La linea (2008)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

James Cotten

Writer:

R. Ellis Frazier (writer)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Stay on your side.

Plot:

The unstable new kingpin of a Tijuana drug cartel is targeted by an assassin for elimination.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Mexico

Cast

Ray Liotta	...	Mark Shields
Andy Garcia	...	Javier Salazar
Esai Morales	...	Pelon
Armand Assante	...	Padre Antonio
Valerie Cruz	...	Olivia
Danny Trejo	...	Mario
Bruce Davison	...	Anthony
Joe Morton	...	Hodges
Jordi Vilasuso	...	Diablo
Kevin Gage	...	Wire
Gary Daniels	...	Martin
Victoria Elizabeth	...	Ana
David Ackert	...	Mohommad
Kahlil Joseph	...	Omar
Antonio Jaramillo	...	Raul

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexual material, language and drug content.

Runtime:

Germany:95 min (European Film Market)

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | USA:R (certificate #45453)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Baja Films Internacional

A Masterful Work

The film left a strong impression on me, which is why I'm an ardent supporter of and proponent for it. I love crime/gangster dramas, because a well-made one is able to compress and magnify human emotions through a clear-cut dramatic arc of its main characters. The nature of the genre means that the highest possible stakes are in play -- namely human life. When this is complicated by a flawed protagonist, as Ray Liotta's character certainly is, who also is propelled along a spiritual arc parallel to the dramatic one, then the story becomes even more interesting and compelling.

Of course, it all starts with Mr. Frazier's screenplay, which was excellent. I have to give credit to the director, Mr. Cotten, as well, but the lyrical, poetic, almost operatic tone of the film comes from the script. His writing drew me in, captured my imagination, and was emotionally resonant. I spent a lot of time in Tijuana between 2004- 2008, when my friend was assigned to the U.S. Consulate there as Chief of the American Citizens Services Section, and the verisimilitude of atmosphere was not missed, which is important, since TJ itself is a character in the film.

Finally, because of all these effective elements and components (great writing, acting, art direction, cinematography and direction), the film took me on a journey that I wanted to go on, and didn't cheat me emotionally. Some stories are served and heightened by ambiguous endings, but 'La Linea' called for a clearly-defined one, and the denouement was perfect. And even with the integrity of the story logic, I never saw the plot twist at the end coming! It was a satisfying one, and again, a sign of great writing. I truly hope that the film receives the recognition that it deserves