of America (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: American Me (DVD)

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".