American Me (1992)

A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.

Director:

Edward James Olmos

Writers:

Floyd Mutrux (story), Floyd Mutrux (screenplay),

Stars:

Sal Lopez, Vira Montes, Edward James Olmos

1 nomination.

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

Storyline

This epic depiction of thirty years of Chicano gang life in Los Angeles focuses on a teen named Santana who, with his friends Mundo and the Caucasian-but-acting-Hispanic J.D., form their own gang and are soon arrested for a break-in. Santana gets into trouble again and goes straight from reform school to prison, spending eighteen year there, and becoming leader of a powerful gang, both inside and outside the prison, while there. When he is finally released, he tries to make sense of the violence in his life, in a world much changed from when last he was in it.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | gang | mafia | raped with a weapon | solitary confinement | 

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Taglines:

In prison they are the law. On the streets they are the power.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and sensuality, and for language and drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sans rémission

Filming Locations:

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$13,086,430 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Olmos Productions, Universal Pictures, YOY

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the prison parts of the movie, Olmos managed to get on screen real-life gang members from the Bloods and Crips, Aryan Brotherhood, Nazi Lowriders, Hell's Angels, 18th Street, White Fence, La Colonia de Watts, Dogtown, East Side Clover and the infamous Black Guerilla Family.

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Quotes

Montoya Santana: What we'd done in Compton was wrong. It was supposed to be business, but came out racial. We wanted to send a message to BGF about staying away from our business. And we sent a bunch of fucking cowboys in other people's home turf, talkin trash and shooting some guy in the dick.
J.D.: I don't know what's wrong with you. I don' know if it is that woman or what? But you're starting to show weakness and we both know that you can't do that.

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Connections

Referenced in Blood In, Blood Out (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Rockin' Robin"
Written by Leon René (as Jimmie Thomas)
Performed by Bobby Day
Courtesy of Sid Talmadge
by arrangement with Celebrity Licensing Inc./Original Sound Entertainment

User Reviews

Powerful Prison Scenes

American Me was the first film to paint an accurate picture of what it can like in America's prison system. Most films in this genre have a Hollywoodized portrayal of live behind bars. Olmos's tale of latino gang life in and outside of prison is right on the mark. This is a good film to show to all those would be gangbangers out there that think prison is cool.