Amigo 2011

James Rocchi, MSN Movies: It feels more florid and earnest -- a little too eager to make friends -- than Sayles' other films, but it also feels more passionate and provocative than 99% of everything else out there. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: "Amigo" is a well-carpentered narrative, fast-moving and emphatic, stepping nimbly from gravity to good humor. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: Few filmmakers are ambitious enough these days to try addressing our present world-policing endeavors through the prism of past ones, so it almost seems churlish to take Sayles to task for relying on overly dogmatic storytelling. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: You could argue that the chief villain of the ambiguously titled "Amigo" is language, which is used quite deliberately to mock and mislead and betray. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: A beautifully shot, beautifully acted, rich piece that whispers its messages rather than shouting them. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: Sayles is always an interesting storyteller, and if "Amigo" isn't typical of his subtler methods, it's still a compelling look at history and its continuing influence. Read more

Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter: It's a familiar tale, but the setting is different, and Sayles tells it with his usual cinematic vigor and attention to small detail. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: Uneven but ultimately affecting... Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: A reflection on power and betrayal, on the thin line between acting as your conscience demands and protecting obligations close to your heart. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: By choosing Rafael as its hero, "Amigo" looks not only at a little-known part of American history, but at a rarely examined type of movie character. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: An engrossing, perceptive, supremely humane drama about imperialism and loyalty. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: The overlong "Amigo" has its heart in the right place, but its approach to complex issues is too simplistic to win over unconverted minds. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: John Sayles, a filmmaker by trade, a provocateur by nature, means to stir things up with Amigo. That he does, and more power to him. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: A heavy-handed attack on U.S. imperialism with little to compensate in the way of character interest and genuine drama. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: The problem is that this pot of intrigue takes ages to boil, and the cook refuses to turn up the heat. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Admirably sincere but bluntly simplistic. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: "Amigo" might be the talkiest war movie ever made. Read more