In an auspicious feature-length debut, director Cary Fukunaga crafts an exciting, fascinating film. The drama centers on a pair of wayward youths -- Willy (Edgar Flores), a Mexican member of the vicious Mara Salvatrucha gang, called "El Casper" by his homies, and Sayra, a girl emigrating from Honduras to the United States with her uncle and estranged father -- whose connection, formed atop northward bound trains, is the heart of the film. She is leaving behind the life and family she knows for a new existence in a foreign place called New Jersey, he is running from his violent past.

Edgar Flores and Paulina Gaitan (who also gave a strong performance in the underrated Trade with Kevin Kline) are terrific, delivering engaging and extremely natural performances. The chemistry between them is understated and sweet. Supporting performances are also top-notch, with Tenoch Huerta standing out as an MS-13 leader. He gives a terrifying performance, going from charismatic to sadistic in an insant, with his face obscured by extensive tattoos.

Cary Fukunaga, an American who began researching the film by riding atop trains throughout Central America and Mexico with real inmigrantes, proves his worth as both a storyteller and a visualist. Beyond a handful of coincidental contrivances (Sin Nombre's only flaw), the plot is engaging and full-blooded. Despite the subject matter, there is no over-the-top politcal message. This is a straightforward love story and crime saga more interested in the intimate details of the immigrant experience and gang culture than the broad, controversial debate over "illegal aliens" and border security. The visuals are often stunning. Not only the grand vistas seen by "El Casper" and Sayra from the trains, but also the grittier scenes where the camera guides us through crowded, decaying urban areas. Definitely impressive cinematography.

Overall, this is a very, very good film and one I recommend without a moment's hesitation.

A

The gangster plot line came out too formulaic. The film's script itself relied too much on 'coincidental contrivances'. Not a big fan of the ending, either. But with Fukunaga's brilliant directing combined with flawlessly cinematography, the very good-to-wonderful performances from its actors. Sin Nombre is still a throughout fascinating film. B+

A simple plot line often bordering on melodrama with amazing, amazing cinematography. Some of the scenes on top of the train just blew me away. I hope it gets some recognition because it is truly superb in this aspect.

The acting was solid, but the plot contrivances were often too much to take. See it for it's beautiful imagery. B

It's pretty blah. Even the much-ballyhooed cinematography is nothing special. Just go watch City of God again; this is little more than a mediocre rip-off.

8/10 -> B

Very good movie. The plot feels a bit naively put together, but great directing and great performances make this movie a very worthwhile watch.

I would write my own review, but this pretty much sums up my feelings. A beautiful film shrouded in the darkness of humanity. A scary portrait of the violence people endure and the violence people inflict on others.

Sure, you take away how the film looks, which is incredible, and maybe the story is scant, but that isn't a detractor for me at all. Give me a simple story that engages me over a convoluted story that bores me.

A