Review of American Me (1992) by Carlos S — 07 Aug 2007

This epic depiction of thirty years of Chicano gang life in Los Angeles.

Focuses on a teen named Santana who, with his friends Mundo and the.

Caucasian-but-acting-Hispanic J.D., form their own gang and are soon.

Arrested for a break-in.

Santana gets into trouble again and goes straight from reform school to.

Prison, spending eighteen year there, and becoming leader of a powerful.

Gang, both inside and outside the prison, while there.

When he is finally released, he tries to make sense of the violence in.

His life, in a world much changed from when last he was in it...

Another real life apparently true story based on someone or others.

Life, but it does seem like a vanity project for James Olmos. but thats.

Not saying that it is a bad film. it is very strong in the first act.

When it all happens behind bars, you cannot take your eyes off the.

Screen.

The problem is with this film is that it loses its way during the.

Second act, and tries to get all 'Goodfellas' on the audience, but just.

Adding a few more 'Ese' s?' into the script.

Three of the main problems I found with this film were.

1) the over use of the word 'Ese''.

2) wondering what what the film would have been like with Al Pacino in.

The lead.

3) laughing every time the narration set in, because it sounded like.

Fat tony from the Simpson's..

But its not a bad drama, just Olmos loses the plot a little toward the.

End.