Frontera

To say that I enjoyed Frontera is an understatement … because I rarely ... take the time ... to write a review. So when I say I really enjoyed the film and was entertained, I am really thanking all involved for its production. This film had a western genre feeling to it that I personally like, and it had many social topics that plague our society, i.e., desperation, survival, rape, hate, man's inhumanity to his fellow man, et cetera. The actors' performances were superb in that the flat/stock/stereotypical characters were well-developed and rounded. Ed Harris' Texas Ranger Style of police work and justice was a bonus. I would have to say that this film/movie/picture had a little something for everyone. Again, the social and ethical implications regarding nepotism that sheriff was considering for his son, border issues, gun control, etc., were many and depicted quite well. This film is a must see – Great Job!

I'm a big movie buff and I focus on the values of writing, production, and entertainment. I'm tired of all the buddy-cop, cookie cutter action movies these days. They are ALL THE SAME. I look for movies that have interesting ideas.

Frontera was a welcome relief to my annoyance with the current movie industry. The writing was very well done and the pacing was perfect. I felt interested and engaged the entire time. I like how the Mexicans actually spoke Spanish. Even though there were a lot of subtitles, it was much more realistic.

I loved the implications of importance placed on the family. The families of Miguel, Roy, and the sheriff are all placed in extremely difficult situations which must be overcome. I feel like most people could relate to these situations in some way-- I did. In addition, the things that Miguel's wife goes through sheds light on the circumstance and difficulties of those looking for a better life. The maltreatment and suffering they go through are real.

Finally, I loved the ending. My heart was racing because I had established a personal affection for the characters. This movie was well worth my time.

Frontera (2014)

Part of me says: any movie that helps our understanding of the real illegal immigration situation from Mexico should be watched. This does that.

The problem is made immediate and intimate, and you are meant to understand both sides of the issue. It also avoids for awhile the sensationalism of lots of these cross- border dramas. A young man crosses into Arizona in one of those remote areas where it seems possible to sneak through and walk away. Some American kids taking pot shots at him with a high powered rifle end up accidentally killing an American woman on her horse (she falls off when the horse is spooked) and the immigrant becomes the main suspect.

This all happens early in the movie, and it is the dead woman's husband, played by Ed Harris, who holds up the other half of the movie. We follow then the Mexican (played by Michael Peña) as he flees and encounters "justice" (and later his wife, played by Eva Longoria arrives to help him). And we follow Harris who steadfastly digs into what really happened.

So there is plenty of drama here (one reviewer on rotten tomatoes said this had no drama, and that is completely false—just wait until you get to the coyotes kidnapping people). And yet there is a sense of balance, that there are good guys and bad guys and misapprehensions on both sides. You might say this makes the movie too balanced, so it lacks punch, but instead I think it has depth, which is better.

It's imperfect, for sure, as things get wrapped up and plots become increasingly intertwined. But overall I found it strong and well intentioned. And well acted, set in some genuine looking arroyos and deserts (it was filmed in New Mexico).

A very relevant and worthwhile watch. The acting is good. The story is complex, deep and without a perfect solution, and so goes life on earth, and that's exactly what this film really hits you with. There are no perfect solutions to many of our problems, and also that innocently intended pranks can sometimes result in drastic and irreversible consequences. There certainly is a good size audience out there that will appreciate this film. So far it hasn't found enough of that audience it seems. This is a very realistically minded film that will make you think and feel, either that or its realism will just scare you even further back into your already well zombified state. Goodnight sleepwalker!

7.5/10.

I watched this film out of respect for a friend associated with the movie. Being in the industry I wasn't expecting too much but to my surprise it was great! Ed Harris doesn't let us down. Casting was done perfect, and the writing was superb. I am not a big fan of subtitles but this movie grips you to were you can't let go and don't even notice the subtitles. Eva Longoria is excellent, such a gorgeous woman in real life but not for this production giving us a performance that we won't forgot. See Michael Pena in numerous roles over the years I can safely say an award could be coming his way. I can't say enough about the film. A great drama, enough action and some romance make for a great view. Go see for yourself and let me know...