Review of Amigo (2011) by Jack S — 03 Sep 2011

Raising Hope fans: You get Burt AND Jimmy in this movie. But the real surprise is Joel Torre, who plays the the title role. He puts a human face on John Sayles' history lesson, and brings a perfect mix of dignity and conflicted-ness to the party.

Not that this is a party. Set in the Philippines of 1900, with lots of subtitles, and rain, and sitting around, this movie won't be everyone's cup of tea. Once again, John Sayles has a lot to tell us, at the expense of making a "fun" movie. It's a critique of imperialism and prejudice, with lessons that are still valid over a century later. Sayles points a finger at the U.S. and unveils yet another not-too-proud moment in our history. But no one's off the hook. We see how the Spanish (who occupied the Philippines before we did) feel superior to the Filipinos, and how the Filipinos view the Chinese, and how Americans feel superior to everyone.... it's an f-ed up world, isn't it?

Chris Cooper is win-at-all-costs American nastiness personified, and he is good as always. Garret Dillahunt's character develops a bit of a conscience as he spends time with the villagers. We also get the sell-out Spanish priest, the wildly overmatched band of rebels, and Rafael, a.k.a. Amigo, trying to be all things to all sides. Sprinkled in is some romance, ambition, religion, generational divides, sibling conflict, and some culture lessons. And some gunshots.

Something toward the end didn't ring true, but it was a rare sour note in a satisfying, dare I say it--educational--movie. That very few people will go to see.