Transpecos (2016)

To the other reviewers who pointed out the movie's storyline flaws: is this the first movie you've every seen? It's the nature of the beast. To those who mocked the acting: two out of three ain't bad. Didn't like the pacing? It's hot in the desert (and a cinematogrpaher's dream). Go slow.I wanted to watch a movie before bed. I passed on this one because of the reviews and went to a more "sophisitcated" choice. Five minutes later, I was back to Transpecos. That's usually all it takes me to know if I want to watch a movie or not. Next thing you know, it was well past midnight. Overall, a very good watch.

We meet three US Border Guards who are patrolling the Southern Border. They are Flores, Davis and the surly Hobbs. Davis is sort of new and a bit green around the ears etc They are doing a routine road check on a dusty stretch of New Mexico desert. The one vehicle rattles up and what it contains will set all there of them on a very different paths as to how they cope with kit.Now to say anymore would ruin the plot. This is a film that trades on the twists to a large extent but at the same time is well rounded enough to be the sort of film you could watch again and get more from it – that is an accomplishment.It is violent in parts and deals with some of the nastier issues to do with the Cartels and other aspects of cross border crime. At its heart though is the very human way we respond to threats and what life throws at you. The acting is all to the high end as is the cinematography which takes the arid desert and manages to make it a thing of beauty whilst managing to keep the tension ramped up. It is in English, Spanish and a touch of Mayan with a run time of 82 minutes. This is an indie film but suffers not an iota for that and is one for those who like realism with their grit and a such is one I can recommend.

This is the story of three border checkpoint guards who operate on a lonely highway in remote New Mexico, one without a wall or fence. Lou Hobbs (Clifton Collins Jr.) is the politically incorrect senior member of the three, sometimes called Mr. A--hole. Lance Flores (Gabriel Luna) speaks Spanish and is an expert tracker in the desert. He is training Benjamin Davis (Johnny Simmons) who is catching on fast. We see them at work and talking as we get character build up for 15 minutes when a car runs the check point and all hell breaks loose. The film has good characters with shifting trust and goals. Mexican undocumented/illegal (circle the term for your political leanings) immigrants are shown as either being very good people or outlaws. Michelle Rodriguez doesn't take her clothes off...in fact she wasn't even in the film. It was basically three guys in the desert looking for...trying not to get caught.Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

I rarely get a chance to catch a movie these days, so when I do I want it to be pretty spectacular. Transpecos was just that. The story line started twisting and turning from the very beginning and really had me thinking "What would I do?" The moral struggle these characters all went through during the 24-hour period really helped showcase such different perspectives we all can have. Things aren't always black and white, and the gray area Transpecos showcased was so well done and kept me on my seat the entire time. And then you hear about all of the research and history behind making the film and it makes it even that much more fascinating. Those characters embody real people and real stories, stories that myself in my "city bubble" will never come close to understanding. Thank you for telling such a great story!! Can't wait to watch it again!