Overrated and overhyped

Don't Believe the Hype

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I just finished watching Coyote, streaming on Netflix. The plot summary looked interesting, although I wasn't familiar with any of the actors, so I took a chance. The film blew me away. First of all, the cinematography, music, and direction were first rate - really first rate! The acting, for the most part, was also top notch. The story deals with a couple of fellows, one of Mexican heritage, the other American, who decide to cash in on the business of smuggling Mexicans into the USA. Unlike their Mexican counterparts, who treat their "clients" as cash cows, with little regard for their survival, these two make sure that their paying customers are watered, fed, and assured of a safe passage across the border. Unfortunately, their better business practices have an unforeseen consequence, and this is where the film really grabs the viewer by the throat and never lets up. I've seen many, many big studio productions that can't hold a candle to this movie. Don't pay any attention to its low budget, unknown actors, or any of the other usual warning signs for a poor film. This one really rocks!!

Just yesterday as I write this, the family next door was uprooted; why, I have no idea: a drug-sniffing dog came over and gave MY yard the once-over. The Latino kid who used to mow my lawn was taken away in handcuffs. One of the characters in COYOTE asks a young Latina: "What's The Mexican Dream?" "The American Dream," she responds. Read Charles Bowden's shocking MURDER CITY (about Juarez, Mexico) and anything about the Real World consequences of NAFTA and maybe it'll start to add up. I once did a cartoon for a local paper (2008) that showed a Latino male with Mexico stitched across the front of his cap holding a sign that read : WILL WORK FOR RESPECT (see it at capefearcomics.webs or facebook). Some local yokels got a little uptight about it. The editor of said paper (bless her) followed up with a second cartoon I drew that showed Pilgrims coming ashore here in The New World. The caption read: The FIRST illegal aliens. The hand-held, heightened realism of the documentary-style approach to COYOTE makes it worth seeing. See it.

When scrolling through the channels the other day, I came across this little gem. At first, I honestly wasn't all that interested, but I stuck with it...and boy am I glad I did.Although it starts a tad slow, Coyote really heats up in the final 40 minutes or so, bringing everything together in divine detail. This film needed to be carried by the storyline and plot movement because the acting honestly wasn't all that great, but competent. Outside of his drunken tirade on the beach, Brian Peterson's performance as Steve stood out as the strongest. He was actually really funny in some parts.This film certainly has an "independent" vibe to it, but that doesn't mean it's amateur. The lighting was sometimes a little off, but overall, the camera work was strong, and in some scenes, very strong. I would certainly recommend this picture to anyone who is interested in seeing something outside of the Hollywood box.I missed the opening 20 minutes or so, but basically a couple guys decide to enter the business of human smuggling. Everything starts harmless enough as the pair transports dozens of Mexicans to the United States with relative ease. But things begin to erode little by little. When J. (played by Brett Spackman) is stopped at the border and the authorities find the compartment in which he has been smuggling humans with. Needless to say, that portion of the operation in immediately shut down. Their next option is to herd and transport via foot, which only gets them into a whole new set of dire circumstances. I won't give anything away, but like I said, the film's final act really takes off.

I saw this at a film festival now and I really, really liked it. It takes place in Mexico and is about the people who take the Mexicans into the US and why they do it. Some do it for money, but other people are trying to help in some way. But some normal guys get miscast up in it and they have to get out! It addressed some political issues without being lame and preachy and also it was solid in productions value.Acting? Not always the best. Budget? Very low, you can see. But still for a low budget Indy movie it was something that impressed me and my eye. I go to a lot of festivals and I like this much better than most.This reminded me of a foreign film, like something made in Asia, but it was made by Americans (or maybe also some Mexicans did it too, like the actors) but it had a foreign-film feel to it. People who go to festivals will know what I mean.