La Linea

_**Confusing but stylish crime thriller in Tijuana with Liotta, Andy Garcia and Esai Morales**_ An assassin and his partner (Ray Liotta and Kevin Gage) are commissioned to take down the new head of a drug cartel (Esai Morales) that has taken over for the dying drug lord (Andy Garcia). Jordi Vilasuso plays a cartel rival, Armand Assante a padre, Valerie Cruz a woman that befriends the assassin and Bruce Davison a US agent. "The Line" (2009), aka “La Linea,” is a gritty crime thriller taking place in Tijuana that’s more moody psychological drama than action flick. It’s similar in style, locations and content to “Borderland” (2007), albeit less of a horror flick (yet still containing loads of horror). Like that movie, there are glimmerings of greatness amidst the grey mayhem in the mold of “Apocalypse Now.” Unfortunately, the story’s sometimes confusing which would be helped if you use the subtitles since some of the dialogue is difficult to discern (I viewed it on DVD and didn’t have that option). But there’s a lot to appreciate here, including the quality cast, the style, the melancholy vibe, the music, the poignant drama, the gritty action and several beautiful Mexican women. The movie’s obscure, but it shouldn’t be. The film runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Tijuana, the border area, and Los Angeles. GRADE: B-