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American Me
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American Me (1992) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 9 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
American Me (1992) -- Open-ended Trailer from MCA
American Me (1992) -- When Santana's son Paulito comes to visit him in prison, he knows something is wrong.
American Me (1992) -- While Pedro has sex, the guys on the inside are raping and killing the son of a rival gang, juxtaposing the blurry lines between sex, power, and violence.
American Me (1992) -- Santana goes shopping with Yolanda, who reminds him that life is different on the outside.
American Me (1992) -- A young kid overdoses on extra-strong heroin.

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   2,373 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 12% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Edward James Olmos
Writers (WGA):
Floyd Mutrux (story)
Floyd Mutrux (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for American Me on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 March 1992 (USA) more
Tagline:
In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.
Plot:
A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Five: Stand Out Pieces Of Violent Urban Cinema
 (From LateFilmFull. 7 April 2009, 5:44 AM, PDT)

Olmos Honored On Latino Walk Of Fame
 (From WENN. 18 December 2000)

User Comments:
Excellent directorial debut from Edward James Olmos. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sal Lopez ... Pedro Santana
Vira Montes ... Esperanza Santana
Roberto Martín Márquez ... Acha (as Robert Martin Marquez)

Dyana Ortelli ... Yolanda
Joe Aubel ... Tattoo Artist
Rob Garrett ... Zoot Riot Bystander

Lance August ... Young Sailor
Cody Glenn ... Older Sailor

Don Pugsley ... Police Officer
Panchito Gómez ... Young Montoya Santana (as Panchito Gomez)
Albert Joe Medina Jr. ... Street Mechanic
Alex Solís ... Street Mechanic (as Alex Solis)
Raymond Amezquita ... Abuelito

Steve Wilcox ... Young JD

Richard Coca ... Young Mundo
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
125 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #31589)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The enforcer leader of the Aryan Brotherhood during the killing spree in Compton is played by legendary biker-movie star William Smith. more
Quotes:
Montoya Santana: Whatever I did to you or to mama... to make you hate me, I'm sorry.
Pedro Santana: Your mother was a beautiful woman. She made me feel proud. She was 19 years old. Raped... by sailors. After it happened, we never talked about it. Then we got married and we tried to forget. When you were born, I tried to love you. But every time I looked at you, I wondered who your real father was. I wondered which sailor's blood you carried inside of you.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) more
Soundtrack:
I Want to Take You Higher more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 20 people found the following comment useful:-
Excellent directorial debut from Edward James Olmos., 22 June 2004
10/10
Author: Captain_Couth (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA

American Me (1992) was the directing debut of long time character actor Edward James Olmos. This film is a historical fiction depiction of the rise of La Emme, The Mexican Mafia. The movie follows the lives of three street gang members who by a sad twist of fate end up in Juvenille Hall. From there they graduate to the big time. Folsom Prison. Inside the walls of Folsom, the three form the most powerful gang inside the California Penal System.

Olmos turns the story into a Shakespherian tragedy. A story about a dangerous cycle that repeats over and over within certain communities and how the lack of education can be dangerous. Like they say, an idle mind is the devil's playground. Many of these characters had too much "idle time" before they hit rock bottom. Olmos' direction, editing and use of lighting is that of a long time film-maker. The cinematography complements his directorial style. He makes these figures into noble persons who live and die by a code forged from blood, shanks and sweat. Great stuff from Mr. Olmos, a true masterpiece from a first time director.

Sadly, Mr. Olmos has took a lot of flack for this film and has made some powerful people very angry. If I were him I would have taken a safer route and gave the prison gangs some fake names and cut all ties to any "Technical Support" but that's not his style. He should be commended for his efforts because others wouldn't have the courage or conviction to do this. Mr. Olmos doesn't glamorize the lifestyle either. Although they're men of honor amongst themselves I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. But what people have to do to stay alive in prison should not be looked down upon and on the other hand, when one's on the outside they should leave what they learned within the prison walls. Because it's a whole different ball game out here.

Highly recommended.

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