20 recensioni
This film has a great message. Bad things happen to good people, and you cannot always control the direction your life takes. Everyone in this movie has internal conflicts that we can really see, which is so interesting to watch because everyone in life has an agenda. We are all forced to make choices everyday in order to survive. So many films today go for the happy ending, wrapping a big red bow around it, but unfortunately life doesn't always play out that way. There is no obvious good guy and bad guy here. Instead, we see the propensity in all of us to be both simultaneously. I look forward to future projects from this director, who also happens to be the lead actor, writer and producer. Very inspirational.
- kandiland1972
- 31 mar 2004
- Permalink
"No Turning Back" is a tough film to love. Although the basic story idea is interesting, the characters and dialog often disappoint.
Pablo is an illegal who brought his daughter with him to the United States from Honduras (IMDB says Mexico, but the intro clearly says Honduras). One day he accidentally runs over a child and kills her and since he is in the USA illegally, instead of staying he runs. But this also means taking his incredibly bratty and annoying little girl with him. Here's where the film starts to show problems. The child is a bit hateful and nasty. Additionally, he and the girl meet up with a ridiculously written character, a lady who wants to do a documentary on him and his race to safety abroad! She drives him about and says she's NOT involved and is just making a movie. HUH???
When the trio finally get to the Mexican border, the child throws a horrible tantrum--tossing her things out of the moving car. Why? Because she thinks Mexico smells and she hates Mexico! Nice kid, huh? So what dad does next is insane...he agrees to instead head to Canada. Now understand....the quickest you could drive from the Mexican border to the Canadian border is 23 hours...without a single stop for gas, food or to sleep! Of course, they actually just end up hanging around Venice and Los Angeles...something that left me confused.
At this point, I cannot stand the child nor the filmmaker character. But dad.... I felt a bit sorry for him. But, he needs money, so he then robs a convenience store! No more gray areas in the movie...dad IS a bad man and I could no longer feel sorry for him.
All this occurs in the first half or so of the picture. Much of what happens after seems tough to believe...such as the brat hurting herself and being treated by a doctor who just happens to be the dead girl's father, the documentarian bothering the mother of the dead child...asking her 'how does it feel?', and more inane things that really don't help the story all that much.
The bottom line is that the story of a decent illegal committing an accidental crime and going on the run IS an interesting idea for a movie. But making the folks in the film so difficult to like...that sinks this story.
By the way, if you read through the reviews, they often tend to be 9s or 10s...or 1s and 2s. While I don't know for a fact, I would suspect some of the glowing reviews are fake...generated by folks who made the film. I know this sounds harsh...but all those 10s and saying what a great movie it is...it just doesn't make sense. With such poor writing, I cannot understand the 10s.
Pablo is an illegal who brought his daughter with him to the United States from Honduras (IMDB says Mexico, but the intro clearly says Honduras). One day he accidentally runs over a child and kills her and since he is in the USA illegally, instead of staying he runs. But this also means taking his incredibly bratty and annoying little girl with him. Here's where the film starts to show problems. The child is a bit hateful and nasty. Additionally, he and the girl meet up with a ridiculously written character, a lady who wants to do a documentary on him and his race to safety abroad! She drives him about and says she's NOT involved and is just making a movie. HUH???
When the trio finally get to the Mexican border, the child throws a horrible tantrum--tossing her things out of the moving car. Why? Because she thinks Mexico smells and she hates Mexico! Nice kid, huh? So what dad does next is insane...he agrees to instead head to Canada. Now understand....the quickest you could drive from the Mexican border to the Canadian border is 23 hours...without a single stop for gas, food or to sleep! Of course, they actually just end up hanging around Venice and Los Angeles...something that left me confused.
At this point, I cannot stand the child nor the filmmaker character. But dad.... I felt a bit sorry for him. But, he needs money, so he then robs a convenience store! No more gray areas in the movie...dad IS a bad man and I could no longer feel sorry for him.
All this occurs in the first half or so of the picture. Much of what happens after seems tough to believe...such as the brat hurting herself and being treated by a doctor who just happens to be the dead girl's father, the documentarian bothering the mother of the dead child...asking her 'how does it feel?', and more inane things that really don't help the story all that much.
The bottom line is that the story of a decent illegal committing an accidental crime and going on the run IS an interesting idea for a movie. But making the folks in the film so difficult to like...that sinks this story.
By the way, if you read through the reviews, they often tend to be 9s or 10s...or 1s and 2s. While I don't know for a fact, I would suspect some of the glowing reviews are fake...generated by folks who made the film. I know this sounds harsh...but all those 10s and saying what a great movie it is...it just doesn't make sense. With such poor writing, I cannot understand the 10s.
- planktonrules
- 29 nov 2022
- Permalink
Just saw this film at Sedona Film Festival 2002 - my favorite at the Festival. Jesus gives a riveting and sensitive performance of a good man who faces insurmountable trials after a terrible accident. This is based on a true story and demonstrates the importance of seeing there's more than one side to any story. Hope this gets a broad distribution!
- patalexander
- 2 mar 2002
- Permalink
- flawed_messiah
- 29 giu 2004
- Permalink
I just watched this movie last night on Lifetime TV. I simply loved everything about the movie. The actor (also the director/writer) did an amazing job! I also liked the little girl, she has tremendous future in movies! As soon as the movie starts, you are suddenly put in Pablo's life. Every moment he goes through - u feel it. He does everything for his daughter. This movie is based on true story, which is sad. It's a story of courage, emotions, drama, a father, and daughter. Even though, the main character is somewhat of a criminal, you just feel sorry for him and sympathize with him. His crime was an accident. I liked and didn't like the ending. I think when u see the movie, you'll understand why I say that.
This movie is not to be missed. By these first time writers and directors - this is a movie that shows a lot of promise and their skills.
Go rent it or buy it ! This movie is a must for everyone! I cried cried and cried during this movie...so be ready with box of tissues.
This movie is not to be missed. By these first time writers and directors - this is a movie that shows a lot of promise and their skills.
Go rent it or buy it ! This movie is a must for everyone! I cried cried and cried during this movie...so be ready with box of tissues.
- MovieFanatic23
- 16 lug 2005
- Permalink
This film has an interesting plot, but the acting is quite bad and the script is poor. I was very disappointed. The moral dilemma faced by the main character is an intriguing one, but due to poor writing and casting this potentially winning premise is plundered. 2 of the 4 other people in the theater left after about 45 minutes and the other 2 were laughing at how bad the film was. I stuck it out to the end, but I must admit I played Blackjack on my cell phone to make the last 30 minutes bearable.
This was an absolutely brilliant movie...you get to see past the mistakes and choices that we make and into the heart of love at every step in this movie.
The acting is Oscar worthy by Jesus Nebot...and the support cast was phenomenal. There wasn't one moment that I was not hooked into this movie from fade in...until the big ending!
I laughed, and I had tears in my eyes more than once...it is what movies are supposed to be about...the journey into people's souls.
This particular story covered so well, multiple viewpoints of all people involved in the story.
You can feel the overwhelming pain and love of each character so well...and with each step...once again, love, compassion, and connection wins.
Do not miss this movie...it will stir you inside and make you feel things you may have never felt before. It will open your heart's door to the meaning of what it means to have "unconditional love" for a child...and the choices we make to protect them.
May this movie and the filmmaker be blessed with much love. :-)
The acting is Oscar worthy by Jesus Nebot...and the support cast was phenomenal. There wasn't one moment that I was not hooked into this movie from fade in...until the big ending!
I laughed, and I had tears in my eyes more than once...it is what movies are supposed to be about...the journey into people's souls.
This particular story covered so well, multiple viewpoints of all people involved in the story.
You can feel the overwhelming pain and love of each character so well...and with each step...once again, love, compassion, and connection wins.
Do not miss this movie...it will stir you inside and make you feel things you may have never felt before. It will open your heart's door to the meaning of what it means to have "unconditional love" for a child...and the choices we make to protect them.
May this movie and the filmmaker be blessed with much love. :-)
- genuineheart2001
- 11 feb 2002
- Permalink
One of the best films I've seen this year! With the market being so over saturated with typical 'good guy, bad guy' Hollywood movies, it's a refreshing change to run into a movie that so beautifully captures humanity. Thank you to the director for taking on such a tough subject and not forcing you to feel a certain way about the subject matter but allowing you to experience all sides of the conflict. The acting is wonderful on so many levels. The father and daughter specifically give knockout performances. The story will keep you on the edge of your seat. The added benefit being that it'll touch your heart on a deep level. It's no wonder this film has won so many awards. If you're not convinced, go check out the film's website for the trailer.
Just saw this film at the Sedona International Film Festival. Wonderful film, and masterful in light of the budget and short shoot time. Certainly deserves distribution. Will become a favorite. Great acting, film making and direction. Congratulations to Jesus Nebot.
- sedonaluds
- 2 mar 2002
- Permalink
Mr Nebot did an excellent job in picking a great story to tell and then telling it so well. His acting was marvelous. I would love to see this movie come out on HBO. It is an ideal medium for a film like this.
So many independent films these days seem to be an opportunity to show off the filmmakers ambitions, rather than what they can contibute to the world with their insights and perspectives. This charming and compassionate film is more of what is needed in this world, and particularly in this country (the U.S.) today. With the monumental self -imposed task of producing, directing and starring in his own first film, Jesus Nebot actually comes through with flying colors. His performance is flawless, and carries with it the sensibilities attributed to another talented actor/director, Roberto Benigni, in his charm, passion and good will (plus, he's way more handsome than Benigni -- sorry Roberto!). And while there are some minor flaws in the dialogue and a couple of unrestrained performances, they do not take away from the other excellent performances (in particular Susan Haskell as the devastated Mother) and the fact that this is not only an important film in its own right (due to the timeliness of its subject matter) but also a representation of this filmmakers strong talents. I hope he gets many more opportunities to make films, as it seems they would only make the world a slightly better place, rather than taking us further down the path of desensitization and despair.
This film has not only has a excellent cast with talent and enthusiasm for their work, but a plot that reaches out and touches the audience. Fast paced, with a score that intensifies rather than distracts from the story, this movie will take you keep you close to the edge of your seat.
There are many unique features used in this film that make it stand out from others. Just using audio in the opening scene has an extreme impact, rather than seeing what had actually happened. Hearing the crash, tires screeching, and the mother yelling, sends chills down your spine. Along with the dolly (moving the camera back or forward) and trucking (moving the camera left or right) shots, contribute to the suspense of Pablo and his daughter Christina escaping from the law. They have a strong relationship since he's willing to sacrifice anything for her, but it would have been nice to have him explain a little more about the reasons why they are on the run. Throughout the movie there's always a feeling that they shouldn't be caught since the character development and certain scenes divert the audience's emotions, and we start cheering for them. The last scene was a little abrupt since it felt like a big time span had suddenly passed, but overall the story is very touching and can many audience's will be able to identify with the intense plot.
- Golden_Eagle79
- 29 giu 2004
- Permalink
This is a great story. Pablo makes you see and understand that what you see on the surface, like on the media or reading about someone who has committed a crime, it is not always true or the story has missed the 'why' and 'compassion' of why the person handled it like they did. This story makes you wonder what you would do in that situation. What would you do for your child. How far would you go. Also, the story makes you wonder how you would feel if you were on the other side as well. Would you forgive. How would you feel being the victim. The ending made a tear and was happy and sad at the same time. I just recommend this flick. And this is not a 'chick flick' guys so watch it!
The film deals with a very important issue of illegal immigrants and their daily struggle to make it through in order to give their kids a better future. The problem is with the script that even though tells a fairly interesting story, fails to deal with the issue, and instead presents us with a melodrama, in which all ends are neatly tied. The point of 'No Turning Back' is not really clear, as you never get a sense of what it is that they want to go back to. It seems like similar life to the one they main character had can be rebuild in any other state (The story takes place in California), as well as in Canada, to which they are trying to get. The story also fails to evoke the strong emotional feelings you get when you see 'Sophie's Choice,' nor be charming as 'Three Fugitives.' We do not feel any sorrow for the separation of the child from her father, as we know she is better off with her new family.
Too many issues are being resolved with no real explanation like how Soid found the hiding place of the father and his daughter? How did the police know the exact cruise line company that the father and his daughter were heading for? The movie shows the police somehow finding out that someone is selling them his green card, then showing them coming to a cruise line company, where the father applied for a job under an assumed name. Yet at the end of the movie, they know to go there and not any other place. Other issues are not dealt with like why the father didn't try and run to another state where it would be easy for him to evade the police, or why did the mail policeman decide that the policewomen is not ready for this case. Another unresolved issue is how Soid makes a living. Where does she live? Who pays her to do her documentaries, or where does she get the money to do them if not ordered by any organization?
Some of the sub plots either don't make sense or entirely unnecessary. The relationship between the two cops is poorly written and developed. They seem to have no other cases other than this one. The policewoman looks like a veteran who dealt with many cases in the past, yet the rocky policeman tell her she is not ready for this case. The grieving family seems to go back to normal life very fast. Even before the funeral the father is already back to work. When the father brings his daughter to the hospital no one seems to question the story that he found the child on the street. It is not clear how the police learned of the presence of the child in that hospital.
The relationship between the father and the daughter are very touching, though we don't really get a feeling of what their lives looked like before they relocated to the USA. Would they stay in their homeland should if the mother was still alive? What did the father used to do there? How did the child feel about moving to a different county? The child's view of where her mother is, as well as the way she presents it to the grieving father of the dead girl is well written, and it's too bad there are not enough of this type of writing throughout the script. Another well written and well played scene is when Soid reveals she sold the car.
Most of the acting is good, though I felt the policewoman was trying too hard to be Whoopi Goldberg in 'Jumping Jack Flash.' The policeman's character as a Native American who is late to work because he speaks to a spiritual adviser in the shape of an owl only ridiculed the police investigation. I especially liked the acting of Lindsay Price as the documentary film maker. All of the actors use the 'F' word. Would have been more interesting if each one had his/her own lingo and if they used profanity less often.
The sets lack credibility. In the scene where the two policemen check the computer for the green card fraud, their surrounding is bare. No other tables, policemen, or any other indication that this is a police station. The hospital seems to have no other patients other than the kid. When the father is about to board the cruise line ship, even though it is close to the time the ship is about to sail, there are no other personnel in sight.
The story moves from a drama of a father and his child trying to run away, to an action film with a daring rescue of the child from the hospital, and an attempt of the father to run from the police after being caught. It would have been a lot more interesting to either build it as a journey movie, such as 'Thelma and Louise', while showing the relationships and changes the 3 main characters go through, or build it as a drama of a tragedy hitting the two families, without the action/thriller parts.
Too many issues are being resolved with no real explanation like how Soid found the hiding place of the father and his daughter? How did the police know the exact cruise line company that the father and his daughter were heading for? The movie shows the police somehow finding out that someone is selling them his green card, then showing them coming to a cruise line company, where the father applied for a job under an assumed name. Yet at the end of the movie, they know to go there and not any other place. Other issues are not dealt with like why the father didn't try and run to another state where it would be easy for him to evade the police, or why did the mail policeman decide that the policewomen is not ready for this case. Another unresolved issue is how Soid makes a living. Where does she live? Who pays her to do her documentaries, or where does she get the money to do them if not ordered by any organization?
Some of the sub plots either don't make sense or entirely unnecessary. The relationship between the two cops is poorly written and developed. They seem to have no other cases other than this one. The policewoman looks like a veteran who dealt with many cases in the past, yet the rocky policeman tell her she is not ready for this case. The grieving family seems to go back to normal life very fast. Even before the funeral the father is already back to work. When the father brings his daughter to the hospital no one seems to question the story that he found the child on the street. It is not clear how the police learned of the presence of the child in that hospital.
The relationship between the father and the daughter are very touching, though we don't really get a feeling of what their lives looked like before they relocated to the USA. Would they stay in their homeland should if the mother was still alive? What did the father used to do there? How did the child feel about moving to a different county? The child's view of where her mother is, as well as the way she presents it to the grieving father of the dead girl is well written, and it's too bad there are not enough of this type of writing throughout the script. Another well written and well played scene is when Soid reveals she sold the car.
Most of the acting is good, though I felt the policewoman was trying too hard to be Whoopi Goldberg in 'Jumping Jack Flash.' The policeman's character as a Native American who is late to work because he speaks to a spiritual adviser in the shape of an owl only ridiculed the police investigation. I especially liked the acting of Lindsay Price as the documentary film maker. All of the actors use the 'F' word. Would have been more interesting if each one had his/her own lingo and if they used profanity less often.
The sets lack credibility. In the scene where the two policemen check the computer for the green card fraud, their surrounding is bare. No other tables, policemen, or any other indication that this is a police station. The hospital seems to have no other patients other than the kid. When the father is about to board the cruise line ship, even though it is close to the time the ship is about to sail, there are no other personnel in sight.
The story moves from a drama of a father and his child trying to run away, to an action film with a daring rescue of the child from the hospital, and an attempt of the father to run from the police after being caught. It would have been a lot more interesting to either build it as a journey movie, such as 'Thelma and Louise', while showing the relationships and changes the 3 main characters go through, or build it as a drama of a tragedy hitting the two families, without the action/thriller parts.
I thought the story was very good and spent the entire movie trying to figure how things would work out for Pablo and Cristina. Things did work out, but not as ideal as one would hope.
Jesus Nebot gave a very touching and convincing performance as Pablo. Cristina, played by Vernee Watson, was adorable and and I look forward to seeing her grow up on screen. Lindsay Price did an excellent job playing the part of the struggling reporter looking to make a good story, but gives in to her heart and feelings.
I was pleasantly surprised by the cinematography and the style of the movie.
I look forward to Jesus Nebot's next film!
Jesus Nebot gave a very touching and convincing performance as Pablo. Cristina, played by Vernee Watson, was adorable and and I look forward to seeing her grow up on screen. Lindsay Price did an excellent job playing the part of the struggling reporter looking to make a good story, but gives in to her heart and feelings.
I was pleasantly surprised by the cinematography and the style of the movie.
I look forward to Jesus Nebot's next film!
- darrenbusterhowell
- 29 giu 2004
- Permalink