Ciudad del silencio

After hearing this movie would not be released on the big screen I had doubts about whether I wanted to see it. I'm glad my curiosity won out over the bad press. This movie was compelling, suspenseful, and well acted. J-lo is believable in her role and gives an impressive performance.

I was uncomfortable through nearly the entire movie; one of the marks of an excellent suspense/drama. The importance of the topic of this movie should be enough to encourage people to see it but it is not for the faint of heart. Put the kids to bed early before starting the movie!!

It was sad to me when people on this site asked if Gandhi was a fictional character, when they thought Judi Dench in "Ladies in Lavender" came off as a "dirty old lady," when they thought Kenny O'Donnell in "Thirteen Days" was a fictional character to give Kevin Costner a part when the film used White House transcripts (I guess they just stuck Kenny's dialogue into transcripts?) - it was sad.

But to laugh and give a negative review to a movie that tells an important story, whether or not it stars Jennifer Lopez, is awful and shows that there are people who are regulars on this board who are not just stupid. They're complete morons.

This is based on a true story about murders of young women that have been taking place in Juarez, Mexico for years, with a large number of women have been raped and murdered or simply disappeared. The women work in the maquiladoras, 24/7 companies that employ cheap labor, usually women, and create disposable products. Apparently the women are disposable too. The women are normally attacked as they are going home.

Jennifer Lopez plays a reporter who is assigned this story against her will but becomes involved in it, protecting a young woman who dug herself out of her own grave, and going undercover in a maquiladora herself to uncover one of the murderers.

This horrible situation is not dealt with efficiently by the government or the police. In part, this is due to political pressure and the fact that mob and drug money is often involved in the ownership of the factories.

The North American Free Trade agreement, NAFTA, was expanded in 1994 and provided new opportunities for the maquiladoras.

This was an issue director Gregory Nava wanted to explore, and Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen, and Antonio Banderas signed on. Because of the R rating and the opinion of several focus groups, it was not released in theaters.

It's not a great movie. As a TV movie, it would have been much better. It also doesn't look very expensive. I don't happen to think Jennifer Lopez is a horrible actress. Unlike some here, I thought her back story, shown in flashback, was very clear.

This is an important story, made by sincere people. One can at least appreciate that they wanted to raise awareness of this issue. It's easy to sit and criticize a film; it's another to go out and make one.

And maybe a few people will think about a rich country like Mexico - rich in minerals, tourism, manufacturing -- that pays people $3 to $5 a day and has a population that lives in poverty while the people that control the money send it out of the country. Is it any wonder they try to sneak into the U.S.? Anything is better than how they are forced to live. And nothing is done to help them. Nothing.

Its hard to comment on some "true story" movies! This story...true story...it's so shocking and scary and really makes you ask yourself "in what kind of world we are living?".... and that's a good part! It will scares you but it will show you some real life tragedy that happened and that will happen... and it could happen to anyone! You should be aware! So this is really shocking tragedy about brutal life of females on Mexican/USA boarder! And its true!!!

So after getting me shocked its really hard to comment on acting, scenes, etc. But I must do that because this is no documentary! And from movie aspect... well... it's not that much! I must admit that Jeniffer Lopez is much better actress than on her first movies but everyone else.... Antonio Banderas has just a short role, nothing special and other actors are not some famous... at least not to me! They are good but....

This movie is not for an award but I recommend you to watch it, because it's a true story and it shows hard living, bad politics, corruption, trying to stay alive and you are on your own.......

(sorry on my bad English)

Straight up review: 6/10 (just finished watching... initial impressions)

A deep fascinating film that I assumes is based on real life. Unfortunately it cannot hold a candle to similar films like "City of God", "Hotel Rwanada" or "Blood Diamond". Honestly makes me question whether i want to visit Mexico or not (is it safe?).

Why 6/10?

• believable and seems to follow possible real life.

• poor acting

-strange flow

• I had difficulty relating to the story and the characters, but i was curious and did continue to watch. Most successful stories draw you in to the drama and life of the main characters. Unfortunately the all-star cast Antonia Bandaras and JLO just couldn't do it.

• most people outside of that area probably won't relate

• The theme of Corporate Industrialist pseudo 1800s robber barons seemed contrive and poorly tacked on or just didn't fly as well. (albeit it might be true)

=> Cool idea but not compellingly done nor could I relate or be drawn into the story. Good try. Better luck tomorrow! => Movie or Video: if your from the community in question I guess theater but for everyone else save your money and rent.

"It isn't free trade; it's slave trade; it's a ... scam", yells investigative reporter Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez), to her newspaper boss George Morgan (Martin Sheen). They're arguing about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the villain in this film about the injustices of NAFTA border factories toward their women workers, and in particular about the border town of Juarez, on the Rio Grande, across from El Paso, Texas.

The script's characters and plot are fictional. But they are set against a backdrop of a real-life situation that has been going on for years. Poorly paid young Mexican women are raped and killed in these NAFTA border towns. Nobody really cares, least of all the cold corporations that employ the women.

In "Bordertown", George Morgan sends Lauren to Juarez to get a story. She does. But what she finds is that the real killers are more powerful and shadowy than she imagined. It's a situation not unlike what Karen Silkwood faced when she tried to investigate a nuclear plant.

The film is thus highly political. Its message overpowers the story. Most viewers will sympathize with the message. But what about the story? The characters are not entirely believable. For example, the young Mexican woman whom Lauren befriends can't seem to speak English when they first meet. And Lauren says she can't speak Spanish. Yet later, the young woman and Lauren chat up a storm both in English and Spanish, a dialogue necessity, no doubt, to placate viewers. The plot's climax is Hollywood sensationalized, which detracts from the authenticity of the message.

Color cinematography is very high contrast, which works well, given the good vs. evil theme. Prod design and costumes are quite realistic. The filming in Mexico gives credibility to the story, though filming entirely in Juarez was not possible owing to the physical danger. Acting is acceptable. Lopez does a fine job.

My impression is that "Bordertown" was not given a proper theatrical release here in the U.S. because of its tough political message, which speaks volumes, if true. But despite some imperfections in its script, the film deserves to be seen by viewers, and specifically because of that potent underlying message.