Annette Kellerman digs DESIERTO

So many thrillers these days have plots and subplots so complex I sometimes find myself scratching my head when trying to connect all the dots. The overarching story is clear and usually quite entertaining, however in countless cases question marks and plot holes abound when a film maker tries to pull off too many tricks or too much manipulation. In contrast, sometimes a simple and straightforward tale can have all the effect of its convoluted counterpart sans the confusion. Don't get me wrong- I love a complicated thriller that is well-executed, and I adore when a film maker pulls off the feat of reigning in an elaborate story line. Sometimes, however, I can revel in a film that has a simple narrative that is compelling enough to yield an action-packed feature length film, grabbing your full attention and not letting go for 90+ minutes.

In DESIERTO, director Jonas Cuaron does just that with a classic cat and mouse saga set in the desolate badlands of the Mexican border. A group of immigrants and their "coyote" guide are stranded just shy of the of the U.S. border with Mexico. When they decide to embark on foot through the unforgiving desert, the group has to deal with the harsh elements of the treacherous landscape. Not long after they finally cross the border in an anticlimactic hop through a barbed wire fence, their surroundings become even more dangerous when a sharp-shooting, racist, patriot decides to be a vigilante border patrolman.

From here the film doesn't veer too far from the classic chase formula, yet Cuaron achieves a steady build up of tension, creating incredible momentum that keeps the film racing at a solid clip. The action kicks in early on, there is no letting up, and the drama unfolds as quickly as it begins. Aside from a few brief expository scenes, character development is kept to a bare minimum which some audiences may find unsatisfying. I found the simplicity allowed for stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Jeffrey Dean Morgan to give very focused, uncluttered portrayals of their characters. Bernal's performance as Moises, the quick witted and determined father who is facing the risky border crossing to be with his son, is adept and understated. He completely conveys the desperation of a man caught in such a quandary. Morgan, however, gets to have all the fun here as the completely unhinged Sam, the gunman with the loyal canine whose quarry isn't always jack rabbits. Though he gets the least backstory, his performance is dense with rage and derangement. Sam isn't one of those ironically comical psychos, and Morgan justly plays him as serious as the maniac he is.

Through it isn't spelled right out, it is impossible to ignore the obvious underlying issues of DESIERTO as well. To witness a group of everyday people risking life and limb to cross a perilous desert in order to carve out a better life for their families is just another frightening illustration of the real life desperation and danger people are facing everyday in countries around the world. This story could very well take place in the forests of Germany or the shorelines of Greece. There are refugees all over the world, and films like this force us to give these issues more of the attention they deserve. Cuaron's nod in this direction isn't overt, nevertheless the subtext is loud and clear.

I was thoroughly impressed with DESIERTO. From the non stop intensity to the magnificent and terrible desert setting, the straightforward film is exhilarating and thought-provoking, and I hope you get a chance to check it out. It opens in theaters today.

Rebecca Elliott

aka Annette Kellerman