Home :: DVD :: Drama  

African American Drama
Classics
Crime & Criminals
Cult Classics
Family Life
Gay & Lesbian
General
Love & Romance
Military & War
Murder & Mayhem
Period Piece
Religion
Sports
Television
Mexico City

Mexico City

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Substandard and misguided.
Review: "Mexico City," a relatively unknown film about a woman's struggle to find her missing brother in a strange country, accomplishes two things in its short yet exceedingly lengthy running time: A) it diminishes one's intentions of ever planning a trip south of the border, and B) it provides its viewer an excuse never to watch another direct-to-video ...such as this again.

The film is an exercise in tedium, beginning with promise that becomes squandered by the usual characteristics that plague such films. The acting never manages to evoke any emotion, the direction at the hand of director/writer Richard Shepard never gives the film the uplift it needs to successfully take flight, and the overall experience of watching the film's potential being stomped into the earth is grounds for sheer disappointment.

In some ways, Shepard's story mirrors certain aspects of another film, the theatrically released "Not Without My Daughter," in which Sally Field played a real-life house wife who, while on a vacation in the Middle East with her Iranian husband, is given an extended stay she doesn't want. Here, we are introduced to brother and sister duo Mitch (Stacy Edwards) and Sam (Johnny Zander), who are stopping over in Mexico City on their way to another destination. They make nice with taxi driver Pedro (Jorge Robles), who becomes Mitch's search party partner when Sam doesn't return to their hotel the following morning.

The setup carries more weight than it deserves, and in the beginning moments, things look like they just might work. Mitch finds herself all alone and estranged by those around her. She cannot speak Spanish, though the film sidesteps major confrontations in which languages go misunderstood. She attempts to go to the police, before which a member of hotel personnel tells her, "He will turn up soon, I promise."

Once Mitch decides to go out on her own and find Sam, things start going downhill. The story ties in a subplot introduced in an early scene in the movie, that which has to do with the corrupt plan among various high-ranking police officers to humiliate the president... somehow, though not without much intelligence, it manages to find itself into Mitch's dilemna, supplying the film with an unneeded subplot that is substandard and misguided. It's almost as if the movie is taking the easy way out, right down to its haphazard ending, which is abrupt and unfocused.

Just as Shepard doesn't seem to have a firm grasp on the material, neither does his cast. Edwards is unable to instill much emotional force into Mitch; many of the scenes requiring a wide range of dynamics falter miserably when filtered through her monotone voice and cold appearance. Robles isn't given much to work with, while everyone else pretty much founders under cliche. After watching "Mexico City," I'd like to think Mitch would find it more appropriate to ask, "Have you seen my script?"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining and suspenseful
Review: I enjoyed this movie pretty much from beginning to end. It was not predictable and kept my interest. It was good to see a female character who was determined and brave. Also, the Mexican taxi driver was great as well! While the plot is a little implausible, if you suspend your disbelief, you may find the story quite absorbing and suspenseful. I recommend it for the characters and the exciting action. Stacy Edwards was outstanding.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Exciting action film
Review: I highly recommend this action film. The plot is full of suspense, the actors are well cast, and the setting feels realistic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A highly recommended hidden gem
Review: I saw Mexico City in a sneak screening. I was particularly overwhelmed by the acting. Stacy Edwards gives a multi-layered performance as MITCH who endures many Greek-styled tragedies; the death of her children, spousal infidelity, a
subsequent divorce, and her brother's mysterious disappearance. At the hand of a lesser director -- and actress -- these instances would have surpassed any
audience's suspension of disbelief, but Shepard and Edwards triumph, delivering a truly great tragedy of their own.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Superb Acting!
Review: I saw Mexico City in a sneak screening. I was particularly overwhelmed by the acting. Stacy Edwards gives a multi-layered performance as MITCH who endures many Greek-styled tragedies; the death of her children, spousal infidelity, a
subsequent divorce, and her brother's mysterious disappearance. At the hand of a lesser director -- and actress -- these instances would have surpassed any
audience's suspension of disbelief, but Shepard and Edwards triumph, delivering a truly great tragedy of their own.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Definetely watchable if not applaudable
Review: I was quite suprised to find my self sitting down to take in this movie twice right after I had already watched it once.

In a place like Mexico, where one tends to think that the triple threat of death violence and corruption are more rampant than other parts of North America, this movie takes a more or less sublime approach in its portrayal of it.

The contrast on the psychological landscape is onmipresent. Whereas in parts the movie seems rather slow and dull, it is the constant threat of violence from one incident to the next that propels the movie in a reverse spiral that keeps the movie goer engaged.

Also in Hollywood, it is rare to find sibling pictures that involve the relationship of brother/sister and the main protagonist, in search of her brother, is admirable in her selfless and heroic effort to locate him.

A dazzling ending that is impossible to guess up until the final farame, shows the ingenuity of the writer and the story line and gives one pause for thought long after the final credits have rolled up.

Highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A highly recommended hidden gem
Review: Mexico City is a dark, taut, and atmospheric thriller with a nicely complex performance by Stacy Edwards and a charming one from newcomer Jorge Robles. Proof that you don't need a Hollywood-sized budget to tell a dramatic, suspenseful story and keep an audience captivated.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining and suspenseful
Review: Mexico City is a good movie for those looking for a mystery film, without the typical Hollywood feel. the acting was decent and the story keeps moving. What I liked most is that the movie will suprise you with new clues that link up the mystery. Some suspensful scenes too. I thought the fild was beautifully shot and choreographed too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good sleeper
Review: Mexico City is a good movie for those looking for a mystery film, without the typical Hollywood feel. the acting was decent and the story keeps moving. What I liked most is that the movie will suprise you with new clues that link up the mystery. Some suspensful scenes too. I thought the fild was beautifully shot and choreographed too.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Thought-Provoking Thriller
Review: Richard Shepard's fascination with the kidnapping thriller has yielded another successful twisted tale in MEXICO CITY (the other two: MERCY and OXYGEN). Combining deft genre filmmaking chops with real insight into what it means to feel truly vulnerable, in MEXICO CITY, Shepard leads the viewer down a uniquely ravaged road of intrigue, deception, heartbreak and loss.

Cinematographer Sarah Cawley is equally at the top of her game, painting many moody tableaus. Editor Adam Lichtenstein ably sets Cawley's rich compositions against each other, adding heft to the story's impact. Rolfe Kent's score completes the circle by perfectly echoing Shepard's search for faith in a seemingly godless world.

Let me qualify by saying that MEXICO CITY is by no means perfect, but if a thought-provoking thriller is what you're after, then see this film.


<< 1 2 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates