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IMDbPro

El Cortez

  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
565
YOUR RATING
Lou Diamond Phillips in El Cortez (2006)
Home Video Trailer from ElektroFilm
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
2 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
565
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stephen Purvis
  • Writer
    • Chris Haddock
  • Stars
    • Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Bruce Weitz
    • Glenn Plummer
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stephen Purvis
  • Writer
    • Chris Haddock
  • Stars
    • Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Bruce Weitz
    • Glenn Plummer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
    • 36Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    El Cortez
    Trailer 1:59
    El Cortez

    Photos

    Lou Diamond Phillips, James McDaniel, and Tracy Middendorf in El Cortez (2006)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lou Diamond Phillips
    Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Manny DeSilvaas Manny DeSilva
    Bruce Weitz
    Bruce Weitz
    • Popcornas Popcorn
    Glenn Plummer
    Glenn Plummer
    • Jack Clayas Jack Clay
    Tracy Middendorf
    Tracy Middendorf
    • Thedaas Theda
    James McDaniel
    James McDaniel
    • Arnieas Arnie
    Peter Onorati
    Peter Onorati
    • Carlo Russoas Carlo Russo
    Shelley Malil
    Shelley Malil
    • Prison Doctoras Prison Doctor
    David Johann
    • Prison Guardas Prison Guard
    Robin Adair
    • Cecileas Cecile
    Kathleen LaGue
    Kathleen LaGue
    • Waitressas Waitress
    Joseph Griffin
    Joseph Griffin
    • Frankas Frank
    Deborah Cresswell
    Deborah Cresswell
    • Hotel Clerkas Hotel Clerk
    Edoardo Ballerini
    Edoardo Ballerini
    • Roy Morrisonas Roy Morrison
    Josh Estrada
    • Samas Sam
    Pat Crawford Brown
    Pat Crawford Brown
    • Helenaas Helena
    Dan Speaker
    Dan Speaker
    • Street Thugas Street Thug
    Caia Coley
    Caia Coley
    • Louiseas Louise
    Scott Cummins
    Scott Cummins
    • Car Salesmanas Car Salesman
    • Director
      • Stephen Purvis
    • Writer
      • Chris Haddock
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Manny: What goes around, comes around. I believe in that.

    • Crazy credits
      This movie is dedicated to people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Some Murky Flashbacks
    El Cortez is a film that presents Lou Diamond Phillips in an unusual character, an autistic soul who as most of them has an inability to relate to his surroundings. He reacted violently to one such situation and spent some time in a mental institution. Since his release he now has a menial job as a desk clerk in a fleabag hotel in Reno, Nevada named the El Cortez.

    Being he's Lou Diamond Phillips he arouses the interest in Tracy Middendorf who is the girl friend of drug dealer Glenn Plummer. Plummer is the jealous type and only through some murky flashbacks do we get a hint that maybe the Lou we see is someone who can handle the situation if the need arises. Lou also has his arresting officer James McDaniel interested as well. McDaniel never believed in that 'not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect' crap that got Phillips off. If he can't get him behind bars then he'll harass him so that Phillips will be his snitch.

    But the worst of it for him might just be Bruce Weitz who is a paraplegic staying at the hotel whom Lou saves from some muggers. Turns out that Weitz is a con man and he's got some kind of gold mine scheme working on a mark played by Peter Onorati.

    All these plot elements come together and it's interesting to see how it all works out.

    El Cortez is a kind of poor man's Forrest Gump where Lou Diamond Phillips is hardly a fringe player in great events of our time the way Tom Hanks was. The film itself is a minor effort, but what Lou Diamond Phillips does with the character is fascinating. El Cortez is definitely for his legion of fans of which I am one.
    helpful•2
    2
    • bkoganbing
    • Feb 2, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 27, 2007 (Hungary)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Three for the Devil
    • Filming locations
      • Reno, Nevada, USA
    • Production company
      • Three-Four Productions LLC
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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