Best Movie of the Year: Sin Nombre
Sunday, April 26, 2009


I have been cutting back on my movie watching. I've put Netflix on suspend, and I've vowed not to see any major film releases this year, except probably for Disney's Black Princess cartoon coming out either later this year, or next.

I saw this movie down in Washington, DC, when I stayed the weekend. I attempted to see another film, which was part of Filmfest DC. However, Machan was sold out. Since I was on the hook for parking, I decided to see something, anything, to use up the time. I ended up watching Sin Nombre. Why? It had the shortest play time.

Nevertheless, it was a serendipitous and excellent pick. It was directed by Cary Fukunaga. If I had a movie to make, I'd pick this person.

I didn't know what was going on, until half-way through the film. The subtitles weren't an issue, my Spanish is poor, but some of the words were understandable and a few were English colloquialisms. Hollywood rarely builds up the story to the movie's half-way point. The first scene is usually climatic, forcing one to pay attention.

Sin Nombre does not insult one's intelligence. It gave every major character a back story, in real time, without any fancy flashbacks, irritating voice overs, rapid jump cuts, or other tried and true gimmicks. A long and deliberate story helps one to understand the motivations and behavior of everyone. No exceptions.

Slowly, one is drawn into the central story: immigrants who are heading north through Mexico's treacherous streets to make it to the USA, or New Jersey to be exact. Inevitably, they will clash with malicious gangs who are there to take advantage of them. There are many, many death defying hurdles they go through just to make it to America.

I was reminded that I live in a country so many people are willing to die to get to. I also enjoyed watching men do everything they can to protect and serve their families. The definition of family isn't just the traditional either. Fascinating.

Sin Nombre movie was beguiling to me, because Sayra's (Paulina Gaitan) father, looked like someone I've seen before out here in New Jersey. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his character's name. He's a handsome little guy too. I watched the film knowing his character was going to die; I only wondered how.

The main character, Willy aka El Casper (Edgar Flores) eventually goes on the run from his gang. He ends up with Sayra's immigrant group heading to the border. It's hard to believe this is the young man's second acting gig. Wow.

It was weird for me watching the film, everyone felt familiar and strange at the same time. I'll credit that to a great script, wonderful and very realistic "acting." I have, and have always had, Spanish people in my family and as friends.

On another note, the sexiest guy in the film was the menacing and lethal, El Sol (Luis Fernando Peña).

Part of me was sorta miffed, sad, and a tad bit envious. I realized that quality black American themed films do not exist. Why? And will they ever return?

Another part of me was glad I saw this film. It was a treat to have this one to last me for a long while.

Labels: American Gangster, Cary Fukunaga, illegal immigrants, Luis Fernando Pena, Mexicans, Netflix, Sin Nombre

posted by GoldenAh
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American Gangster
Sunday, November 11, 2007

I didn't anticipate this film, so I wasn't looking forward to seeing it. I'm not hostile to the premise: you know, Black Americans were (can be) as organized as the generic Sicilian mobsters. I saw the film solely out of boredom.

I'm as restless as a 2 year old (sometimes), so in my search for entertainment I figured this would be the easiest to digest. I was right.

I like Denzel Washington. I also like Russell Crowe.

However, there were some minor actors in this film I had even more affection for:

• Chiwetel Ejiofor: this guy is so gifted - I have to write about him later.

• Cuba Gooding Jr. : I feel so sorry for him these days.

• Roger Guenveur Smith: I see him everywhere, but I never remember his name.

• Armand Assante: he conveys such a sense of suave, handsome, and dignified manliness. What a guy.

What was the film about? It was taken from a business perspective. Instead of getting drugs from corrupt cops (who stole the drugs and chopped / diluted it), Frank Lucas went directly to the source. How did he get the drugs here? I was reminded of the film Blow - the drugs were flown in through connections. In this case, Lucas used his "cousin" in the military to deliver it during the Vietnam war.

I appreciate that the film didn't glorify the drug dealing culture. It didn't make being a drug dealer fun or glamorous. The movie didn't mince foul language, but it wasn't brutally vicious either. It could almost be a PG-13 film if not for the nudity and people getting their brains blown out. Yet, it wasn't gratuitously violent.

Denzel and Russel don't see each other until the end of the film - so it ran on separate tracks and then runs together. It was a smooth and even film, but at the same time I felt like I had seen something like this a hundred times before.

I'm not a fan of gangster films, aside from the comedic joy of Scarface, I avoid most of them.

You can wait for the DVD of this movie.

Labels: American Gangster, Armand Assante, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe

posted by GoldenAh
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