![American Me [DVD]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81%2B6ab4BzeL.jpg&w=3840&q=75)

In what The Hollywood Reporter calls "a brilliant debut," award-winning actor Edward James Olmos sets the screen ablaze with his directorial bow—a powerful, stunning examination of a Latino crime lord, set against a backdrop of prejudice and hopelessness. Olmos stars as Santana, a youth from the streets of East Los Angeles who becomes the leader of the Mexican Mafia behind the gates of Folsom Prison. With his two childhood friends, Santana rules the prison with an iron fist, continuing a vicious cycle from which there is no escape. After serving his sentence, Santana is back on the streets for the first time since his teenage years. But he learns life on the outside is as rough as it is behind bars. For the harsh reality of barrio life and his blood-stained past will not give Santana the chance to turn his back on his former way of life. With a vehement anti-drug and anti-gang theme, American Me is an explosive and unforgettable epic. Review: Classic - Awesome? Great movie, classic. Review: Best prison movie of all time - Best gangster and prison movie of all time!!! A true must have to add to your!!! Works great, very happy and satisfied with this purchase!
| Contributor | Albert Joe Medina Jr., Christian Klemash, Cody Glenn, Don Pugsley, Dyana Ortelli, Edward James Olmos, Eric Close, Javier Castellanos, Joe Aubel, Lance August, Panchito Gómez, Raymond Amezquita, Richard Coca, Richard Lee-Sung, Rob Garrett, Roberto Martín Márquez, Sal Lopez, Solís, Alex, Vira Montes, Wilcox, Steve Contributor Albert Joe Medina Jr., Christian Klemash, Cody Glenn, Don Pugsley, Dyana Ortelli, Edward James Olmos, Eric Close, Javier Castellanos, Joe Aubel, Lance August, Panchito Gómez, Raymond Amezquita, Richard Coca, Richard Lee-Sung, Rob Garrett, Roberto Martín Márquez, Sal Lopez, Solís, Alex, Vira Montes, Wilcox, Steve See more |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 9,595 Reviews |
| Format | Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen |
| Genre | Art House & International, Drama |
| Initial release date | 2007-02-27 |
| Language | English |
G**Z
Classic
Awesome? Great movie, classic.
E**E
Best prison movie of all time
Best gangster and prison movie of all time!!! A true must have to add to your!!! Works great, very happy and satisfied with this purchase!
S**N
Favorite Movie
Who doesn't love this movie? American Me is my top favorite movies, watched it growing up and it never gets boring!
N**O
A Gang Film That Tells You How It Really Is/Was.
This was a Four Star film in my opinion but the hour long documentary boosted it by half a Star. The beginning shows you how racist America was towards Mexican Americans. The so-called "Greatest Generation" was the most racist of generations. Seeing what airmen, marines, sailors and soldiers did to Mexican Americans during the Zoot Suit Riots sets my guts afire. It has me rethink the so-called "honor" of the American forces and their generation. thugs in uniforms is what they all were. They may have been no different than the Nazis & Fascists! While this film subject matter had been covered before in other films it had never been detailed from the Mexican American point of view. Kudos to Mr. Edward James Olmos. He pulled things off very well. Janet Maslin said the film was dark, slow and solemn. Violent as it is, American Me is seldom dramatic enough to bring its material to life. She's right about that. However, the film does convey its message enough for the viewer to learn about Mexican Barrios. Without being preachy or pedantic, Olmos's film pulls this off and shows us how the gangs in East L.A. are merciless--even to those within their ranks. I look at this movie and realize that that could have been me coming up as a kid had I come up in the barrio. You gotta be tough in the 'hood because if you are not you will be considered a "punk" and any and everyone will walk all over you. This is where I realize how women have it so much easier than men. They never have to join gangs and there is never any pressure on them to be "tough". Machismo exists only for men. Unfortunately for Santana he gains wisdom too late and is slain by members of his gang. Buy this film and you will like it. I want to recommend some other films like this. Colors, a Robert Duvall film discusses gangs in detail. The Warriors is another film that details gang life from the East Coast, however. As an extra, see the 21-Jumpstreet Episodes: Loc'd Out. It will show you the gangs Seattle style. I'm the 277th person to Rate this fine film. Buy it and you won't be disappointed. A. Nathaniel Wallace, Jr.
N**T
Great classic
Always a good movie
J**S
Movie
Good movie.
U**D
Super
Sweet
L**M
Definitely a must see
Saw the reviews and interviews with the co stars. Wow 👌
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