Rating: 
Summary: MOSTLY HARMLESS
Review: A fairly decent attempt at portraying the struggles of hispanic immigrants in America. A little heavy handed at times - Rosa's big speech to Maya explaining why she does the things she does - the forman's two dimensional character - and of course, the really, really sick husband. Things are bad for illegal immigrants and this movie goes out of its way to make things even worse for its characters by compounding multiple problems just to make sure the viewer understands what hardships these people endure. I didn't feel enlightened at movie's end because I think you'd have to live in a box not to have some idea that things are tough for them. I thought Brody's performance was good - he has a particular knack for delivering realistic dialog (see The Pianist for confirmation of his skill). Overall, not a bad movie, but not brilliant nor shocking.
Rating: 
Summary: The next DeNiro
Review: Bread and Roses shows us the world of the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles who clean buildings for sub-standard wages and no benefits. Life is a daily stuggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. These poor people live in fear that they will be fired without cause and turned into beggars. Often enough their worst fears are realized. They watch helplessly as their friends are demeaned, mistreated, and thrown out on the street.A union organizer,Sam, capably played by Adrien Brody, tries to organize these frightened and abused people. He meets Maya, Pilar Padilla, who works as a janitor in an office building thanks to help she received from her sister Rosa, wonderfully played by Elpidia Carrillo. Maya has recently been smuggled into Los Angeles by "coyotes," men who take advantage of poor Mexicans who want a chance at the good life in America. She still has her hopes and idealism intact and argues with her sister to help Sam deliver his message to all the janitors at the building where they work. Rosa has lost her idealism and much of her hope years ago. She stuggles to pay her bills, support a sick husband, and maintain her health and sanity, both of which she is in danger of losing. In the most moving scene of this film, or any other the viewer is likely to see anytime soon, Rosa explains to Maya how she has had to degrade herself to live and support her family. She is a good person who has prostituted herself to survive. Her description of the years she has submitted to the beastial behavior of the animals who prey on the weak and powerless women who want nothing more than bread to eat and a roof over their head will not soon be forgotten by any sensitive viewer. For Sam and the union, bread is a start, but they also want roses for the people who clean up after us day after day. The message of this film is a compelling one. Director Ken Loach always keeps his eyes on this main theme -- justice for the underpriviledged in our society. He shows us the humanity of the real people who struggle each day to make a living, often without losing their dignity and sense of humor. The entire cast turns in solid performances, but it is Elpidia Carrillo who shines above the rest. She deserved an Academy Award nomination for her startling performance. Her work in Bread and Roses is reason enough for me to recommend this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Elpidia Carrillo shines in Bread and Roses.
Review: Bread and Roses shows us the world of the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles who clean buildings for sub-standard wages and no benefits. Life is a daily stuggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. These poor people live in fear that they will be fired without cause and turned into beggars. Often enough their worst fears are realized. They watch helplessly as their friends are demeaned, mistreated, and thrown out on the street. A union organizer,Sam, capably played by Adrien Brody, tries to organize these frightened and abused people. He meets Maya, Pilar Padilla, who works as a janitor in an office building thanks to help she received from her sister Rosa, wonderfully played by Elpidia Carrillo. Maya has recently been smuggled into Los Angeles by "coyotes," men who take advantage of poor Mexicans who want a chance at the good life in America. She still has her hopes and idealism intact and argues with her sister to help Sam deliver his message to all the janitors at the building where they work. Rosa has lost her idealism and much of her hope years ago. She stuggles to pay her bills, support a sick husband, and maintain her health and sanity, both of which she is in danger of losing. In the most moving scene of this film, or any other the viewer is likely to see anytime soon, Rosa explains to Maya how she has had to degrade herself to live and support her family. She is a good person who has prostituted herself to survive. Her description of the years she has submitted to the beastial behavior of the animals who prey on the weak and powerless women who want nothing more than bread to eat and a roof over their head will not soon be forgotten by any sensitive viewer. For Sam and the union, bread is a start, but they also want roses for the people who clean up after us day after day. The message of this film is a compelling one. Director Ken Loach always keeps his eyes on this main theme -- justice for the underpriviledged in our society. He shows us the humanity of the real people who struggle each day to make a living, often without losing their dignity and sense of humor. The entire cast turns in solid performances, but it is Elpidia Carrillo who shines above the rest. She deserved an Academy Award nomination for her startling performance. Her work in Bread and Roses is reason enough for me to recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: The next DeNiro
Review: I just finished watching the movie, and Brody has such an incredibly subtle, yet powerful performance, I rank him as the of the next greatest actors of his generation. The supporting cast comprised of actors with little or no name attached to them are incredible and memorable. George Lopez delivers an outstanding performance. For those who are only familiar with his comedy, this film sheds a new light on a very talented man. The acting and writing are outstanding, to a point that you really forget that you are not watching just another day in the life of these characters.
Rating:
Summary: I never cry, but...
Review: I never cry. I'm often very moved, particularly with social causes and injustices, but I rarely cry. This film had me sobbing. It's incredible. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. love and solidarity!
Rating:
Summary: not quite norma rae
Review: I was so ready to love this movie, and so glad to see any kind of positive media around immigrants' struggle and the JFJ campaign, and for the most part the film did portray the injustices suffered by immigrants and the importance of organizing, but....I thought the hookup betweeen the organizer and Maya was unnecessary and morally questionable....there wasn't much of a buildup towards their relationship and it seemed a bit gratuitous. I wasn't sure what to think about Maya ripping off a convenience store either. Maybe I shouldn't expect the underdog to be morally pure, but it still left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn't a perfect movie but I'm glad the issue was covered in popular film.
Rating:
Summary: A little, humble homage to hard-working immigrants
Review: I went to see this picture without much information in a small budget theater. Humble also is the movie itself. Certainly one can only like Pilar Padilla in her role as an outspoken working woman that ends up as a Latina Norma Rae. Yet, there is a long distance with Sally Field. The power of the movie is not on the performances (quite credible and engaging); it is in the story itself. "Bread and roses" becomes a demand for social justice with a twist: "Don't give us just bread, we have the right to enjoy the roses too." Life for the exploited immigrants (and any worker) should not be restricted to their permanent demand for job and food. Life requires a little indulgence: the right to enjoy it fully and rightfully.
Rating:
Summary: IT'S A GEM!!!!!
Review: It is such a treat to see a film that tells a story so beautifully. I laughed, I cried and loved every moment of this emotional rollercoaster ride. I was also glad to watch a true FILM, about REAL people.
The other pleasure was to watch strong women characters in a film which were perfectly portrayed by the Latina actresses. This has been added to my list of favorite films.
Rating:
Summary: Brody's Appeal Perks Up This NORMA RAE for Hispanic Janitors
Review: Ken Loach's kitchen-sink drama about the hardships of illegal aliens under the thumb of exploitative employers is driven by excellent performances, particularly the three leads. Pilar Padilla and Elpidia Carillo give bravura portrayals of long-suffering Mexican sisters in L.A.; Maya (Padilla) is feisty and cunning, while her self-sacrificing older sister Rosa (Carillo) has grown resigned to her own and her family's lot in life. As Sam Shapiro, a labor activist who helps Maya and her fellow Hispanic janitors in a high-rise office building to form a union, Adrien Brody's blend of earnestness and mischief really livens up this well-meaning, often moving, occasionally didactic film. Brody's beard and bedhead make him look especially cuddly; no wonder the engaging Padilla eventually drags him into a closet for some hot and heavy nookie! :-) (My husband also remarked that all that hair made Brody's prominent proboscis look, well, less prominent -- not that Brody's noble nose ever bothered me, thank you very much! :-).
Rating:
Summary: The Bittersweet Of Seeking
Review: Maya's smile at the end of her short journey to seek a better life for herself reveals more than an acceptance of her tough breaks. She has participated in a short struggle to do something for others and has succeeded. Her young male co-worker can set out on his personal road to a better way of life. She has helped her co-workers achieve economic gains on the job. But a sweeter victory is that she has achioeved a rapprochement with her sister Rosa. Rosa, in a visceral moment of truth bares a searing denunciation of the exploitation of people, and especiall;y of women, in trying to achieve a small piece of life's offerings in happiness. The dichotomy of what corporate structures offer and what the most menial of workers receive at their hands is realistically exposed. The film does not preach this lesson. Rather it allows the viewer to draw conclusions regarding the struggles of mere common people in seeking some happiness in the midst of degrading working conditions. Working people come off with inner strength,a respect for bonding and an empathy for their fellow working people.
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