Anyone into Latino prison movies?

3 best friends that grow up in the barrios of Los Angeles end up on opposite sides of the fence as adults. The youthful gangster (Benjamin Bratt), enlists in the military and becomes a cop. The gangster wannabe ends up in prison and runs the chicano gang from the prison. And the artist that becomes famous with his paintings gives into heroin.

The three friends cross paths and struggle to choose between friendships and their own pasts.

I’ve always had an affinity for Hispanic movies. I enjoy learning about the cultural as well as it’s social aspects. Mix in a prison twist, and I can be easily entertained. The story of hatred and forgiveness between people who are close is inevitable, but it’s how they work to try and resolve it. Life sometimes gets the best of us, and it’s hard to mend the bridges.

A plus for authenticity is the use of San Quentin and it’s real inmates.

The artwork that is shown is pure vision of the Hispanic youth. I found the artwork very inspirational since it uses real life as it’s subjects.

The overall acting is only average, and it’s hard to have prison movies that win Oscars. This movie has some actors in their earlier days of their careers (Benjamin Bratt, Billy Bob Thornton)