My Family

Rating:
Summary: WE NEED MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE!
Review: "My Family" is one of those movies which has something for everyone. It has action when the mother returns to California and has to cross a rapid river. It has love when one of the family members marries to keep a woman from being deported and then they fall in love. It has tragedy when the woman dies giving birth. It has humor when a little boy plays cowboy in his birthday suit when new relatives visit. At times it was difficult to remember who was who by name, but overall it was a great insight into the strength of the Hispanic culture and into the family structure.

Rating:
Summary: Full of life, love, laughter, and tears
Review: A supremely well-done movie that evokes laughter and tears. It touched my heart and brought waves of nostalgia for the 50's and 60's in southern California. The characters and the story are deep and colorful. One of my all-time favorites!

Rating:
Summary: this movie realy moved my sences, becose i am mexican.
Review: As this article told us. "my family" is a sumary of many families in U.S.A., a lot of people see your oun life in this movie.

Rating:
Summary: complete nonsense
Review: Being Mexican-American, this film was a complete bore for me. It seemed that this film was filled with hate towards anyone who was not Mexican or latin. This is not what Mexican people do. Well some do but no all. Yes some Mexicans do not like white people or anyone who is not of their race. Sad but true. Reverse racism does exist in minority groups, black, latin, oriental. This film thinks it is okay to cross the border illegally, and lie to get a green card. It shows if you excede in life and make something of yourself and marry a white woman you instantely are ashamed of your heritage. I am never going to get the two hours I wasted watching this film. This film does the same thing many blacks film do, and that is blame white people for all the troubles that befall all minority groups. Which I don't undertand. As I said before I am Mexican-American, but I hate having to put that down. I am not ashamed of my heritage but why do we have to put hythens before Ameican? Aren't we all United States citizens. Can't we all speak english?, learn to be American?, learn the America way of life. I know I have, hell I was born here. Seeing this movie and wating for it to end I was completely astounded that I laughed at the way this film protrayed A Mexican family. No latin girl who became a nun would leave the church to marry a priest. She would fear going to hell, or commit suicide. Being Roman Catholic, we are raised not to question the church and never to abondon it. The whole family would have disowned her for leaving the church and becoming a advocate for illegals. Some latin families would forgive the latter though. Oh, by the way her white husband was protayed in benign light only because he was an ex-priest. Excuse me but way before the sixties all immigrants and that means all immigrants of all nationalities wanted to come to the U.S. and become citizens of this country. They left their country and learned english taught their children english, and wanted their kids to be Americans not Mexicans, Chinese, Italians, Germans, Irish, Russian, French, Dutch, etc. But American. I understand one has to keep your heritage, but does a family just forget to be American or do some people want to bring the entire country here and make a little community that excludes the rest of world out. That what it seems to me. This film was all about "LA RAZA!!!". Please, anything with James Edward Olmos is nothing but a socialist propaganda film. Just a bit of history before I end this. The "Gringo" did not steal Mexican land. The spanish signed it over to the the U.S.A. because they lost the land in the Battle of San Jancinto. Santa Ana was not even Mexican, he was Spanish and a dictator who was harrassing the Texans. So the Texans who were not all "Gringos", (Many Mexicans and indians fought in the battle of the Alamo and they all died along with the "Gringos".), fought for independance from the tyranny that was Spain.
***this is a rewrite so please post this one instead of the previous one***

Rating:
Summary: my family
Review: best mexican american story line of the struggle most mexican families live. Good story line and very good actors.

Rating:
Summary: Moving Family Drama
Review: First impressions of sweeping epics are usually mundane. Not so with MY FAMILY. This movie will grab you by the heartstrings and never let go. It speaks to every nationality, not just Mexicans. It is filled with raw emotion, love, loyalty and the trials of living life sometimes with odds stacked against you. All performances were impressive, but especially Jimmy Smits who gives leaves a searing impression as Jimmy, the youngest son. By the film's end, you want to take stock of relationships in your own family, appreciate the ties that bind, and thank God for His blessings.

Rating:
Summary: MOVING FAMILY DRAMA
Review: First impressions of sweeping epics are usually mundane; not so with MY FAMILY. This movie really grabs your heartstrings. It speaks to every nationality, not just Mexicans. It's filled with raw emotion, love, loyalty and the trials of lives sometimes filled with nearly insurmountable odds. All performances were memorable, but especially Jimmy Smits' who gives a searing performance as Jimmy, the youngest son. By the film's end, you will be compelled to take stock of relationships in your own family, appreciate the ties that bind and the power of forgiveness, then thank God for His blessings, both big and small.

Rating:
Summary: For the real fans like me
Review: For the real fans like me dont f**king forget...this was the debut movie of noone less that the major hottie JENNIFER LOPEZ

Rating:
Summary: My Family/Mi Familia
Review: I am a non-Hispanic who stumbled upon "My Family" by chance; I had heard about it from reviewers Ebert and Roeper. The effect this film had on me was unprecedented. I was moved and delighted beyond measure by its artistry, its story, and its performances. "My Family" transcended other films of its genre, such as "Avalon" and "Sunshine," because its power and beauty make it the best representation of family ethnicity ever displayed on film, and its universality is sublime.

The film is beautifully photographed, filtered through a haze of color which brings to mind precious memories. It is both mythic and realistic, with scenes that seem like archetypes of family love and tragedy. The beginning is humorous and poignant, where the hero Jose Sanchez learns of the existence of "another country" on the other side of the world. The love and family joy of the married couple, Jose and Maria, are marred only by the intolerance of government bureaucracy and the culture clash experienced by their children. The gorgeous costumes, haunting folk music and period songs, and the magnificent colors of the interiors of the family home, all combine to make the film indelibly rich. The tragic moments are deeply engraved on our consciousness by that brilliant filmmaker, Gregory Nava. The conclusion, in which Jose and Maria state their gratitude for their wonderful life together, in spite of heartless tragedy, is transcendent.

The fine performances have been heralded by many critics, but I would like to recognize one in particular. Elpidia Carillo, as the tragic Isabel, is deserving of an Academy Award. In addition, Jennifer Lopez and Jacob Vargas as the young Jose and Maria are admirable. The magnificent starring turns of Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales, aided by Eduardo Lopez Rojas and Jenny Gago, are unforgettable. Everyone who worked on this fine film did a superb job; they made it more than a movie, but rather an experience that permanently warms and expands the heart.

Helen Bennett

Rating:
Summary: My Family/Mi Familia
Review: I am a non-Hispanic who stumbled upon "My Family" by chance; I had heard about it from reviewers Ebert and Roeper. The effect this film had on me was unprecedented. I was moved and delighted beyond measure by its artistry, its story, and its performances. "My Family" transcended other films of its genre, such as "Avalon" and "Sunshine," because its power and beauty make it the best representation of family ethnicity ever displayed on film, and its universality is sublime.

The film is beautifully photographed, filtered through a haze of color which brings to mind precious memories. It is both mythic and realistic, with scenes that seem like archetypes of family love and tragedy. The beginning is humorous and poignant, where the hero Jose Sanchez learns of the existence of "another country" on the other side of the world. The love and family joy of the married couple, Jose and Maria, are marred only by the intolerance of government bureaucracy and the culture clash experienced by their children. The gorgeous costumes, haunting folk music and period songs, and the magnificent colors of the interiors of the family home, all combine to make the film indelibly rich. The tragic moments are deeply engraved on our consciousness by that brilliant filmmaker, Gregory Nava. The conclusion, in which Jose and Maria state their gratitude for their wonderful life together, in spite of heartless tragedy, is transcendent.

The fine performances have been heralded by many critics, but I would like to recognize one in particular. Elpidia Carillo, as the tragic Isabel, is deserving of an Academy Award. In addition, Jennifer Lopez and Jacob Vargas as the young Jose and Maria are admirable. The magnificent starring turns of Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales, aided by Eduardo Lopez Rojas and Jenny Gago, are unforgettable. Everyone who worked on this fine film did a superb job; they made it more than a movie, but rather an experience that permanently warms and expands the heart.

Helen Bennett