Tortilla Heaven

Not too often do you see great movies about or related to Mexico or Latinos. Even when you do, you get this barren landscape, emotionally empty, pathetic and unfair portrayal of Mexicans as losers. This movie is entirely different. It portrays life in a small Village in New Mexico in a positive perspective. A miracle that stood to transform the local economy and galvanize the members of the community together was threatened with the arrival of Big Business. It took some setbacks for the community to realize what was truly important to them - each other! A great script and an excellent cast. The cinematography was superb as was the editing and sound. I gave it a solid 8/10. It is a movie I shall watch over and over again. Miguel Sandoval did not disappoint me. A great achievement for the director.

The story for this film has been done so often, many audience members can for-tell the next scene before it takes place. Although there is sufficient acting talent, the clumsy scenes are stiff, pedestrian, badly edited and poorly directed. José Zúñiga plays Isidor a down trodden restaurant owner, praying for good fortunate to come to him, his family, his business and his little town. George Lopez, is loaded with acting versatility, yet is relegated to playing Everardo, the town sheriff but few opportunities to reveal his incomparable talent. Marcelo Tubert, plays Father Pancracio a good and kind soul who like others in his town wishes he could increase his meager church holdings. Miguel Sandoval expertly plays Gil Garcia, the town's satanic opportunity to make everyone's dreams come true. The story concept is not new, but the ability to re-vamp into a small religious southwest village is. Unfortunately, whoever directs this movie wastes not only the assembled talent, but the chance to create a memorable film. As a result, few audience members will leave the theater convinced, the director made the best use of the assembled cast. **

Tortilla Heaven is a really great movie. I checked it out on their website and it is amazing what the filmmakers had to go through to get it done. Very impressive for a first time filmmaker. The cast is first rate all the way from Olivia Hussey to Irene Bedard to Miguel Sandoval, and the actors all did a very good job. You can feel the chemistry between them. Even though the film is a comedy, it has a very spiritual message and ending. And though Tortilla Heaven is written like a parable and definitely has a message, the director doesn't pound you over the head with it. Instead she keeps you laughing and then, when you think you know what has happened and who everyone is, she surprises you at the end. Very well done.

This movie has a great sense of humor. Very irreverent at times, but at the end the film is so spiritual that you can see that the director was not poking fun at the people but at our human condition. This is a fable about what happens to a town when a miracle happens and everyone actually gets what he or she was wishing for.

The film is very well acted, well directed and really well shot. A great cast and a great new director. Tortilla Heaven also is a very positive portrayal of Hispanics and Hispanic family and community. Also of Mexican and Southwestern cooking. I went with three friends and we all left the theater hungry -- for food and for more movies like this!!!

Tortilla Heaven is a fun movie with interesting characters, a unique story, and a controversial subject. The plot might seem silly, but once you give it a chance you just might find an enjoyable film with a deeper message. I would recommend this to those interested in films that touch the subject of religion in a less serious manner.