Customer Reviews

American Me [VHS]

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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!

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.

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".

The powerful story line combined with the tremendous talent of Olmos & Forsythe brings to the screen the horrible facts of drugs, gangs and life doing HARD TIME. Olmos first directorship adds to this story the emotion he obviously feels and his concern to tell a story that needs to be told in its complete honesty. I know..I've been there & do not wish to go back.

This is the most brilliant film I have seen about East Los Angeles. It's about consequences which follow action, and about those victims that fall between them. It's about the true struggle that Mexican-Americans face in the Barrio and about the air of violence and hatred that these children grow up in. Violence conceives violence, and creates a cyclical conundrum in which escape is futile. I see that the Editorial Reviewer on this page wanted to see a solution to our problem. Well miss O'Gorman, if we could find a solution, trust me, we would fix it. As for now, things stay as it is (to some extent) portrayed on the film. The film uses juxtapositions of scenes of love with scenes of violence and creates an aesthetic captured only by great story tellers (such as Tolstoy which you see the main character reading in the film). This film is beautiful and Olmo's life's work. A must see for those interested in ELA culture.

This movie gave me nightmares for a week. Seriously, I felt physically ill while watching this movie. It's been a long time since I saw a movie this graphic in nature. Frankly, it's not for the squeamish or overly sensitive crowd. With that being said, it's a typical prison drama. You pretty much have the usual rape, death by shankings, and rioting scenes. To this day, I have never seen a prison movie that ended on a good note, and I certainly can't remember anything good about this one either. This movie was just sad and depressing from start to finish. Edward James Olmos plays a youth who's life is a downward spiral soon as he's sent to a youth detention center. Of course, he's raped there by another male youth (which he kills). From there, he gains respect, but he also gains a sure ticket into prison as soon as he turns 18. This movie is sad because even after he gets out of prison he can't seem to make it on the outside or blend into society because he's been locked away for so long, and he still has that prison mentality. Ultimately that leads to his demise. That's pretty much what this movie is about..nothing real impressive! I do think what pushes it over the edge is the brutality of the rape scenes. I must admit watching a man being tied down and gang raped by 4 inmates was enough to haunt me for a while. Especially, the fact that they were sick enough to enjoy this at the same time, and be so kind as to use KY Jelly first. What happens after that I won't even mention. This movie is not for kids at all. However, I do suggest that it be shown to all teens and pre-teens who think their so tough, and that jail is a place they truely want to be. I think that after they see this it might change quite a few minds.

This movie (or should i say film) is a wholesome documentary. It really portrays gang and prison life the way it was and is. Even though the time frame was in the earlier stages of america. If seeing things like killings, rapes, and stuff like that (goes on in prison or the outside) bothers you I would suggest that you do not see this film because it does have some disturbing parts in it. The movie basically moved me the first time i saw it.

This has to be the best movie ever on the subject of crime, gangs, and drugs. It is so unbelievably realistic. One can't help but be glued to the screen, and feel like you are living the movie. This is a rare film. It is brutal, but brutally honest. Ater watching it, you won't be the same.

While this is one of my favorite movies, there were many scenes in it that bothered me. I was very pleased to finally see a good movie about Chicanos growing up in America. It's easy to look at these characters and call them stupid. However, one must keep in mind that they grew up in a place where they and their parents were hated because of their skin color. No, it doesn't justify joining a gang and selling drugs. But in the end, who is more wrong?

Santana's parents were zoot suiters. I'm willing to bet a lot of people who watched this movie didn't even know what really happened to zoot suiters in those days (not that I'm saying this movie is a history book). I also realize there are always at least two sides to a story. But anyway, the so called "zoot suit riots" were about the "heroic" sailors beating these zoot suiters up (many of them were only kids) and putting them "in their place". The cops were "most helpful" and arrested them (zoot suiters) after they were beaten.

Time passes, but little changes. Children were born to them and grew up poor, without hope and with lots of anger. What are they to do? No, they are not victims, but they are also not stupid kids who chose a life of crime when they had so much going for them. What did they have going for them?

Santana, Mundo, and JD end up in juvie and eventually prison. They formed one of most powerful prison gangs known as "La Eme". In their mind, they are a success story. They are doing what think is right for their people. They are protecting their people in prison and controlling the drug trade that already existed.

Santana eventually meets a woman who he takes an interest in. It is through her that he realizes he is two people. One is the one she loves. He's the innocent one who is like a child and knows little about the outside world. The other is evil and is the head of a powerful gang. And a certain point in the movie, Santana feels there is no hope for him. He's all grown up now and knows nothing more than his life in prison. He even realizes he's not 100% Chicano.

I would have liked this movie more than Scarface and The Godfather if it weren't for some VERY disturbing scenes. Don't get me wrong, I realize this is a prison movie. However, IMO, there were a few things this movie should have cut out or shortened. The rape scenes (there were at least 3) were MUCH, MUCH longer than necessary.

I think Santana summed this movie up best when he said the following: "You know, a long time ago, two best homeboys, two kids, were thrown into juvie. They were scared, and they thought they had to do something to prove themselves. And they did what they had to do. They thought they were doing it to gain respect for their people, to show the world that no one could take their class from them. No one had to take it from us, ese. Whatever we had...we gave it away..."

A very real to life movie of how things were in East Los Angelas for Mexican-American's back in the 50's. This is really a 2 part story about a mexican youth who turned to street gangs and wound up in Folsom prison where he became the leader of the mexican Mafia. A very good movie, but also a very violent and graphic one.