Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
La mission
Metascore
47 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
view
per page
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    75
    A satisfying and movingly acted story.
  2. New York Observer
    Reviewed by: Rex Reed
    75
    La Mission, carefully directed by Peter Bratt and beautifully photographed by award-winning cinematographer Hiro Narita (Never Cry Wolf), explores the human side of a culture we know almost nothing about, in a world usually exploited on film to depict drugs and danger.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Gary Goldstein
    70
    The film oozes with authenticity -- sometimes a bit too much so -- and a genuine passion for the gritty, colorful, proud neighborhood that's still a few steps behind the progressive city it calls home (the Bratts grew up in and around the Mission).
  4. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    63
    Here their hearts are in the right place, but the film tries to say too many things for its running time.
  5. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Bill Goodykoontz
    60
    It offers Bratt maybe his best role ever as Che, a tough-guy neighborhood personality struggling to come to grips with his son's homosexuality.
  6. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Kevin B. Lee
    60
    Bratt's performance suggests enough subcutaneous rage to give the proceedings an edge, even when the sluggish narrative takes the slow-cruise ethos of its low-rider culture far too literally at times.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    58
    The warmth comes through, even if the storytelling is simplistic and clichéd.
  8. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    50
    Their heart is in the right place, and their tale is colorful, complete with Indian dancers in ceremonial costumes dancing on a street corner.
  9. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    50
    The mixed report on La Mission is that writer-director Peter Bratt doesn't really know how to make pictures, but he does know the central character in his movie.
  10. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    50
    Benjamin Bratt ably depicts both sides of this character and creates a memorable portrait in the process.
  11. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    50
    The distinguished cinematographer Hiro Narita ("Never Cry Wolf") captures the hard San Francisco light and the burnished glow of the beautifully painted cars. Unfortunately, this care is lavished on an overwrought, predictable story of an angry ethnic father.
  12. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    50
    Rather predictable in its major plot points and social-issue pleadings, the picture is better suited to cable than the big screen, but nonetheless offers solid drama with nice streaks of humor, warmth and local color.
  13. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Cliff Doerksen
    50
    The after-school-special moralizing is mitigated by the project's sincerity and textured locale.
  14. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    40
    The earnest attempt at family drama doesn't benefit from the abundance of movie-of-the-week cliches.
  15. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    40
    As subtle as a face-punch, La Mission nobly continues a necessary conversation about homophobia, but paves the way to hell with its own good intentions.
  16. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    33
    Bratt's character is stuck in old ways of thinking, and the movie, for all its well-meaning social intent, is right there with him.
  17. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    25
    Utterly predictable and full of trite dialogue.
prev next
Page:
  • 1

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. dfwforeign
    8
    Growing up in the Mission district of San Francisco, Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) has always had to be tough to survive. He's a powerful man respected throughout the Mission barrio for his masculinity and his strength, as well as for his hobby building beautiful lowrider cars. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes, whom he has raised on his own after the death of his wife. Che's path to redemption is tested, however, when he discovers Jes is gay. To survive his neighborhood, Che has always lived with his fists. To survive as a complete man, he'll have to embrace a side of himself he's never shown. Good movie I dont know why the review ratings are so low. I found this movie very a very satisfying empathetic look at the problems a macho Hispanic man has dealing with finding out his son is gay. Father is not an angel himself. He spent many years doing drugs and in gangs and theft. Father is now in recovery out of prison and sober via AA. The story is very honestly presented. Film presents a very interesting side to one of the areas of inner San Francisco. Well acted --some of the dialog is wordy. The Kid who is Jes is Great. There are a few over wrought melodramatic scenes but not to much over the top. Cinematography is nice and colorful and loving shots of Mission District San Francisco. Overall way above par compared to the usual USA/American blockbuster mega millions movies. This film received mixed reviews I disagree with most of the negative ones. Most reviewers now a days are in the criticism business and that means they have to be negative and tear the film up. I daily see far to many negative review of films which are actually pretty good. I agree with the NY Times here: "“La Mission” was clearly a labor of love for the Bratt brothers: Peter wrote and directed it, Benjamin is the star, and both took a producer’s credit. They were born in San Francisco in the early 1960s, and the film conveys an intense nostalgia for the Mission District of their youth." I recommend this film.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »