La Mission

New York Observer Rex Reed

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.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

A satisfying and movingly acted story.

Los Angeles Times Gary Goldstein

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).

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Here their hearts are in the right place, but the film tries to say too many things for its running time.

Arizona Republic Bill Goodykoontz

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.

Time Out New York Kevin B. Lee

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.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The warmth comes through, even if the storytelling is simplistic and clichéd.

The Hollywood Reporter James Greenberg

Their heart is in the right place, and their tale is colorful, complete with Indian dancers in ceremonial costumes dancing on a street corner.

Variety Dennis Harvey

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.

The New York Times Mike Hale

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.

Chicago Reader Cliff Doerksen

The after-school-special moralizing is mitigated by the project's sincerity and textured locale.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

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.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Benjamin Bratt ably depicts both sides of this character and creates a memorable portrait in the process.

New York Daily News Joe Neumaier

The earnest attempt at family drama doesn't benefit from the abundance of movie-of-the-week cliches.

Village Voice Melissa Anderson

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.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

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.

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Utterly predictable and full of trite dialogue.