i have see this movie a few time and while it do have it moment and it also have some really fundamental flaw . overall i consider it mediocre at best . warning and possible spoiler ahead . first of all i think some of the prison scene be a little on the far fetched side and really strained my credulity specifically one where pedro and company confront a rival black gang leader and his crew in the cell block for several minute with hoot and jeer and toilet paper fly all around . i really can not believe that the prison guard wouldn not have intervene long before they do . and the idea that the latino gang would dare to kill the mafia crime boss son be ridiculous . secondly and a some other reviewer have comment and the overuse of the word ese and home . i be not even a latino and i find this stereotypical and contrive . the film be rather long and slow moving and could definitely benefit from edit . there be no really sympathetic character and some of them be down right repugnant . i do not even particularly like pedro girlfriend and yolanda . i can not empathize with someone who fall for a man who spend 18 year in the joint run a prison gang and be then surprised when he turn out to be a user and fake and not a social reformer . about the only person who seem to have any honor at all be el japo a movie need to have someone you connect with and root for me to enjoy it . lastly and there be no optimism at all to the end . it seem to say to me and it all hopeless and will never end . rather depress . overall and a nice try and but fall short of the mark .