Mamitas

I really enjoyed this movie at the Florida Film Festival. It's definitely a genre flick: nothing original or unexpected in the form. It's well- written, well-acted, and set in a realistic middle-class LA. It was apparently shot in Super-16mm format, and the colors are warm and rich, which really complements the feel of the movie. The music is understated, which is also just right for this story. What I like most about the whole movie is its human scale: you can relate to these characters not because they're super-realistic (in fact, they're the types you expect in a teen romance) but because the pain and the joys they experience are important for themselves, and not overblown to epic proportions or sold to us disingenuously. _Mamitas_ is just a quality piece of craftsmanship and a pleasure to take in.

This is a very good movie. Although there are some stereotypical images, this movie does make an attempt to show positive images of Latinos as well. Veronica Diaz-Carranza and E. J. Bonilla both do very good jobs, and so do many of the leading actors.

Jennifer Esposito, in addition to being hot for her age, gives a strong performance. She's tough. She can handle whatever Jordin throws at her, and still care about him enough to help him in life.

And a word is used that I'm not sure was even allowed when the version I saw was being cleaned up for TV (though this word is often used on broadcast TV).

This is a worthy effort.

Okay, this film deserves WAY better than the rating it has on this site. I actually can't believe it only has 5.6 out of 10 stars, and all I can say is people are crazy and must not have been watching the same movie I watched.

First of all, the writing is superb. Hats off to Mr. Ozeki for a beautifully written and directed film. I hope he has a big career ahead of him! And while I've seen a few people say that the story is cliché (bad boy + good girl), I actually didn't find it to be cliché at all. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that the two main characters' relationship isn't based on one trying to help the other be popular or pass a class, which is usually how these types of stories go. Their relationship just happens, no hackneyed pretense involved. It's refreshing. It also was way more dynamic than your typical high school romance, and I found the main character's subplot to be very endearing.

The film was also subtly political. Primarily, I think it made a point not to involve any gang banging, because Hollywood seems to only want to cast Latino actors in roles as gang bangers, which is a discredit to the range of these actors' talent. It also touched upon the struggles Latinos have in American society--from drop-out rates, to mass incarceration, to discrimination in the workplace--without beating you over the head with them. Again, I think that's because Hollywood tends to have tunnel vision when it comes to portraying people of color. Finally, I loved the nod to feminist literature! The two leads (E.J. Bonilla as Jordin and Veronica Diaz-Carranza as Felipa) are unbelievably talented! They're both cute and charming, and they're so natural in their roles that their lines seem unscripted at times. They come across as really genuine, and I would LOVE to see more of their work. While they're the stars, every character in the movie has a distinct, three-dimensional personality--which is hard to find in films these days--and leaves an impression on you. There's something beneath the surface of each character, and I love that. Jordin's grandpa (Tata) was particularly great.

I'm giving this movie a 10 out of 10 because I really long to see more like this one.

I thought Mamitas was a really well acted and naturalistic film. I found myself being able to relate to all of the characters, and felt like I knew them personally even though I grew up in a much different environment. It was like someone just dropped a camera into the middle of their everyday lives in LA including the drama, romance, and pressures of being in high school and made a movie out of it.

Mamitas is truly a coming of age story that features wonderful dialogue and two honest, realistic performances from its young cast. The story is nothing particularly new, but the movie is honest and real. Very entertaining movie that does a great job making a possibly cliché story-line unique and original in its own way.

From start to finish this was a fabulous movie depicting the Lives, Love, Fear, Angry, Compassion, Physical Attraction of Young Love as they crash headlong into life trying to survive best they can. Finding comfort and compassion where they may with not much time to respond to their feeling. A totally heart wrenching film that hit all highs and lows.

The two main actors did a killer job and provided a heart warming ending. It is all the actors, artist, film crews and directors that made this great movie that deserve recognition and awards.

The way the movie and filming ended was extremely unique and refreshing to see.

What a stunning, intense and tasteful movie for the world to watch.

Jim Rodgers