Mike Escamilla Movies

An expectant Latin American father races to cross the U.S. border to prevent his own father from being executed in this comedy drama from co-directors Mike Escamilla and Mando Alvarado. In just one week, Manuel will be a father. Upon learning that his father in Texas has been sentenced to capital punishment, however, Manuel feels compelled to try and get his beloved dad a reprieve. Though his wife voices her opposition to the idea, Manuel promptly quits his job at the local strip club, and enlists his best friend Diego as his right hand man. With his trusty video camera in hand, Diego begins documenting the journey as the thuggish bouncer from the strip club races to track Manuel down. Later, as Manuel and Diego seek a coyote to help them cross the border quickly, their adventure leads them to gain a greater appreciation for the things they have in life, rather than dwelling on the things they have always wished for. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The director (Rob Cohen) and star (Vin Diesel) of the previous summer's hit The Fast and the Furious (2001) are reunited for this spy thriller billed as a next-generation James Bond adventure. Diesel stars as Xander Cage, a nihilist extreme sports enthusiast nicknamed "Triple X" because of a large tattoo covering his back and neck. Cage's illegal stunts and poor attitude (he's given to spouting dialogue such as, "Have you ever been punched in the face for talking too much?") land him in jail, where he's recruited/blackmailed into government service by the National Security Agency's Augustus Gibbons, who likes Cage for his skills and expendability. The new secret agent is assigned to infiltrate a Russian crime ring called Anarchy 99, whose access to biochemical weaponry is making the United States extremely nervous. With the help of some high-tech gadgets from weapons master Toby Lee Shavers (Michael Roof), Cage is able to make his way into Anarchy 99, where he targets the group's leader Yorgi (Marton Csokas) and falls for the organization's second-in-command, Yelena (Asia Argento). XXX (2002) is the first in a hoped-for franchise of sequels for the film's producer, Revolution Studios. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi