Gang and 'hood violence was a popular topic in the late 80's/early 90's. There were movies like "Colors," "Boyz in the Hood," "South Central," "Menace to Society," and others. There were even the movies that dealt with other topics but had a heavy gang influence like "Lean on Me," "The George McKenna Story," and others. "American Me" was the same story from a Mexican-American perspective.
The lead character was Montoya Santana (Edward James Olmos). At an early age he became a shot caller for the Mexican Mafia along with his homies J.D. (William Forsythe) and Mundo (Pepe Serna). Through Santana's narration of his life we saw just how disciplined, vicious, and hopeless gang life is. The heights he achieved in which he was the man, he was still just a boss in prison. He ran Folsom Prison. How about bragging about that to your parents?
All gangs, no matter how much turf they can claim, don't even own the turf they're fighting and dying for. They quite literally have no ownership of one pebble they claim, yet claim they do and kill they do. They either kill via the gun or the drugs they sell for more guns. It's a horrible cycle of prison, violence, and death. Santana finally realized the futility of it all, but what could he do to stop the beast he helped create?
The lead character was Montoya Santana (Edward James Olmos). At an early age he became a shot caller for the Mexican Mafia along with his homies J.D. (William Forsythe) and Mundo (Pepe Serna). Through Santana's narration of his life we saw just how disciplined, vicious, and hopeless gang life is. The heights he achieved in which he was the man, he was still just a boss in prison. He ran Folsom Prison. How about bragging about that to your parents?
All gangs, no matter how much turf they can claim, don't even own the turf they're fighting and dying for. They quite literally have no ownership of one pebble they claim, yet claim they do and kill they do. They either kill via the gun or the drugs they sell for more guns. It's a horrible cycle of prison, violence, and death. Santana finally realized the futility of it all, but what could he do to stop the beast he helped create?