Movies

I just saw this film at the Woodstock Film Festival and it was one of the highlights for me. I went in having no idea what to expect and was more than pleasantly surprised. There is not a note of false dialog, it's heartfelt, but not overwrought. It tells a story of a mother trying to support her son and mother in Mexico from LA. When the Grandmother suddenly dies, the 9 year old boy crosses the border to find his mother. From this description it might not sound like much, but seek it out, it's well worth it. All around the acting is wonderful, particularly the young boy Carlitos, played by Adrian Alonso. America Ferrara has a very brief role in this film, don't just see it for her.

I just saw this movie through the Los Angeles KCET Movies Series and it was absolutely fantastic! While the movie does contain a subtle political message, it is not meant to sway the audience in the illegal immigration debate. The story carries extraordinarily well with a subject as touchy as illegal immigration and cannot exist without it. Utilizing a theme of abandonment, the movie explores what it means to truly care for and cherish a loved one. With brilliant acting (Adrian Alonso is incredible!), fantastic direction, and a terrific screenplay, the movie is a wonderful, heartfelt journey that brings laughter, sadness, and a sincere sense of happiness into an enjoyable, movie-going experience.

I enjoyed the story, it is a really original idea, and there were a lot of good scenes, I think the direction was good too (not excellent but good) but it was the actuation what let me down, down, so down on this movie. The kid is so annoying and I hated his false voice tone. Kate Del Castillo was so ridiculous, I couldn't believe her anything, Derbez has that comic aura that it is not possible to believe a drama scene of his. And worst of all, CARMEN SALINAS, WHY? WHY? WHY LORD???? That woman is a living cliché. So, watch it if you don't have a lot to see, with low expectedness, cause you're not going to get more than that.