Mario Almada Movies
The debut feature from director Patricia Riggen, this drama centers on a young boy's journey across the U.S./Mexico border to be reunited with his mother. Adrian Alonso stars as Carlitos, a Mexican adolescent living with his grandmother while his mother works as a maid in the U.S., hoping someday to send for her child. But when the grandmother dies unexpectedly, Carlitos must sneak across the border and seek out his mother. Featuring a supporting performance by America Ferrera of ABC's Ugly Betty, Under the Same Moon premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Alonso, Kate del Castillo, (more)
- 2002
A balladeer seeks the truth about the life and death of his outlaw brother in Mexican director Juan Antonio de la Riva's 2002 drama The Mountain Hawk. Musician Rosendo Nevarez (Guillermo Larrea) learns of his brother Gabriel's (Juan Angel Esparza) death in a remote spot in the Durango Mountains and decides to return to his boyhood home to learn more about his brother's untimely end. Gabriel, who was more widely known as The Mountain Hawk, led an outlaw's life which was either that of a lowly criminal or daring do-gooder, as accounts of the man's life vary depending on the point of view of the interviewee. As Rosendo digs deeper for the truth, it becomes apparent that Gabriel was a heroic figure worthy of the song his brother plans to write in his commemoration -- if only Rosendo can overcome his growing envy for his brother's immortal status as a swashbuckling rebel. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guillermo Larrea, Juan Angel Esparza, (more)
One man's success brings out the evil instincts in his enemy in this drama from Mexico. Don Pancho Murguia is an honest man who has built a successful business making tequila, which is regarded as the best Mexico has to offer. But he has a bitter rival in Mateo San Juan, whose corruption matches Don Pancho's skills. Determined to overtake Don Pancho in the marketplace, Mateo and his men set out to steal the elusive formula to his tequila, and when this proves difficult, Mateo declares that human lives are not too high a price to get what he wants. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Almada, Marisol Santacruz, (more)
The Spanish language melodrama Prisioneras del Desco concerns Sara, a single mother who is having serious financial trouble. In order to make ends meat, she considers turning to prostitution to pay the bills. She must decide if the trouble these actions would bring to herself and her family would be worth the financial positives of such a career move. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Almada, Cesar Bono, (more)
Christian Gonzalez action horror hybrid Fuerza Maldita concerns a group of hired guns assigned to rescue the daughter of a kidnapped politician from a haunted forest. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
