Mission Street Rhapsody

A well-intentioned film that nonetheless falls head first into the kind of surface-level clichs and stereotypes that are usually reserved for basic cable TV movies.

La Mission feels more like Sundance fodder from 20 or 25 years ago than something with much relevance today.

I don't require acceptance and reconciliation, and La Mission is forthright in avoiding easy answers. But does the screenplay shortchange Che by painting him more broadly at the film's end than he seemed at the beginning?

Benjamin Bratt ably depicts both sides of this character and creates a memorable portrait in the process.

The problem is that the screenplay to La Mission should never have gone before the cameras in this condition.

Observing the phases both father and son endure as they try to forgive and prioritize in order to survive makes La Mission a poignant and unusual film, one that you won't soon forget.

Looks and sounds great with beautiful low-rider cars, colorful location shots and a unique musical score composed by South African musician Mark Kilian ("Rendition"), along with some classic golden oldies on the soundtrack.

Has a false ring.

Without a big budget and little promotion, the creators of 'La Mission' brought together one of the more memorable movies of the year.

I found myself totally absorbed, even welcomed, into this little tucked-away subculture.