Miss Bala: sin piedad

Greetings again from the darkness. One of the reasons I so enjoy movies is that I can usually find some positive to latch onto, even if most of the project fails to connect or generate much interest. Such is the case with this latest from director Catherine Hardwick (the excellent THIRTEEN, 2003). Actress Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin", ANNIHILATION) is a joy to behold as she navigates her way through one perilous situation after another.

Ms. Rodriguez plays Gloria, a southern California resident whose particular set up of skills are utilized in her work as a makeup artist. Gloria drives across the border to Tijuana in support of her friend Suzu (Cristina Rodlo) who is competing in the Miss Baja pageant. Their fun evening at the nightclub goes horribly wrong as evil-doers storm the club attempting to assassinate the director of the pageant. During the mayhem, Suzu gets kidnapped and Gloria proves for the first time (of many to come) that the film should have more accurately been titled "Miss Antibalas". No matter the size of the shootout - and there are many - there are no bullets for Miss Bullet (Bala being Spanish for bullet).

Of course that's not a spoiler because even in the trailer, it's quite obvious that this remake of director Geraldo Naranjo's 2011 Mexican movie sets out to become yet another action franchise. As a PG-13 film, it softens the edges from the original and seems to target younger viewers, possibly an attempt to empower teenage girls. It's a worthy mission despite the disappointing execution of the first feature film screenplay from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer.

Gloria's attempts to rescue Suzu find her caught in a tug-of-war between Mexican crime lord Lino (Ismael Cruz Cordova, "Ray Donovan") and the DEA task force led by Matt Lauria playing an incompetent agent. Given today's political climate, bad guy Lino is presented as half-American and half-Mexican to quell any cries of racial stereotyping. Also appearing are Aislinn Derbez (daughter of Mexican movie star Eugenio Derbez) as Isabel, another woman caught up in Lino's web; and Anthony Mackie in an all-too brief two scenes that seem to play into the previously mentioned franchise hopes.

Corruption, drug smuggling and human trafficking are rampant throughout. I have no personal knowledge of whether Tijuana is the lawless frontier presented here, but the focus is really on one woman's ability to find her backbone - her inner strength - in a never-ending stream of dangerous situations. Despite the material, Ms. Rodriguez manages to hold her own and flash star quality. She is likeable and tough. On the other hand, Ms. Hardwicke's choices beg for second-guessing - from the cheesy shootouts to the lame and too-obvious musical choices (especially at the film's conclusion). She has certainly proven herself capable of better as a filmmaker, and will undoubtedly do so again.

Gina Rodriguez and Ismael Cruz Cordova do well in their lead roles here and for the most part portray believable characters. However, many of the plot elements just came across to me as quite non-believable and the whole movie itself was not engaging enough to rise above a fair rating, as I see it. It does bring to the front though the issues of the debasement and trafficking of women.

Gloria Fuentes (Gina Rodriguez) is a Latin-American makeup artist from Los Angeles who visits her best friend Suzu (Christina Rodlo) in Tijuana, Mexico. Her friend is entering the Miss Tijuana pageant , but she is threatened by cartel Las Estrellas . She goes back to Las Estrellas and is sent to San Diego with money and drugs attached to her car. The DEA is still tracking her. She arrives at the Border and is very scared that she will be discovered. She gets through without a problem and goes to the location in the GPS in San Diego, where she meets Jimmy (Anthony Mackie) . After entering a beauty contest : Baja California pegeant in Tijuana, the young woman witnesses drug-related murders and is forced to do the gang's bidding. Every day drags her deeper and corruption is pervasive ! . What alternative is there to death or prison? Who would you become to save your family?. Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary. Don't Mess with Family.

Fascinating and worrying drama about a young USA woman in a fine big-screen acting from Gina Rodriguez who finds herself unavoidably thrust into a drug cartel's blood feud as an unwitting pawn and her inescapable predicament leads to dire life or death consequences , in which surviving will require all of her cunning, inventiveness, and strength. Based on the Spanish-language movie ¨Miss Bala¨ (2009) by Gerardo Naranjo with Stephanie Sigman , Juan Carlos Galván , Arturo Guerrero , Noé Hernández , Irene Azuela and James Russo . Of course this wouldn't work so well if the acting wasn't first class, and it is indeed, Gina Rodriguez what a fantastic job, really makes us care for the character as the valiant you Gloria who finds a power she never knew she had when she is drawn into a dangerous world of cross-border crime. However , there're some incredible situations in Rambo style as the starring takes on a heavily-armed drug gang.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Catherine Hardwicke , though with no originality because copies the premises of the previous film. Hardwicke's first film as a director was the Sundance winner Thirteen which explored the transition into teenage years with an authenticity that still captures young audiences (1.3 billion Tik Tok engagements.) . Hardwicke often empowers female leads (Miss Bala, Red Riding Hood, Plush, Thirteen) . Hardwicke directed Lords of dogtown before she became best known as the director of Twilight, which launched the blockbuster franchise and has since earned over three billion dollars. Recently her indie film Prisoner's adughter premiered at Tiff 2022 and Dreams in the witchhouse dropped on Netflix October 2022 as part of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities. Rating : 6/10.

Unfortunately, Miss Bala 2019 do not surpass the original Miss Bala (Cannes Film Festival 2011). This remake lost realism and message from the original.

I found the movie interesting even though it was a series of highly improbable events. Non the less I was always wondering or anticipating what would happen next, which is usually a good thing when watching a movie.