Frontera

I really enjoyed this movie, the plot, the actors, the rhythm it flows by, maintained it gripping all through. Not to mention the Q&A with its leading actor Justin Berti afterwards, all in all a very memorable evening! Bravo Justin! Bravo everyone !! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I saw this movie on Amazon because my friend is friends with the director. He told me to give him an honest review so here it is.

I thought that the movie was really slow in the beginning and it doesn't pick up until the middle parts. I think the main part is that I didn't connect with the lead character of Sonny. Also all the females in the movie are just damsels in distress, we never really get to know them.

But the way the story unfolds it does really all come together in the end. This script was good. I was surprised to find that the acting was pretty good ( VERY good in some cases) and the production quality was on par with higher budgets.

I enjoyed the movie overall a 7/10

The film was expanded from a 35-minute mini feature into an 86-minute full length one - as well as shot over a period of four years, it was affectionately described by lead Justin Berti at a post-LIFF screening Q & A as a 'miracle film'. It's another triumph of determination and creative spirit (a sort of micro-budget 'GODFATHER') that evokes memories of John Carpenter's work on his 1976 classic ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13.

The plot-line and characters are familiar and the mix of ambiguity amidst politics and arms deals has been explored in any number of classic Hollywood films over the years. FRONTERA does lend itself to films like HEAT and TRAFFIC in that the characters are entwined on both sides of the coin, but politics in recent years has become a little more open in its' frankness about the dealings of politicians in the shadows.

That said, considering the constraints it has had in the production of it, it comes off rather well. There's a neat shot of Sonny looking out on what appears to be the aftermath of the recent California flash fires which devastated Southern California in places like Malibu.

Cinematographer Matthew Macar creates a rawness in the look of the film, with crisp light and shadow throughout and Armbruster is to be applauded for his efforts here.

I stumbled upon this little gem on Amazon Prime. A dark story about a family caught up in politics and crime... two very different career choices or... maybe not so different...? I wasn't familiar with the actors but I though the rolls were cast very well. Justin Berti who plays, Bradley DuPont Jr., the Presidential hopeful, was very entertaining to watch. The cinematography was excellent too! I'd recommend this as a great way to spend quiet evening at home.

The movie starts off very slow introducing the different characters but I really enjoyed how it all came together in the end. I would recommend.