Phoenix Film Festival Review: Miss Bala

At this year’s Phoenix Film Festival we had the opportunity to review Miss Bala, a film directed by Catherine Hardwicke. The film, a remake of the 2012 drama by Gerardo Naranjo, follows Gina Rodriguez, who plays Gloria, a young makeup artist born in Mexico. Raised in the states, Gloria returns to Mexico on a short vacation to visit her friend Suzu (Cristina Rodlo) and her younger brother. 

Upon Gloria’s arrival the two friends decide to attend a local club in Tijuana. While they are at the club the night comes to a sudden halt after a shooting breaks out which separates the two of them. On Gloria’s relentless journey to finding Suzu she finds herself caught up with the Mexican Cartel, who holds her captive and forces her to do varies illegal jobs for them in return to them helping her find Suzu.

This Americanized version of the first “Miss Bala” gives the film a bit more flexibility. Gloria already feels as though she cannot fit in within the Mexican culture, despite her Spanish heritage. After the crooked DEA gets involved and automatically assumes she’s no good due to her nationality Gloria is left alone to fend for herself and takes on the full responsibility of rescuing Suzu.

Gloria seems to be building some type of trust/ bond with the Cartels leader Lino (Ismael Cruz Cordova). Lino is very fond of Gloria and almost treats her as some type of Trophy and Gloria, although skeptical seems to be growing a liking towards him as well. A possible love story that actually never quite gets there which may even be a disappointment to some audiences.

Although this new version of film dives more into allowing the main character to take a stand and come out on top over her captors, it is a bit over-dramatized and goes from being a believable reality into a fantasy. The end of the movie leaves Gloria looking like a superhero verses a survivor which leaves the movie with a few loose ends and keeps the door open for a possible sequel.