Mamitas (2012)

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.

The potential spoiler is at the very end and it is impossible to accidentally read. This movie was a pleasant surprise. I saw the trailer for it a while ago and it stuck with me, so I did some research about it and learned it is the extension of a short film by the writer and director. Of course I found the short film and I liked it. The acting and production value were good but not great in the short, but the story was sound, so I was looking forward to the longer version.Sometimes when shorts are extended to feature length films they add extraneous plot lines and end up undermining what was great about the original, but this film doesn't suffer from that. It was well written.This is the kind of movie I crave to see in America, but I rarely get to see because people from communities like Jordin's are rarely portrayed as three dimensional, and their stories are usually extensions of the negative images you can already see in the news. However, their lives are bigger than that, and their lives are no different than the lives portrayed in main stream media. They just unfold differently. So, Mamitas presents a beautiful and realistic version of the boy meets girl story.Sure it is not a completely original, but it feels refreshing because it is the kind of story that is rarely executed well. The rhythm of this movie felt right. Just about everything unfolded naturally. With the screenplay as tight as this one was, hitting all the narrative marks, the other necessary element to its success was its actors. All of them were excellent especially the leads. The way they moved, spoke and interacted felt real. That is what I loved the most about the movie. The parts felt lived in, nothing was overdone for the sake of drama.There is probably one moment in the movie I didn't love because I think it is an unnecessary development used too much in the movies. Beyond that I didn't have a problem with anything in the movie. It was excellent and it has definitely made its way on to my list of all time favorite movies.After writing this review I am going to do some research on these actors to see what else they have been in, but the movie business being what it is I don't anticipate their resumes will be long. However, they are very talented and I hope they have many opportunities. I will be watching out for them especially the actor that portrays Jordin.******* Spoiler below (This is not really a spoiler, but I will put it aside in case it might affect how someone experiences the movie for the first time. It is regarding the part of the film that I had a little problem with.) There is a moment in the movie when the two characters kiss which to me felt disingenuous to the characters and story especially since it followed the discovery of some potentially damaging information. Although not dramatic, it reminds me of when characters just spontaneously start having sex literally moments after they escape death or some equally life altering event. I understand how sex or intimacy can follow tragic and life altering events, but I think they are rarely ever aligned well in movies. In this movie it is no different. It didn't ruin the movie for me, but the movie would have been perfect without it. Minor qualm.

I normally don't write reviews but I knew the movie pulled me in, after watching it I found myself looking up the actors online. That to me speaks volume. I was so intrigued and in completely enamored by the way this movie was simply put together, from cast to directing, to writing. It is a simple plot but you fall for the characters, and overall is realness. I look forward to seeing this cast in more movies. I am confident this young cast of actors will continue succeeding, paving the way. By the way, when you have the movie in your mind for days and you find yourself telling others to watch it - you know is good. I highly recommend it.

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.