UES

Many of us believe that time heals everything. Memories fade. Oblivion arrives as a cushion to rest your weary soul. All is not lost even if or when love goes to pieces. Life goes on. We will find a new love, a better love. After war there must be peace. After badness there are goodness, forgiveness, humility and emotion. Mistakes are made and can be corrected. Pain is relieved. Wounds are healed. Bad luck is nothing of import. There will be good luck soon. Hostility turns into friendship. There are always hope, laughter, fun and happiness, even if or when times are horrible beyond the pale. We have a shoulder to cry on. A hand is given to us when we die. Not so in this film. Human machinations add up with the impulse of time to destroy the flicks of paradise sparkling and shimmering in human souls for futile moments. Lies prevail. Wounds fester physically and psychologically. The truths of death and perdition hang over lost souls of lovers, played excellently and unforgettably. A cathartic movie. A must to see!

As a teacher of English in Germany you always look for worthy material on the Latino immigration influx . This film is a valuable opener for such a series of lessons. It reveals the impact of the problem. It makes use of outstanding performances: Nicholson and Keitel are as cool as ever. Pellerine is the American woman. Her friends are that, too. The mafia ring consisting of policemen and coyotes is shown realistically. Violence is explicit but not overdone. Landscape and Latino immigrants are depicted in all their shades and lights. The strong American individual wins in the end - again. The good side beats the bad side. The Ry Cooder soundtrack is more than worth listening to. It is authentically reconstructed as always. Teachers: Pick up that video or DVD and use the movie for your lessons on the US Latino problem!