Watch I Am Gangster

I Am Gangster is a raw and intense independent drama film from 2015 that follows the lives of two young Chicano gangsters in Los Angeles who become involved in a dangerous power struggle. The film stars Rick Mancia and Abraham Bobadilla in the lead roles, with Gilberto Ortiz in a supporting role. The story of I Am Gangster revolves around the lives of David (Mancia) and Raul (Bobadilla), childhood friends from East Los Angeles who have grown up with a deep-seated sense of loyalty to their gang, La Vida Loca. David is the more charismatic and ambitious of the two, a born leader who is fiercely protective of his crew and determined to carve out a bigger slice of the city's drug trade. Raul is quieter and more introspective, haunted by the violence and trauma he has experienced within the gang.

Their lives are thrown into turmoil when a dispute with a rival gang escalates into a full-blown war, with La Vida Loca fighting for their territory and their lives against a much larger and more powerful foe. At the same time, David is grappling with an internal power struggle within the gang, as he seeks to assert his authority over his underlings and prove himself as a leader.

As tensions rise and the violence intensifies, David and Raul find themselves pushed to the brink of their limits, forced to make difficult choices about their loyalty and their identity as gang members. Meanwhile, the streets of East LA are awash in bloodshed as the two rival gangs clash in a brutal and senseless war.

One of the strengths of I Am Gangster is its unflinching portrayal of the grim realities of gang life in Los Angeles. The film pulls no punches in its depiction of the violence, drug abuse, and poverty that plague the city's marginalized communities, painting a vivid and bleak picture of a world that most viewers will never see. The dialogue is peppered with street slang and profanity, adding to the raw and gritty feel of the film.

At the heart of I Am Gangster are the performances of Mancia and Bobadilla, who both bring a raw and intense energy to their roles. Mancia is particularly impressive as David, capturing the character's swagger, charisma, and ruthless ambition with a magnetic intensity. Bobadilla's portrayal of Raul is more muted and understated, but no less powerful, conveying the character's inner turmoil and desperation with quiet conviction.

The film also benefits from its use of location and music to create an immersive sense of atmosphere. Much of the action takes place on the streets of East LA, with the filmmakers making effective use of real locations and natural lighting to add authenticity to the proceedings. The music, which is a blend of hip-hop and traditional Mexican folk music, further immerses the viewer in the film's world.

Overall, I Am Gangster is a well-crafted and thought-provoking drama that provides an unflinching look at a world most viewers will never experience. It's a film that will linger in the mind long after the credits roll, leaving a lasting impression of the harsh realities of life on the streets.

I Am Gangster is a 2016 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.