29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Entertaining!, August 21, 2004
An unemployed filmmaker borrows his ex-wife's car. He drives the car to an upscale restaurant for dinner with friends. A gang of outlaws (corrupt police officers) take over the restaurant and rob all the customers. In their getaway, the outlaws steal the filmmaker's ex-wife's car.
The police respond. They promise to the victims and to the news media that there will be a swift apprehension of the outlaws. The filmmaker knows better. He's been doing a film documentary on the increasing crime rate in Mexico City and the impotence of the police.
By chance one day, he spots his ex-wife's car. He follows the car and he soon discovers who was behind the robbery at the restaurant and the theft of his ex-wife's car. He goes to the police with the information; the same police who are the outlaws. Since the police are the outlaws, they do nothing except cover their tracks.
In frustration with the police, the filmmaker begins to track the outlaws with his video camera. He soon discovers that the police are the outlaws and he videos the corruption. By exposing the corruption, he places his friends and relatives at risk. The filmmaker does whatever it takes to protect his friends and family; yet expose police corruption. The police/outlaws will do whatever it takes to get the video and quiet the filmmaker.
This is a good cat-and-mouse type movie with an interesting storyline, good acting, and good editing and production. It's a movie that you can see several times without getting bored.
There is a character in this movie, a police commander, who goes by the name ELVIS. If there's a Mexican actor who can be compared to NICHOLAS CAGE, it's the actor who plays the part of ELVIS in this movie.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A perfect portrait of life in Mexico City, July 25, 2003
By A Customer
It's interesting- the film makes you laugh at how miserable the living conditions can be in Mexico City. Yet, you can't help but laugh the whole way through! Not only is the acting phenomenal (as is usually the case with Demian Bichir), but the film lets you feel what it's like to live in Mexico City: crime and corruption dissolve into an unequaled passion for life. Amid the fear and danger, you've got to laugh. In summary, this movie isn't only entertaining, but illustrates the essence of being a Chilango.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome performance, May 7, 2004
This is an amazing movie. It shows how life can be hard in Mexico city and how the diverse characters deal with it. As always, Demian Bichir has managed to show everyone what a great actor he is!
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