THE REVIEW VAULT---Sin Nombre

Welcome to another edition of THE REVIEW VAULT, where I tell like it is good or bad!

There are very few films that truly grasp the struggles of people that have been in pursuit of the American Dream. Especially when you hear the news or read something about immigrants trying to get over the border in Mexico just so they can get their chance at having their dreams come true. Sin Nombre is written & directed by Cary Fukunaga, a recent graduate of NYU whom made a film that has a Shakespeare influenced story set throughout Mexico that while predictable still holds it weight with other drama driven films with some great performances and wonderful cinematography. This is Fukunaga’s first film and it is told in such a way that is refreshing since there aren’t many films that are set within the social climates of Mexico. To begin taking a look at a simple journey to that land of opportunity, let’s take a look at the story for Sin Nombre.

The Story is set within parts of Torreon, Coahuila, Guatemala, and other parts of Mexico starting with the conflicted gang member El Casper aka Willy (Played brilliantly by Edgar Flores) helping Smiley, (Kristian Ferrer) an eight year old boy be recruited into the Mara Salvatrucha Brotherhood whom he has been apart of for years and has now been apart of an ongoing war with the Barros. He has become tired of being apart of the gang when he falls in love with Marta Marlene (Diana Garcia) and wants to be with her for as long as he can. However, Marta pays the price by being accidentally killed by Lil' Mago, the leader of the Mara Brotherhood (Tenoch Huerta Mejia). Lil Mago teaches both Casper and Smiley a lesson by having his followers give them beatings and then decides to have them prove their loyalty by robbing a train full of immigrants trying to get to the border. Little did Mago know, Casper has become encased with rage against him and decides to do something that would have him sign his own death warrant.

The other story follows Honduran immigrant teen Sayra (Paulina Gaitan) whom is on a journey with her uncle and brother to get to U.S. then to New Jersey to a place that most people need seek for in their lives…a home. They are rob eventually by Lil’ Mago, Smiley, and El Casper when Lil' Mago is tempted by his sexual desire and decides to rape Sayra. Casper saves Sayra by killing Mago and letting Smiley live by letting him go only to be hunted by Smiley and every gang in Mexico throughout the story. Afterward, Casper and Sayra go on a journey full of hope, love and death to get to the place that many have called the land of opportunity. While it is an engrossing story along with having compelling characters whom are played exceptionally well by unknown actors, it suffers from not having a original idea meaning it is simple story that has a familiar tone that we have seen all too many times.

Cinematography is always important for films after all it determines how we are going to view the actors and great locales we see on the big screen. This is one of those films that is beautiful to look at whenever it is on the trains, ghettos or rural parts of Mexico, you get a sense of grandeur to each of the places you see in Sin Nombre. The real heroes of Sin Nombre here is the Editing which is very well organized here along with been well paced and great moments of suspense as to if Casper and Sayra are going to be caught by Smiley and the Mara Brotherhood. I have to mention the Score for Sin Nombre which is so elegantly done and has a creepy ambient tone to the film, it gives a sense of danger to each of the scenes as if YOU were being chase by the gangs out for your blood. Sin Nombre has some of the best cinematography that I have seen in a long time along with have a compelling score to boot and great editing to make a work of art.

For the most part Sin Nombre is set within a modern time but with a very Shakespearean tone to the film. That may seem like a turn off to most people but its brilliant cinematography, phenomenal performances, great editing and suspense, and compelling score make for something that seems like a love song to fans of Indie films. Cary Fukunaga first film is fill with hopes and promise of a director who hits all the right notes and made a film that not only grips us to edge of our seats but makes us care for the characters emotional. I will definitely want to see what Mr. Fukunaga has to offer in the future to us movie goers since this director has shown has a lot of potential for a relevant newcomer to the movie industry. Sin Nombre is yet another sleeper hit film of 2009 even if it is not original film, this is an example of taking an idea and building upon it to make something poetic and beautiful that I hope will get some attention before the summer movie season starts.

My film gets a: FULL PRICE!
Sin Nombre is full price all the way and should be seen before the whole summer movie craze begins. (gulps....)

Hope you enjoy this review and until then, Later! ;)

Sources: IMDB, Wikipedia – Photos Copyrighted to Focus Features