Robert Beltran | Films

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Average score to date: 8.19

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Reviewed by Running Horse

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Eddie Guerrero - Robert Beltran
Marlena - Annette Cardona
Sgt. Trevino - Tony Plana
Luis - Luis Torrentes
Attila - Ricardo Lopez

Synopsis:

A little history: 1979 - Nicaraguans overthrow the dictator Samoza; three years later a CIA-backed army (Contras) raid Nicaragua from bases in Honduras. The Nicaraguans form a militia (Sandinistas) to protect their crops.

film still First Lt. Eddie Guerrero is a Green Beret, a career soldier with three tours of duty in Vietnam under his belt. He's 34, single, and the army is what grounds him. His name has been picked from a computer list as a likely candidate for an assignment in Latin America. Eddie's been home on leave but now he bids his close-knit family farewell, assuring them of his return.

Special Forces and Airborne team up for the covert operation, parachuting into Honduras. Eddie and Staff Sgt. Trevino arrive at the base and begin work as advisors attempting to train 400 inept Contras in the art of war.

Off duty, Eddie meets Marlena, a Nicaraguan agronomist at a nearly agricultural co-op, and is immediately attracted to her. Things get cozy; Marlena tells him he is 'crude, but sweet.' Eddie begins spending all his off-duty hours with her, playing substitute father to her young son.

On maneuvers, Eddie leads his men in minor raids across the border, mainly to help the Contra leader Attila conscript young men for the army. In one village an old woman curses Eddie and the Americans for their part in the war. Eddie never raises his voice; just helps himself to a tortilla from her kitchen and leaves, thanking her for lunch.

Outside, the young men have been forcibly recruited. The old woman begs them not to take her grandson and struggles with a soldier, only to be beaten down. Eddie looks back in dismay at her. There's something about this particular war that is beginning to grate on him.

Several conflicts erupt and we begin to see the war through Eddie's eyes. As with all war scenarios, there is unjustifiable kidnapping, killing, torture, and rape. The young men, including a boy named Luis, are taken back to the base to be persuaded to join the Contras. The old woman's grandson begs to be released and Trevino orders him shot as a message to the others. They all surrender except Luis, who remains defiantly resistant.

film still Luis is stripped and tortured but still refuses to cooperate. Eddie does not take part in the torture although Trevino reminds him of 'the kid with the shoebox in Saigon - they turn them out real young here too.' Eddie can't torture this boy. He talks to him instead, tending his wounds.

Eddie shakes off the war long enough to take Marlena and her young son riding in a speedboat. His love for her is growing but he continues to be evasive when she asks him to be honest with her about his part in the war.

On the practice range, Trevino is concerned about Eddie's relationship with Marlena. Eddie tells Trevino what's really been bothering him: the familiar faces in the crowd - one kid looked like his little brother - and when he was with the old woman, it was like being in his mother's kitchen. Trevino knows where this is headed, and frankly tells Eddie "that's just the way it is."

Meanwhile, Eddie has brought Luis around to the Contra way of thinking, befriending him, teaching him English and taking him on maneuvers. During the investigation of a villa the Contras brutalize the people. Eddie is a hardened soldier, but this war is hitting too close to home with an enemy that looks too familiar and who speaks the same language. So must a Confederate soldier must have felt when confronted by his own countryman during the American Civil War.

film still Eddie meets the CO and is ordered to deploy; even though the Contras are not ready. His orders are to destroy a military base disguised as a co-op farm. Due to public relations the army has to maintain a plausible denial position - they are ordered to go in sterile: no dog tags. Eddie vehemently protests; his I.D. tags are part of his uniform; he doesn't like the covert nature of the operation. The CO is adamant - and he also warns Eddie about his Nicaraguan girlfriend.

Home from her father's funeral, Marlena argues with Eddie about his role in the war. (Nice shot of RB in underwear here.) Eddie says he's decided to quit the army; his heart's not in it any more. He's going home in two months and he wants Marlena to join him. She refuses; she is going back to Nicaragua. Eddie warns her that the country is about to explode. She understands very well - but still refuses to go with him.

The entire unit has its last night of levity at a bar before the invasion. Eddie has become disillusioned about the war and is resentful of being forced to go in sterile. He'll do his job, but he wants recognition for putting his life on the line. Eddie tries to drown his disgust and sense of impending doom in a drunken haze while the rest of the troop celebrates.

film still The unit prepares to depart. Defiantly, Eddie tapes his dog tags to one leg. The troops arrive near the secret military base and prepare to blow it up. Eddie, assisted by Luis, sets the charge. They return to the vantage point to await the signal. The Contras set off a booby trap, sending a warning flare to the Sandinistas and the fighting begins. The ground shakes with explosions. In the confusion, Luis shoots Attila. Alarmed, Eddie orders Luis to give him the gun. Luis refuses, now training the gun on Eddie. Before he dies, Attila tries to hit the charge but Eddie grabs his arm to prevent it. He again orders Luis to surrender his weapon. Luis responds with the first profanity Eddie ever taught him, and Eddie, in shock, realizes he has been betrayed.

The Sandinistas claim victory; Sgt. Trevino lies dead alongside his men. Eddie alone has survived and is held prisoner at the point of a gun by a man he trusted. Luis forces Eddie to strip, out of revenge for his own torture, and escorts him to the base, where a train is waiting. Eddie clutches his dogtags in one fist, assuring his identification upon his death.

The Latino crowd hails Luis as a hero and grabs his nude Latino prisoner. A man ties a shirt around Eddie's waist. They force him onto a flatcar to be taken away. As the train passes the jubilant crowd, Eddie sees Marlena standing with the Sandinistas. His own country, his own race, his protegee and now the woman he loves have all betrayed him. We don't know for sure what will happen to Eddie but death as a prisoner of war is likely. Eddie continues to stare at Marlena as the train takes him away, and his expression is truly haunting.

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Review:

I'm not going to even try to analyze the military or political situation of Nicaragua/Honduras.

film still As for the movie, I thought a little more detail could have been added to the English subtitles to clarify the situation. I had to do a little homework to understand the conflict. Aside from that, I thought the movie was well done. The entire cast turned in very believable performances and the director didn't pull any punches portraying the horrors of war. Robert's portrayal of Eddie Guerrero as a model soldier who had never questioned orders until now was excellent, and at times heartbreaking.

As a nice balance, some scenes were a relief from the realities of war. Robert's natural rapport with children shines in the scenes with his family and Marlena's young son. Also, he apparently did his own stunt in the speedboat scene - he gleefully splats into the water off the side of the boat, displaying absolutely no diving ability.

Several aspects of the movie bothered me. The stark portrayal of U.S. soldiers condoning and assisting in torture. I wondered why, after three tours of duty in Vietnam, Eddie would risk training the defiant Luis to assist him in the mission; I wouldn't have trusted the kid for a minute. Nor would I have trusted Marlena, whom I suspected to be a Nicaraguan spy. Green Berets are tough as nails - I kept waiting for Eddie to hit the charge to blow up the base, despite the risk of being shot. He didn't, and he prevented Attila's attempt to do so, which didn't make sense.

This was a tough movie to watch but Robert Beltran turned in an exemplary performance as a U.S. soldier caught in the middle, as always, of someone else's war. On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate it a 7 since he carried the movie so well.

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Reviewed by Running Horse

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Reviews:

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Name: mary/annie
E-mail: mimiq_69@yahoo.com
Review:

Good review ,Wish he had turned around with no clothes on!!!!!!!!!!!NOW THAT woulda been sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: Angela Cox
E-mail: beltranangel@yahoo.co.uk
Review:

By the end of this film I was so cross I wouldn't have noticed if Robert had run starkers through my living room.The foreign policy of both the U.S and British administrations of the time stank.I love this film,thank-you Haskell Wexler.Haskell is a brilliant cinematographer and I believe this was influenced by the style of Pontecorvo's BATTLE OF ALGIERS.I love Eddie,my favourite bit has to be when he ambles up to Ruben and says "Hey man whaddya killing now "..sums up the two characters.Robert is brilliant so is Tony Plana.I am sure this has special meaning to Chicanos(who seem to have given far more than their share in America's wars) but its message to all of us is clear"We are all brothers,all God's children and have no right to take each others lives".This film should be shown more often and always available to buy or rent.It took me a long time to get to see it ,I thank God I did and that I could share it with my daughter.Angie
Name: Cally
Review:

NICE ARSE