American Me (HD DVD)
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brian Wortz on July 25th, 2007
Ok, I’ve got to give some credit to Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica)for putting together the film American Me. Rather than just glamorizing gang violence as in many other gang related films, he surprises us by giving us a realistic view of the harshness of gang life and the difficulties of trying to escape the life of a criminal. Olmos directs and stars in this film as Pedro Santana, a drug lord who has gained power during an extended stay in Folsom Prison. While this movie has been dubbed “the Mexican Godfather” or called a Carlito’s Way rip-off, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall tone and message of the film.
The film presents itself as a sort-of 30 year rise and fall story of Santana, but ends up strongly promoting the downfalls of drugs and gang violence. What strengthens the film besides an always excellent Olmos, is the setting itself. American Me may not have quite the depth of characterization as say, The Godfather, but I was incredibly pulled into the Los Angeles Latino community in its hot, sweaty poverty. While the film feels more like a made-for-TV after-school special, the violence and conviction presented give the film a much more realistic and epic feel. In fact, it really is the presentation of the characters in such a realistic environment that saves the film from becoming more than another cheesy “don’t do drugs/gangs are bad” inspirational drama. Besides Olmos, the film is also carried by co-star William Forsythe (The Devil’s Rejects) as J.D., a supporting gang member. Apparently, also adding to the realism, many real-life prisoners were used to round out the cast. But it’s obvious this is Olmos’ picture which I found completely appropriate.
Video
This is another of Universal’s dusted off catalog titles. Unfortunately, this one is the worst of the bunch I’ve seen lately. Presented in 1080p/VC-1, the transfer is fine, but the print just wasn’t meant for high-def. Some of the outdoor shots do look nice, with detail and pop, but much of the color is somewhat flat, and edge enhancement was evident in more than a few shots. Blacks were muddy too. Having not viewed this film on SD, I cannot comment on the upgrade in picture, but it is still visibly high definition.
Audio
Like the video, I also found the audio to be somewhat disappointing. This is a dialog driven film, and the dialog was sometimes drown out by an overall flat presentation. LFE was virtually non-existent, and surround effects might just as well mixed as stereo. There was just nothing that screamed this was a 1.5mbps track. I wouldn’t say the film necessarily suffered from the audio mix as much as from the video presentation, but it was far from noteworthy.
Special Features
The documentary Lives in Hazard, which inspired American Me is presented in full. This is the only special feature on the disc, but it is a good one. If you find American Me at all intriguing, you must watch this documentary. The real life story of the Mexican mafia coupled with the fictionalization in the movie makes for a great viewing experience. In fact, I’d go so far to say that the documentary here is at least as valuable if not more essential viewing than the film itself. Other than that, a commentary by Olmos is sorely missed.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t think I would particularly enjoy American Me, but I was surprised at the depiction of realism behind the message. Although the video and audio presentations were mediocre at very best, the film, coupled with the included documentary are worth a rent. Fans may not be especially thrilled with the upgrade, but hey, if you’re going to watch it for the first time, why not go for the HD DVD?
