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:

Edward James Olmos, William Forsythe, Sal Lopez

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 years 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

gay rape | prison | gang | reform school | violence | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Romance

---

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)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,378,100, 15 March 1992, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$13,086,430

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

Danny Trejo warned Edward James Olmos not to film the movie due to the death threats he was getting from the Mexican Mafia.

---

Goofs

When the Mexican inmates are walking up with the mop and bucket to assassinate the African-American inmate, it shows the African-American inmate lying in just a t-shirt on his bed. In the next scene, after he's caught on fire, he's wearing his long sleeve button up.

---

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.

---

Connections

Spoofed in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

---

Soundtracks

Son de la Negra
Written by Jose Hernandez
Performed by Mariachi Soul de Mexico

User Reviews

Stunning

This is a stunning, disturbing, brutal tale of prison life within the California prison system, and the Mexican gangs. This movie portrays very well how ugly, and destructive, this world and this life is.

Well-acted by Edward James Olmos and William Forsythe. Character portrayals are done very well, and you almost wish these guys would come to their senses and turn away from this life. But, deep down, you know this is impossible. Emotionally disturbing portrayal of how Santana's parents horrible humiliation could literally ring down through the years, and sadly affect generations, literally blowing up this family for decades to come. A poignant message as to how the racist past of this country could have such devastating consequences. But, that's just an aside.

Well-done, thoughtful portrayal of both the tight brotherhood these guys were capable of sharing, contrasted with the utterly brutal and vicious methods used to keep order, and to settle scores.

A movie which attempts to show us the varying forces and pressures, and the twisted logic, which make a situation like this possible.