American Me

American Me: 3/10: In all fairness I have to admit I was expecting more of a gang picture (albeit a serious one) with Mexican overtones rather than a straightforward prison drama. American Me is a straightforward prison drama. Nobody in this film emotes and pass the K-Y jelly cause there is more guy on guy action in this movie than in the men's room at a Sex in the City wrap party. Add in the bathroom/drug smuggling scenes and you may be squirming in your seat for more reasons than a slow pace. In addition a lot of older actors can play characters in their twenties. Even those that have obvious hairline issues (see the later Porky's movies) seem to pull it off. Edward James Olmos is one man who should never even try. He looks like he was born fifty. He also plays the lead with the charisma of a sullen rock. In addition to the miscasting and sodomy American Me suffers from serious script issues. It simply takes at face value the characters contention that they are king of the world. They are not. It is one thing for the characters themselves to be misguided (as they are most certainly are) but the movie itself seems not to realize what big losers these guys are. Sure they are king of the cellblock. Hurrah, that's like being voted carny of the month. A good first 45 minutes or so quickly melts into underacted pathos (Nobody emotes in this movie, cause they are all tough guys see.) and misguided plot twists (the whole taking on the mob bit was horribly done). The movie just keeps getting worse and worse. Oh and Olmos's character writes poetry. Really bad rhyming poetry. Yup poetry and anal sex, American Me is one makeover away from its own Bravo series.

Trailer—American Me

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source: American Me

American Me

Edward James Olmos gives a great performance as Santana, and even a better job as a director. The story flow smoothly and keeps you glued to the action and drama. A real life account of gangs and violence in the Latino communities and life in prison. Nothing was left out and every scene makes you feel the reality of the character's hardships and struggles. Well done 4 out of 5 stars, a must see. The movie starts off with Santana as a young child and evolves with him in prison running the main yard in Prison. Every move and decision made in Prison must be approved by Santana. Once he gets out he struggles with the reality of what his life has become and the effect it has on children in his own community and family. JD battles with Santana about "showing weakness" throughout the movie. His ultimate move costs him at the end but brings life to his soul with his attempt to change and make amends.

American Me is now a Chicano Classic about gangs and prison life. Edward James Olmos plays the role of Santana, an inmate who becomes a leader in and out of prison. With a great supporting cast and soundtrack, the film tells a dramatic story without getting too preachy. One of Edward James Olmos best roles to this day.

This pure masterpiece is for me one of the most powerful gangs in prison film ever made, the most brutal, dark, gritty, bloody but also poignant, on the same scale as any Marty Scorcese's gangster biopic feature. You have here the same DNA. It is a tragedy in the pure Shakespeare manner, especially in the end. See the title of this comment. Acting, editing, writing, everything here is unforgettable, outstanding. You can easily watch this in the line of the Netflix series about Narcos, you won't be deceived, no differences in the quality of both materials.

AMERICAN ME (1992) *** Edward James Olmos, William Forsythe. Absorbing character study based on true life about a barrio viewpoint of street gangs with Olmos as a paroled con whose life of crime and prison meshes with the harsh realities of his world in torment. Olmos also made his big screen directorial debut here.

American Me was the first film to paint an accurate picture of what it can like in America's prison system. Most films in this genre have a Hollywoodized portrayal of live behind bars. Olmos's tale of latino gang life in and outside of prison is right on the mark. This is a good film to show to all those would be gangbangers out there that think prison is cool.