No Man's Land

The screenplay is the reason this film fails badly. It cannot decide which point of view to present. After beautifully depicting and defining the area between the border and Texas as a dangerous filled with 'coyotes' who may take you across or just as soon kill you, the film becomes "Both Sides Now" in a circuitous, laborious, stultifying, stupefying bore. There are the marauders who cut the rancher's fences, steal his cattle on a regular basis. Defend your land and way of life by pursuing them and come across good, moral, religious people fleeing a life of poverty, hunger and crime for the opportunity in America. 'Bad' escape arrest; 'Good' get hurt or killed. The hard-working ranch family become duplicitous, evasive liars, totally ignoring the emotions of the son that did the killing. He speaks, pleads, they ignore his anguish. Foolishly, he runs across the border where he is an emotional wreck and a cultural idiot. WHY? We begin a long, long journey seeking redemption, but first we must have 'adventures' to show how wonderful the Mexican people really are. The ending violence in which the grotesque coyote is justly killed but all others kiss and makeup is absurd as is the two year prison sentence. A waste of time.

Terrible movie. The fight scenes look extremely fake. There is a cheesy, disgusting love affair and the story line is extremely weak.

Like most stereotypical border (Mexican and American ) movies they have to relate a very human and progressive message while producing a unrealistic story in the process.

A different take to the often cliched genre of a typical Western movie on illegal border crossings from Mexico to America & then vice versa as a young American crosses illegaly into Mexico righting a wrong & seeking redemptionfor his grevious actions. Definitely a worthwhile watch with an incredible line up of well known actors in supporting roles.

This thoughtful film could have been a minor modern epic if it had been given a stronger script. As is, it holds interest until some poorly developed story details begin to become too obvious. It's also photographically patchy, with cheap handheld shots bringing down the better-constructed sequences. Some distracting editing in the first half won't help it gain the attention the overall story is straining for – a pity because the whole thing has very good intentions as we follow a young man's attempts to redeem himself for an accidental killing. Performances are sincere with the casting generally convincing, it's just the weak moments in the script that let it down. Music is well used throughout including a couple of interesting songs and the outdoor locations standing in for the Tex-Mex border add impact – those who don't feel the need to analyze their entertainment won't mind the flaws, others may be let down.

It didn't suck. Well paced build-up that keeps it's focus throughout.

Too much of a message movie for me. And I might have snoozed off, I didn't much care by the end. But I've seen worse.

I loved this movie because it showed how wrong you can be of others not like you. And in the end forgiveness! People are so judgmental of Mexicans crossing the border when in reality they are some of the first people here and they worked to make our country what it is. And this young man tried his best to right his wrong.

A lovely film, beautiful atmosphere, good acting.

Very tedious and just not believable. We couldn't watch it all and turned it off half way through.