La MISSION (2008)

48% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(5,406 ratings)

A reformed ex-convict and lowrider car aficionado kicks his beloved son out of the house after discovering that the boy has been living a secret life in Sundance Film Festival veteran Peter Bratt's heartfelt family drama. Che (Benjamin Bratt) is out of prison and on the straight and narrow. Still,… More A reformed ex-convict and lowrider car aficionado kicks his beloved son out of the house after discovering that the boy has been living a secret life in Sundance Film Festival veteran Peter Bratt's heartfelt family drama. Che (Benjamin Bratt) is out of prison and on the straight and narrow. Still, every day is a struggle as he battles alcoholism and drives a bus in order to support his family. When the workday is done, Che and his friends, the "Mission Boyz," pass the time by restoring junked cars to mint condition. Feared by his peers yet deeply respected as the toughest Chicano on the block, Che is the kind of guy whose entire existence is defined by his macho reputation. There's no one in the world that Che loves more than his adolescent son, Jesse (Jeremy Ray Valdez), but both father and son are about to discover that love isn't exactly unconditional. Upon discovering that Jesse has been living a secret life, Che flies into a violent rage, assaulting the boy and kicking him out onto the street. Meanwhile, Che's attractive and headstrong neighbor Lena (Erika Alexander) challenges the ultra-macho gearhead to step back for a minute and take stock of the life he thought he had. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Peter Bratt
Written By: Peter Bratt
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Apr 9, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Jul 20, 2010
Studio: Screen Media Ventures

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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?
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The problem is that the screenplay to La Mission should never have gone before the cameras in this condition.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
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.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The movie might suffice on late-night cable, but it is hardly worth big-screen prices.
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
Benjamin Bratt brings his A-game to a difficult, potentially clichéd role.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
The warmth comes through, even if the storytelling is simplistic and clichéd.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
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.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Has a false ring.
Clay Cane, BET.com
Without a big budget and little promotion, the creators of 'La Mission' brought together one of the more memorable movies of the year.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I found myself totally absorbed, even welcomed, into this little tucked-away subculture.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
,,,a flawed but occasionally powerful elegy for a neighborhood in transition.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Peter Bratt's film, which stars and was co-produced by his brother, Benjamin, beautifully captures a community on the edge.
Richard Knight, Windy City Times
An entertaining, sincere effort livened by the magnetic performance of Bratt.
Brian Tallerico, Movie Retriever
A well-intentioned film that nonetheless falls head first into the kind of surface-level clichés and stereotypes that are usually reserved for basic cable TV movies.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
La Mission feels more like Sundance fodder from 20 or 25 years ago than something with much relevance today.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Benjamin Bratt ably depicts both sides of this character and creates a memorable portrait in the process.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Heavy with messages, but it's good-hearted and sincere and creates a strong sense of place.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Lowriders, alcoholism, interracial romance, gang bullies, gay hysteria. The list goes on and on. So does the movie.
Armond White, New York Press
Writer-director Peter Bratt places Che at the center of a multiethnic community that illustrates how pervasive and entranced are notions of masculinity.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
Benjamin Bratt delivers a riveting performance.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

Being gay is tough on the kid and many movies show that. It was refreshing to see a "coming out" story that fallows the parent(s) dealing with the news. I came out in the south and it was god to see a West coast Latino "coming out" and see they are not very… More
Being gay is tough on the kid and many movies show that. It was refreshing to see a "coming out" story that fallows the parent(s) dealing with the news. I came out in the south and it was god to see a West coast Latino "coming out" and see they are not very different. "Coming out" is a struggle for most and thank God some do have an easier experience, but the movie reminds us most have it difficult more so than easy. It is hard to remain true to yourself when someone you loves sees life completely differently.
Walter M

In "La Mission," Che Rivera(Benjamin Bratt, who is very good) works as a bus driver in San Francisco. In his spare time, he fixes up custom cars that take up space on a communal driveway, much to the consternation and complaints of his neighbor Lena(Erika Alexander). His… More
In "La Mission," Che Rivera(Benjamin Bratt, who is very good) works as a bus driver in San Francisco. In his spare time, he fixes up custom cars that take up space on a communal driveway, much to the consternation and complaints of his neighbor Lena(Erika Alexander). His latest is a special job for his son Jes(Jeremy Ray Valdez) for graduating high school before he moves away to college in Los Angeles. What Che doesn't know is that his son is gay and has a boyfriend, Jordan(Max Rosenak). Even while it might be more concerned with delivering a message of acceptance(which fits in well with a lot of Che's friends watching Oprah) and non-violence(especially important in this day and age) than in telling a compelling story, "La Mission" also manages to be an introspective look at a part of San Francisco that is often ignored and is possibly in danger from gentrification. Along these same lines, the movie suffers from a slack pace('Low and slow' might be fine for an evening drive but it's not the way to go if you want to get anywhere.). And while sporadicly cliched, it still manages to surprise with occasional bouts of complexity. While it is certainly fine to respect traditions, it is inferred that Che might be spending too much time in the past, which is implied by the older music on the soundtrack and the cool cars, and is therefore less open minded than he should be.(In fact, Jes has grown out of his previous interest in the cars.) At the same time, he has successfully escaped his troubled past and built a new life.
Movee C

Melodrama drenched in Latin American culture with a made for tv feel. The characters are involved. There just isn't enough dialogue to go on.

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La MISSION (2008)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

Walter M

Movee C

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