Review: No Man’s Land (2021)

Wars are fought along battle lines.  The land along battle lines neither side can control is referred to as ‘No Man’s Land’.

Immigration of all kinds can cause conflict of language, money, power, and, of course, land.  But, where do the macro-level battles of culture and country stop, and the micro-level battles of family and self begin?  And, what happens when we see two families on opposing sides of the line come face to face?

The Plot – No Man’s Land

Jackson Greer is a young man on the verge of hitting it big; a star athlete about to try out for the New York Yankees.  But, Jackson is extremely loyal to his family.  The Greers, Dad, Mom, and older Brother, Lucas; run a small ranch along the Mexican border. 

The Greer’s ranch has seen better days, however.  Literally stuck between a rock, that is the steady flow of immigrants constantly trespassing on their land, and a hard place, that is a newly constructed border wall built BEHIND them; life is not easy.  Cattle run off, and livestock stolen; The Greers struggle financially, and the disruptions from immigrants crossing their ranch aren’t helping.

Gustavo is a Mexican national, living legally in the U.S with a Green Card.  Gustavo also smuggles people looking for a better life across the border.  Some call him a Coyote, but he’s known as ‘The Shepherd.’

This day, Gustavo also helps his elderly Mother and two teenage Sons cross into Texas.  Worlds and families are on a collision course!

Bill Greer, played by Frank Grillo, and older son Lucas, head out to recover their cattle, scattered by a cut fence from previous immigrants.  Bill and Lucas work long after dark and run into Gustavo, played by Jorge A. Jimenez, and roughly ten immigrants.  Tensions run high as Bill and Lucas, both armed with guns, order the immigrants to the ground.

Jackson, initially ordered to stay home and stay safe, rushes into the darkness to help his family; then, he hears a gunshot.  Jackson gallops in on horseback to the scene, distracting his Dad.  Gustavo lunges for Bill’s gun after one of the immigrants stabs Bill. 

Bill and Gustavo, men fighting for their families, struggle over control of the gun, when…  ***BANG***  The gun goes off, and Fernando, Gustavo’s son runs to help his Dad.  Jackson sees someone running at HIS Dad, and…  ***BANG***  Jackson fires once, Fernando falls to the ground.  Moments later, Lucas falls to the ground.

Texas Ranger Ramirez, played by Comedian George Lopez, is of Hispanic descent, but struggles while learning to speak Spanish from audio tapes.  Ramirez hears the gunshots, and rushes to the scene.  People scattering everywhere, Ramirez finds the scene, Jackson’s hands covered in blood.  After the dust settles.  Fernando lied dead, Lucas clings to life in the hospital.

Days later, Ramirez confronts Jackson.  Jackson, played by Jake Allyn, claims self defense, but Ramirez doesn’t believe him.  Ramirez attempts arresting Jackson, but he flees on horseback, across the Rio Grande River, across into Mexico.  An American, now wanted for a crime, is now an immigrant illegally in Mexico.

The Good – No Man’s Land

Director Conor Allyn, the real life brother of Jackson actor Jake Allyn, starts the film leaning in to the stereotypes on both sides of the border.  Jackson is the headstrong cowboy and wannabe-alpha-male.  Bill and Lucas drive around listening to other Ranchers spew racial epithets on the radio in one scene, and hold immigrants at gun-point while not affiliated with any form of law enforcement in another.

The immigrants are shown backpacking across the desert and dealing with the kind of Coyotes that Gustavo is not.  Everyone speaks fully in Spanish, so I as an English-only speaking viewer, must read the subtitles to understand their conversations.  The Director layers stereotype on top of stereotype during the first 20 minute of the film to build tension for each side leading up to the confrontation in the desert.

After Jackson flees into Mexico, the tone of the film changes, and the script is flipped.  We get to know the people, not the stereotype; as the characters themselves get to know the people, not the stereotypes.  Jackson must beg for help from a Mexican family and work for them on THEIR Ranch.  Gustavo must navigate the American legal system to recover his son’s body, and shepherd him back to Mexico for burial.  As Jackson and Gustavo travel further out of their comfort zones, we see them learn more.

Jackson starts to learn Spanish, how to dance at a Mexican bar, and how to flirt with a Rancher’s daughter.  Okay, that last part if probably universal.  Gustavo, previously a man of faith and gun-free; stews in his own grief and anger, and seeks out a gun to get revenge on Jackson.

Back on the Greer Ranch, we see in more detail the extent of the hard work Bill and his wife Monica, played by Andie MacDowell must work everyday to sustain their ranch.  The cowboy façade slips away as we see hard working parents worry about their hospitalized son.

Jackson’s work ethic waxes as his machismo wanes.  The Cinematography, Casting, and tone of the film all shift as Jackson leaves to pay homage to Fernando, the man he killed.  Along the way, Gustavo teams up with the ‘bad’ Coyote Luis, played by Andres Delgado, to track down and kill Jackson.  Each man’s journey is well acted and explored, and goes on a purposeful and well executed story arc as the movie unfolds.

The Bad – No Man’s Land

A Western in the classic sense, but in a modern setting; No Man’s Land doesn’t have much that falls into the ‘bad’ category.

The cultural stereotypes layed on thick to start the film initially feel like we’re about to sit through a two hour sermon or political speech.  But, the stereotypes reflect where our characters start the film, and serve as a backdrop for the character development that happens after.  While there is definitely a ‘message’ being sent, it is thankfully wrapped up in the storytelling, and doesn’t come across as preachy.

Andy MacDowell and George Lopez have surprisingly small roles in this film.  Both fill their roles perfectly, and would have been well served by having more screen time, but the storytelling prioritizes story and Jackson and Gustavo’s journeys over supporting character development.  This is the right Directorial choice, but it would have been great to see more of them.

The Review

While the confrontation in the desert lasts a mere 15 seconds of screen time, the repercussions are seen throughout the whole film. 

The themes of family and culture are shown on both sides of the border, giving a human feeling to each side.  What could have easily veered into a preachy or bleeding-heart narrative, instead focuses on the story and emotional journey of the characters.

Jake Allyn and Jorge A. Jimenez shine as men driven out of their comfort zones and to the extreme of human emotion.  Director Conor Allyn gives a modern take on a classic Western.  The pacing, editing, cinematography, and overall storytelling are all on point.  Well worth watching this IFC Films production.

Rated PG-13, 115 Minutes Long.

Check out my video movie review on Dragon Movie Guy

No Man’s Land Trailer

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