Watch Greencard Warriors
- PG-13
- 2014
- 1 hr 30 min
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5.5 (198)
In the movie Greencard Warriors, we are introduced to Angel Alvarez (played by Angel Amaral), a young man who has lived in the United States for most of his life but is an undocumented migrant. He is also a high school student interested in joining the Marine Corps. Angel has a tough life as a Latino teenager in New York City's Washington Heights, where he is preyed upon by local gangs and constantly harassed by the police. His only hope of escaping the cycle of poverty and violence is his military service, but because he is undocumented, he is unable to enlist.
Desperate to join the Marines, Angel turns to a black-market green card seller named Steve (played by Manny Perez). Steve, a former Marine himself, agrees to help Angel obtain a green card in exchange for his enlistment in a new street-gang that Steve is forming.
Angel reluctantly agrees, seeing this as his only chance to achieve his dream of serving in the military. However, as he becomes more and more involved in Steve's gang, Angel begins to question whether he has made the right choice, and whether there is a way out that will allow him to pursue his military aspirations without resorting to violence and crime.
As Angel struggles to balance his loyalty to Steve with his desire to join the Marines, he meets a beautiful young nurse named Mallory (played by Paige Hurd), who becomes a beacon of hope and inspiration in his troubled life. Mallory is facing her own struggles balancing her career aspirations with her desire to help her community, and as she and Angel get to know each other, they realize that they share many of the same values and dreams.
Gripping and intense, Greencard Warriors is a powerful exploration of the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants and how their struggles intersect with issues of poverty, violence, and racial discrimination. The film features strong performances by its lead actors, particularly Amaral, who brings an authentic and empathetic portrayal of a young man caught between two worlds.
The film also features Vivica A. Fox in a supporting role as an immigration lawyer who works with Angel to try to secure his green card through legal means. Her character provides a much-needed voice of reason and compassion in a story that is often dark and harrowing.
Throughout the film, director Miriam Kruishoop keeps the tension high, as Angel's struggles become increasingly dangerous and the stakes for him and those around him become ever higher. Kruishoop also manages to bring a sense of humanity and grace to the film, especially in the scenes between Angel and Mallory, as their relationship develops and gives both of them hope for a better future.
Overall, Greencard Warriors is a raw, honest, and moving portrait of the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants and the lengths to which they must go to achieve their dreams. It also serves as a reminder of the human cost of an immigration system that too often fails those who are most vulnerable.
Greencard Warriors is a 2014 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.