The Line

(2009) The Line CRIME DRAMA

Written and produced by R. Ellis Frazier "The Line" as the movie is called is another slang for the 'borderline' between the US and Mexico, with Afghan diplomats volunteering to bring illegal drugs across the border without questioned. Centers mostly on 2 people of hired shooter, Mark Shields (Ray Liotta also credited as executive producer) who has a substance abuse problem along as he suffers from insomnia because of a previous assignment, and a drug cartel, René Pelon (Esai Morales) appointed by a cartel relative who is said to be dying, Javier Salazar (Andy Garcia). With more twists and revelations.

Although you'd be forgiven for mistaking THE LINE for an action flick, it turns out to be anything but: this is in actual fact a character study of various interacting and rival personalities in a violent Mexican city. Ray Liotta bags the central and most interesting role as a hit-man traumatised by an event in his past and given the opportunity to make amends in the present.

Against him is gang leader Pelon, played to the hilt by the chilling Esai Morales. This is a guy who thinks nothing of torturing rivals to death and who fully deserves his comeuppance – should it ever come about. The supporting cast is made up of an excellent ensemble of actors, including those better known for B-movies (Danny Trejo and Gary Daniels both have brief henchman roles) as well as more familiar faces. Andy Garcia, who's been off our screens for quite some time, is particularly interesting as the former gangster wasting away from a terminal illness. Also look out for Bruce Davison, an unrecognisable Armand Assante and the ever-underrated Joe Morton.

This may not be an action movie, but there is at least one splendid shoot-out to enjoy. In any case, the entire film is well shot and the script holds your attention in the snappy, heartfelt dialogue scenes as well as the thriller elements. Comparing it to other recent gangster movies, it comes in under CITY OF GOD but above GOMORRAH.

An assassin and his partner (Ray Liotta and Kevin Gage) are commissioned to take down the new head of a drug cartel (Esai Morales) that has taken over for the dying drug lord (Andy Garcia). Jordi Vilasuso plays a cartel rival, Armand Assante a padre, Valerie Cruz a woman that befriends the assassin and Bruce Davison a US agent.

"The Line" (2009), aka "La Linea," is a gritty crime thriller taking place in Tijuana that's more moody psychological drama than action flick. It's similar in style, locations and content to "Borderland" (2007), albeit less of a horror flick (yet still containing loads of horror). Like that movie, there are glimmerings of greatness amidst the grey mayhem in the mold of "Apocalypse Now."

Unfortunately, the story's sometimes confusing which would be helped if you use the subtitles since some of the dialogue is difficult to discern (I viewed it on DVD and didn't have that option). But there's a lot to appreciate here, including the quality cast, the style, the melancholy vibe, the music, the poignant drama, the gritty action and several beautiful Mexican women. The movie's obscure, but it shouldn't be.

The film runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Tijuana, the border area, and Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-

I was invited to a private screening of "La Linea" here in Los Angeles, but really didn't know what to expect. I have to say though that I really thought the film was something special, it reminded why I love independent film so much. From the intelligent, refreshing plot, layered and interesting characters,to the beautiful cinematography (reminiscent of Traffic, Man on Fire, etc). I also thought the music was really cool in the film (will have to check out who did it). I just think La Linea delivered on all fronts, and truly deserves all the accolades and attention I feel it will receive.

Im looking forward to seeing it again when it comes out.

The Line, or La Linea as it was released under, is a downbeat little film about American assassin Mark Shields (Ray Liotta), following him as he navigates the treacherous political and criminal terrain in Mexico, right around the time of a suspected overthrow and shift in cartel power. The leader of the tijuana cartel (a listless Andy Garcia) is terminally ill, and a sadistic young upstart (Esai Morales) wants to take over the business. This creates a lot of commotion and violence, much of which is dealt out by Liotta, with the help of a great big sniper rifle. Now the plot is pretty muddled, and I saw it a lot time ago. I was never really clear who Liotta is actually working for, the Mexican faction or a couple shady agency dudes (Joe Morton and Bruce Davison). In any case, he's wounded in a gunfight and takes shelter with a Mexican woman (Valerie Cruz) and her son in a small village nearby. It's a meandering little film that doesn't quite know if it wants to be an action flick, a drug war docudrama or a noirish character study, but dabbles in all three before arriving at a conclusion that I had to rewind at least three times to understand, and then still didn't get it. Armand Assante wanders around as a mysterious preacher, Danny Trejo shows his mug as a deadly cartel assassin, as well as Gary Daniels and Kevin Gage in smaller roles. Not really a great flick, but peppered with enough familiar faces and genre tradition to garner some interest.