Amexicano

I was lucky enough to see this at its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. I felt like I was privvy to one of those things that's going to become huge, BEFORE it becomes huge -- kind of like the first people who saw something like "Little Miss Sunshine" and probably thought, "wow... what a special movie. I hope it gets picked up so people get the opportunity to see it." It felt like I was watching movie stars in the making, because the performances were so rock- solid and honest. Raul Castillo and Jennifer Pena were truly captivating, the direction was perfect, and the music was fantastic. I don't recall the last time I saw a movie where the audience was so glued to the screen, because they had fallen in love with the characters and their struggle. If you get the chance to see it, you should.

Yes, this movie is at least a 10!!! Finally a movie that treats it audience with respect - - it takes us through a wonderful and meaningful story with humor and drama but with none of the usual clichés or preachy or trite storytelling that we are served over and over again. I am not alone in my assessment of this wonderful film. I spent a Saturday morning at the Tribeca Film Festival with a sold out crowd who expressed the same feelings as mine with a lengthy and roaring applause of approval as the credits ran.

"Amexicano" makes its point on the issue of immigration and "the undocumented" without polarizing its audience with politics, race and class. This is a story about human beings, complex human beings - - legal and illegal. The authentic and endearing performances from Carmine Famiglietti, Raul Castillo, Jennifer Pena and all the supporting players are the cornerstone of this great independent film.

It's refreshing to see a filmmaker pack a film with honesty and integrity without fearing we can't handle it - - much like the movies Hollywood produced during the Golden Age of the 1970's. These days it seems to me that Hollywood feels that movies devoid of substance, truth, moral conflict and that lack humanity is what people want.

Stanley Kubrick once said: "Don't give the audience what they want, give them what they don't know they want yet". Matthew Bonifacio's "Amexicano" truly gives its audience "what they don't know they want yet".

The premise of the film is fantastic, and one I enthusiastically support. A subject that should effortlessly lend itself to a poignant narrative; this attempt sadly falls quite short of its potential. Overall rather mediocre in emotional impact, sort of the Zoloft of intense emotional movies. Much of the acting is very mechanical and cue driven, Varsity at best. Character development and definition is predictable and generically structured. Don't expect a gripping drama but rather 20 minutes of promising fireside fable intensity drawn out and diluted into 84 minutes. It could have been so much more. All that being said, there is something that I did like about it that will allow me to give it 5/10 stars.

Italian Neo-Realism coming out of Queens! Excellent film. See it.

A classic case of: No Production Budget = Excellent Film.

It is a pretty basic story line about and friendship and loyalty. The acting was great and the minimalist approach worked well in this case.

A desperate-for-work, forth-generation, Italian American, living in Queens, befriends a Mexican day laborer(jornalero).

The film portrays the difficulties of everyday life for illegal workers in this country. I wish this film had more exposure and wider distribution. It seems like it was filmed on a cheap digital cam-corder, but this does not detract from the film, and might actually add something to its gritty realism. It basically could have been shot on home video.

A movie that is very realistic, with excellent performances. Despite being classified pg-13 I think that it is suitable for the whole family and it also has comical moments.One of the great social problems in Mexico is the unemployment and as a consequences many people like Ignacio (Raul Castillo) die for reaching their dreams. Texas has a proud Latino talent like that of Raul Castillo and Jenifer Peña. We wish that this movie is shown all through the U.S. because a talent like this SHOULD be acknowledged because this is how stars are born.

Sincerely,

The Nuñez Family