El Cortez (2006)

A man just released from a mental institution gets involved in a gold mine scheme while trying to avoid the cops, a wrathful drug dealer, and a sultry femme fatale.

Director:

Stephen Purvis

Writer:

Chris Haddock

Stars:

Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Weitz, Glenn Plummer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Manny DeSilva
Bruce Weitz	...	Popcorn
Glenn Plummer	...	Jack Clay
Tracy Middendorf	...	Theda
James McDaniel	...	Arnie
Peter Onorati	...	Carlo Russo
Shelley Malil	...	Prison Doctor
David Johann	...	Prison Guard
Robin Adair	...	Cecile
Kathleen LaGue	...	Waitress
Joseph Griffin	...	Frank
Deborah Cresswell	...	Hotel Clerk
Edoardo Ballerini	...	Roy Morrison
Josh Estrada	...	Sam
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Helena

Storyline

A man just released from a mental institution gets involved in a gold mine scheme while trying to avoid the cops, a wrathful drug dealer, and a sultry femme fatale.

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Plot Keywords:

gold mine | male full frontal nudity | neo noir | independent film

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Taglines:

Things started out pretty good...

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexuality, some violence and drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Official MySpace Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2007 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Three for the Devil

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Three-Four Productions LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Arnie: Junkie fever. Just think of it like you do Theda. Can't get enough, even when you got her. Theda's in your blood. Dreamland, Manny... You know where that is? You can think things, see things that are real. But they're not real... like a waking nightmare.

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Crazy Credits

This movie is dedicated to people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders

User Reviews

El Cortez Review

In the era of instant gratification, high action car chases, and predictable plot outcomes, it's nice to see a film that exemplifies the definition of film noir. This is what El Cortez can provide for audiences, a smart, dynamic, and unique film noir. Directed by Stephen Purvis, written by Chris Haddock, and lead by Lou Diamond Phillips in an outstanding cast, El Cortez, features all of those things that movie goers love to see. It has mystery, romance, suspense, humor and violence, it's a film that both genders will enjoy.

The film takes place in a local hotel in Reno, Nevada, and it revolves around it's autistic care taker, Manny DeSilva (Phillips), and his mysterious hotel guests. Although most of the actors, besides Lou Diamond Phillips, are unknown, they all deliver spectacular performances. The protagonist Manny, played exceedingly by Lou Diamond Phillips, is a complex middle-aged autistic man, who has a violent past, and is surrounded by people who seek to exploit him for his disability. El Cortez revolutionizes the way that autistic characters should be portrayed. Manny is strong, intelligent, complex, but also very vulnerable. As he tries to make a better future for himself, Manny's violent past catches up with him, and he's thrown into a world of deception, love, and betrayal. Lou Diamond Phillip's performance is not the typical way autistic characters have been represented in previous films, and Manny's character illustrates the complexity and dynamics of autistic people.

"Come to a place where secret's lie," is the tagline of the film, and it illustrates the mystery and complexity of this film noir. El Cortez is full of twists and suspense, however, in an age of constant plot twists (seen in most M. Night Shyamalan's films), "twists" have now become the norm. It seems that ever movie has to have an unsuspecting plot twist, including El Cortez. However, I feel that the plot twist of this film does not flow well, and will not make sense to most audiences. This is the only aspect of the film that I disliked. The rest of the film went against the typical Hollywood norms, but at the end, it succumbed to the typical Hollywood explosions, and a plot twist that's unpredictable, but out of place as well. Overall, I would recommend this film, due to it's humor, mystery, suspense, and charm, despite its typical ending. 2 ½ out of 4 stars.