Meanwhile, in arizonas altar valleya narrow, 52milelong desert corridor known as cocaine alleytim. Matthew heinemans documentary about the mexican drug wars plays like a reallife. Fran from dodgeball is actually a total bombshell in real life. The small filmmaking team braving these depths is worthy of every accolade. Mexican border is the subject of matthew heinemans cartel land, an exploration of some of the terrible consequences of ongoing drug wars that have produced far more deaths in mexico but left people in both countries feeling like their officials failure to provide security compels them to take the law into their own. His latest film cartel land was nominated for an academy award for best documentary feature and won three primetime. Sick and tired of being intimidated, robbed, and murdered, a vigilante group called the autodefensas, led by a middleaged surgeon named jose manuel mireles valverde, has been driving the cartels out of the state of michoacan, one city at a time.
The autodefensas group shown in the film was created by civilians to stand up. The frame why the documentary cartel land plays like a real. Mexican border is the subject of matthew heinemans cartel land, an exploration of some of the terrible consequences of ongoing drug wars that have produced far more deaths in mexico but left people in both countries feeling like their officials failure to provide security compels them to take the law into their own hands. Cartel land how new documentary tells the real breaking bad. Simply an unflinching look that leaves the audience to draw their own conclusions. Cartel land is a classic western set in the 21st century, pitting vigilantes on both sides of the border against the vicious mexican drug cartels. But when heineman learned of the autodefensas, a civilian coalition waging its own war against the cartels in michoacan, his focus shifted south of the border. The impulse toward vigilantism on both sides of the u. Jul 07, 2015 cartel land opens with a scene in the jungles of michoacan, mexico, where armed drug gangs are mixing meth. Jul 02, 2015 what makes the veritestyle cartel land so chilling is its streetlevel immediacy and the filmmakers wartsandall portrait of these socalled dogooderstheyre no saints. There are very few of them these days, and thats what makes cartel land rather unique. Themes of justice and corruption are woven throughout the movie.
The fire caused 85 fatalities and destroyed the small town of paradise, calif. Matthew heinemans documentary about the mexican drug wars plays like a reallife version of some grim sam peckinpah western in which. Cartel lands director on filming the shocking truth about mexicos. We follow heinemanwho is also the cinematographeras he dodges bullets, rides along with a gunpoint interrogation and films a methcooking. Financial analysis of cartel land 2015 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Cartel land is a 2015 american documentary film directed by matthew heineman about the mexican drug war, especially vigilante groups fighting mexican drug cartels. Fortunately, cartel land spends considerably more screen time in mexico, where the real action is. Cartel land feels like breaking bad in real life newsweek on disc and digital march 2 with. Cartel land is a 2015 american documentary film directed by matthew heineman about the mexican drug war, especially vigilante groups fighting mexican. The new documentary cartel land tracks vigilantes 1,000 miles apartamericans at the arizonamexico border and mexican villagers in michoacanas they rally against the drug cartels. But when heineman learned of the autodefensas, a civilian coalition waging its own war against the cartels in. The top 10 ultimate drug cartel movies the war on drugs makes great fodder for drama and adventure at the movies. Jul 03, 2015 the director matthew heineman has a terrific eye. The film focuses on tim nailer foley, the leader of arizona border recon, and dr jose mireles, a michoacan based physician who leads the autodefensas.
At times, its a little difficult to believe that cartel land is, in fact, a documentary. Jul 03, 2015 cartel land is not, however, a celebration of these men taking up arms against the oppressions of criminal overlords. With unprecedented access, cartel land is a riveting, ontheground look. Whether or not the drama was shot in a specific way to tailor to myself or regular movie going audiences, i really enjoyed it and also enjoyed the knowledge i picked up about the battle between everyday citizens and the mexican drug cartels.
Cartel land is a movie about a drug running group in mexico that is part of the infamous drug cartels that are in the news so often today. Raw, brutal, and ambitious, cartel land may be a real life story, but its limited scope in truly exploring the ideas it raised left me wanting more. Matthew heineman in cartel land 2015 matthew heineman at an event for cartel land. Cartel land is about people who translate that fantasy into reality, and heineman begins from a position of sympathy. And, to judge from cartel land, his immersive documentary about american and mexican vigilante groups, he. Not to mention, we include a guerillastyle documentary, cartel land, which drops you off at ground zero, the u. At the 2015 sundance film festival, heineman received both the directing. Jun 21, 2016 overall, cartel land was a documentary that i thoroughly enjoyed. Jul 09, 2015 in cartel land, filmmaker matthew heineman follows vigilantes on both sides of the mexicou.
With unprecedented access, cartel land is a riveting, ontheground look at the journeys of two modernday vigilante groups and their shared enemy. With unprecedented access, cartel land is a harrowing look at the journeys of two modernday vigilante groups and their shared enemy the murderous mexican drug cartels. The film tags alongside vigilantes and cartel members, both armed with. My goal was to capture the story as it unfolds in real time, as people. That the distributor has hyped the machismoworshipping kathryn bigelow as an. Matthew heinemans cartel land is a classic western set in the 21st century, pitting vigilantes on both sides of the border against the vicious mexican drug cartels.
The tragic consequences of this failure are made disturbingly real in the film. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. Cartel land feels like breaking bad in real life, with characters even more complicated and controversial than walter white. Cartel land opens with a scene in the jungles of michoacan, mexico, where armed drug gangs are mixing meth. It looks like an outtake from breaking bad, but this is the real thing. Cartel land is a chilling meditation on the breakdown of order and a devastating portrait of what can happen when citizens take the law in their own hands.
In the movie, a person must decide whether or not to join a cartel. Its hard to believe that cartel land is a documentary filmtv. A pure documentary is one which examines and observes without passion, bias, agenda, or judgement. Cartel land examines antidrug vigilantes on both sides of.
But cartel land was a movie that i had heard great things about and wanted to watch based on my interest in border relations between the us and mexico as well as the fact that i had just watched, and loved sicario, a movie on the very topic. Directing award and special jury award for cinematography, us documentary, sundance film festival 2015. Brilliant documentary another smash doc that real blows the mind on true events love true docs i also got point and shoot ate the same time both brilliant docmovies if you loved cartel land check out point and shoot about a happy man that joint up arm with the libian freedom fighters too top gaddafi amazing film cartel land amazing hard core. Cartel land is not, however, a celebration of these men taking up arms against the oppressions of criminal overlords. The latest featuring drug cartels and border battles is sicario, out in limited release september 18. The movie begins with a scene of meth cookers at work in the dead of night. If anything, its a documentary about how the best of intentions, and the best. Its hard to believe that cartel land is a documentary film. Jul 15, 2015 at times, its a little difficult to believe that cartel land is, in fact, a documentary. I got the opportunity to watch the film when i was simultaneously doing work and honestly, this might not have been a great. Dec 15, 2015 with unprecedented access, cartel land is a fearless expose about two modernday vigilante groups and their shared enemy mexicos vicious, murderous drug cartels. But when citizen vigilantes organize on both sides of the border, with no real oversight, things get ugly.
Don t be shy, catch these films while you have the chance. Cartel land how new documentary tells the real breaking. Jan 28, 2015 cartel land is a dire meditation on the relationship between idealism and violence, and what combining the two does to the individuals fighting for good. Its hard to believe that cartel land is a documentary. Matthew heineman, who was oscarnominated for cartel land, is set to direct and write the script. And, to judge from cartel land, his immersive documentary about american and mexican vigilante groups, he also has guts and nerves of steel. So reporters and filmmakers have hitherto tended to cover the war mainly through. The movie follows georges humble beginnings in 1950s boston through to his rise and fall in the 1980s as a confidant to colombian kingpin pablo escobar. The movies tone is quite dark and sometimes very bleak. Jul 16, 2015 cartel land is a documentary by matthew heineman. Cartel land is a dire meditation on the relationship between idealism and violence, and what combining the two does to the individuals fighting for good. Documentarymaker matthew heineman daringly explores the corruption and unspeakable atrocities. Filmmaker matthew heineman examines the state of the ongoing drug problem along the u.
Director matthew heineman followed vigilantes and survived shootouts for cartel land a member of an autodefensa citizens defense group stands guard in. Brilliant documentary another smash doc that real blows the mind on true events love true docs i also got point and shoot ate the same time both brilliant doc movies if you loved cartel land check out point and shoot about a happy man that joint up arm with the libian freedom fighters too top gaddafi amazing film cartel land amazing hard core. Cartel land 2015 filmmaker matthew heineman examines the the state of the ongoing drug problem along the u. On the contrary, it is horribly real, an urgent and alarming account of a crisis so hellishly labyrinthine its hard to see how anyone can escape its widening web of. Watch cartel land online full movie from 2015 yidio.
Beautifully filmed and masterfully edited, cartel land is a visceral portrait of life and war along americas southern border. The movie may not present narco cultura as much as the others, but lets face it. Filmmaker matthew heineman and executive producer kathryn bigelow the hurt locker, zero dark thirty bring us this unprecedented look at two vigilante groups fighting the murderous drug cartels on both sides of the mexican border. Mexico is ripe with violence and narcotics trafficking, if not extreme criminality in general, but after seeing this classic among drug cartel movies, youre sure to see the allure of that sunstreaked land south of the border. The cinematography is so crisp and gorgeous, and the level of access filmmaker matthew heineman got to. Overall, cartel land is a great movie for those that enjoy action packed adventure that is realistic to real life. Cartel land isnt only about the excitement of battle between good and evil, its also a study of how weirdly relative good and evil can beand how sometimes theyre almost indistinguishable. Sure, the majority of movies and tv shows on this list are mostly fictional, but they are also based on and inspired by real life cartels and the cycles of violence theyve spawned.
On the contrary, it is horribly real, an urgent and alarming account of a crisis so hellishly labyrinthine. The film focuses on tim nailer foley, the leader of arizona border recon, and dr jose mireles, a michoacanbased physician who leads the autodefensas. The visual effects are excellent and viewers are on the edge of their seats during the entire film. The movie ends ambivalently, picturing mireles as a man who succumbed to. Johnny depps second appearance on our list is his starring role as real life cocaine dealer george jung. Why the documentary cartel land plays like a real life. At times, cartel land feels like breaking bad in real life, with characters even more complicated and controversial than walter white. With unprecedented access, cartel land is a riveting, on the ground look at the journeys of two modernday vigilante groups and their shared enemy the murderous mexican drug cartels.
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