Better Late Then Never

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Directed and written by Cherien Dabis, the movie tells the story of a proud Palestinian Christian immigrant single mother, Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) and her teenage son, Fadi Farah (Melkar Muallem) in small town Indiana, facing the trials and tribulations of moving to another country. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, I love how well-shot and well-written, the film is. However, I just wish, the movie would show us, more on how they were able to survive. After all, wasn't the couple that they were staying at, were behind on their mortgage and on risk, of losing their home? I really doubt, the income of working at White Castle would save this family, from being homeless, but somehow, this movie shows that magic of White Castle can solves all the economic and world problems. No really, this is how this movie plays White Castle as a savior. I never knew, how good working at White Castle was. Not only, does, working at White Castle help you, reconnect with your son, but it also helps, reconnect other family member. It's seem like the magic of White Castle can do anything. Yes, I know, most people would probably say, this movie is a bit distracting, due to how much, they talk about how awesome, it is, to work at there, and how much, the film's overused of that product placement. However, I still get what this movie message was trying to say, with its dramatic story. So the whole White Castle brand integration wasn't too off-putting, because they kinda intergrade the product placement into the film, somewhat adequate. I like the fact that Muna Farah had to work there, after finding out, that all of her money has been confiscates, during her entrance into the country. I also love the fact, that White Castle isn't pull as a one-off joke. No, she honestly grow to love, working there. It kinda make sense, once you see the movie. I also have to say, Nisreen Faour is a fine actress and she makes this movie, so entertaining, not only with her great use of humor, but her emotional range. You really do believe, that she's willing to do anything to help her child, have success in America. I can somewhat related her drive. After all, there is nothing wrong, with working at a job like that, as long, as you're working for success. So, I was rooting for her. The only thing, I can say, that was bad about her character, is that she speaks, in Broken English. Don't get me wrong, the fact that she doesn't understand, English, that well, is part, of this movie's charm. I love, the jokes about her, misunderstanding English slangs like 'Grill', or not knowing initials like 'F.O.B" (Fresh off the Boat); however, I wish the movie had subtitles for the scenes, where they were speaking English to each other. It was really hard to hear, what they were saying to each other, due to the accent. Still, I have to give them, some credit for having English subtitles, whenever, the characters were speaking Arabic. That was very useful. I also like how the movie had a great subplot about American prejudice toward Arabs, coming out of the events of 9/11 and the beginnings of the 2003's Iraq War. It was very good social commentary. However, it does kinda fell flat at parts. A good example is Fadi's sub-plot with the one-dimensional bullies. We never get to see that story-arch honestly finish. Nor was it, explain, very well. Honestly, why didn't the bullies press charges against Fadi, after getting into a fight with them and slicing their tires? You would think, they had a good case. Another issues that wasn't explain well, is how Muna's brother in law's medical practice was save. How did Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda) get his patient, back? The movie is full of subplots that go nowhere, like Muma's co-worker, Matt (Brodie Sanderson) dropping out of school, and trying to get his GED. Did he get it? We will never know. Then, there is the jokes that go nowhere like Muna trying to sell, weight-pills. The movie makes a lot of jokes about her weight, but we never get to see her, work at it, at all. Despite those flaws. This movie was still heart-warming enough to overlook them. I also love, how the movie doesn't seem like an independent movie. You would think, a big studio finance this. I love how the film was able to be shot on location in Ramallah, with its limited low-budget. It helps make the film, seem realistic, because you really do see, how life in the West Bank is. It's a very tense place to live, indeed. Even the Winnipeg sites as the film's Post-9/11 suburban Chicago settlings kinda work. It's funny to hear the story, how locals mistake the White Castle set, as a real restaurant, and try to order things from there. In the end, I have to say, the filmmakers really use their limited budget, very wisely. I have to say, they must had done, a great job, to get National Geographic Society to buy all theatrical and home entertainment rights to Amreeka after its debut at Sundance. It's rarely for National Geo to pick a movie up, that isn't a documentary. So, mad props to Amreeka! Overall: While, it's not the best movie out there. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. A beautiful and heart-warming movie, worth checking out. I recommended it.

1st watched 1/1/2012 – 8 out of 10 (Dir-Cherien Dabis): Well made drama about a single mother and her son moving from Bethlehem in Palestine to the US, and encounter many different obstacles upon their arrival. This movie is what you'd call a slice-of-life film but focused on a situation that isn't shown much in the movies. They decide to move right in the middle of the Iraq conflict to help the son with his schooling possibilities while suspicions are high against people from their area. This is seen from the perspective of non-Muslim middle eastern folk who just want to live their lives like everyone else. The son first has to encounter being a teen at a Midwest high school where he gets into fights and then gets arrested defending his mother – so things aren't so kind for him in his new surroundings. Nisreen Faour is wonderful as the mother and the rest of the cast is spot on. The experience is not all gloom-and-doom as the mother meets a sympathetic Polish Jew who is the principal of her son's school as well as a friendly teen she works with at the local White Castle. The only real downside to the movie is that it ends too soon. You get attached to these characters and want to see more, but it ends before any major conclusions – other than the fact that life will go on and things are looking up. Don't miss this gem of a movie that deserves a sequel or maybe a reality series on a cable channel?? – Anything to bring back these characters so will can follow them to see how things turn out in the end.

I am going to immigrate this film review into the unchartered waters of Punsylvania! OK, so I overdo the pun thang in my movie reviews. But it is America, a land of freedom & expression! So I will do the same in my review of the independent film "Amreeka". Are you still with me? Or did you deport yourself to another entertainment medium? OK cool, you are still here! "Amreeka" stars Nisreen Faour as Muna Farah, a Ramallah single mother who moves to America with her teenage son Fadi. They move into the Illinois home of Muna's sister Raghda Halaby and family. Muna and Fadi find the U.S. migration transition process difficult as they encounter injustices and prejudices. Muna is constantly denied jobs for banking employment, which was her occupation in Palestine. So she has no other choice but to follow the trails of Harold & Kumar and visit the White Castle; which is where she eventually finds employment. It becomes a very self-demeaning situation for Muna in not earning the Mula she originally thought she would earn as a U.S. banking associate. Muna lies to Fadi and Raghda & family by informing them that she works in a local bank. She should really work at White Lies Castle! On the other Ramallahian, Fadi is constantly bullied at school by a group of young boys because of his ethnicity. Writer-Director Cherien Dabis presents her Dabis tale on the prejudicial hardships that good-honest middle easterners face in immigrating to United States with an authenticity that does not make one feel sympathy for them but rather root for their success in the so-called "land of opportunity". Nisreen Faour's heartbreaking & courageous performance as Muna was very solid! The fabulous Faour could be saying to herself "I am rica" if she continues her acting proficiency and eventually gets offered lucrative roles. She carried the film from start to finish! Hiam Abbass' supporting performance as sister Raghda was also worth noting and was not a "rag doll" effort. The Abbass also dove nicely into a deep supporting performance in 2008's "The Visitor". "Amreeka" does sometimes almost borders itself on plot boredom, but that never materializes primarily due to Nisreen Faour's superlative starring performance. Visit "Amreeka" today! **** Good

This story follows a Middle-Eastern woman as she struggles living in an military-occupied West Bank. When she receives notice that she has been chosen in a lottery for a U.S. Green Card, she has to make the decision whether or not to uproot herself and her son for greener pastures. After making the decision to go, leaving her mother and brother behind, she realizes that life in Amreeka (America) is not all that she had dreamed it would be. Facing prejudice everywhere she turns, she makes other hard choices in trying to support her family...the son she brought to America with her and the relatives that she is staying with in the Midwest who are facing prejudice and struggling to make ends meet. In the end, this film reminds the viewer of the importance of family and the sacrifices we make for those we love.