InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Keira Brennan The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

Cissy Évelyne It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Dijulias70 I really enjoyed this movie and didn't realize that Danny Trejo was such a good actor. Never saw him in such a dramatic role before. It was a really good story: gritty and what I believe is realistic in the portrayal of the challenges faced by a Latino inner city youth, it drives home the fact that young kids can so easily find themselves on the wrong path and how this can lead to long term consequences.The main character and the rest if the supporting cast also put forth emotional and heartfelt performances. I would recommend this movie to anyone wanting a good story and thought provoking subject matter.

Yeniffer Behrens Watching this film made me more aware of how important a stable family, parent guidance and love are so necessary for our children to have a chance at a decent , successful life. I recommend this film to see some true grit and excellent acting by Zahn M. and Johnny O. It is one of Danny Trejos' most honest performances. You get to experience Los Angeles is so many levels; the beauty, grit and truth of the barrio life. This is a great film showing us the importance of the choices we make in life. There is a price to pay in life, regardless of who you are, where you come from... Your choices create your future. And also your surroundings help or damage your chance in life! A Must See!

fionafarrahi I loved how identifiable and authentic the cast of characters were. The moment you are introduced to Juan in the film, you are rooting for him. You see your little brother or cousin in him and you can't help but want some divine intervention to come into his life. You also see clearly how easy it is to get caught up in the illusion of security that the streets offer. Danny Trejo was brilliant in this. It was nice to see him play such a layered, multidimensional character.In short, the film is a must see from the cast and storyline to the edgy directing. I'm looking forward to seeing more work by David Llauger Meiselman.

LatinHeatMedia Trejo Delivers His Best Performance Ever!Latino or Black youth living in our urban communities have more than just their environment to contend with. More than gangs. They have a juvenile criminal system that works against them— the Three Strikes Law— a threat with power to send young lives down a spiral spin for the rest of their lives.What is fascinating about "Strike One," the new indie film by David Llauger Meiselman, is how realistic he portrays life in an urban community like Los Angeles' Boyle Heights—where the scales of justice is lopsided where fairness is determined by which side of the street you live on.Danny Trejo delivers one of his best performances ever. A very different role for him, who is considered one of the best character actors of his generation and there could be no one better to narrate this film. Trejo's road to success has been hard earned. He grew up on the streets of Los Angeles and despite spending part of his youth and early adulthood incarcerated, Trejo rose to great accomplishment.Is his role in "Strike One" art imitating real life? It could have been, but in the film, there is only the promise of one man willing to do anything to protect his nephew from the hardships he experienced.Llauger-Meiselman brings a new urgency to the dangers lurking about in a community where Latino youth faced with the temptations of a gang-criminal life and an unjust law that shadows them like a predator waiting to arrest and throw them away through a broken juvenile criminal law system.Through his subjective camera, Llauger-Meiselman brings an intimate connection by allowing the movie audience to know exactly how his characters feel, or want to feel, or fear to feel."Strike One" unfolds with Juan Garcia (Johnny Ortiz), a boy on the threshold of manhood who is living in a gang-controlled neighborhood. His role models could not be further apart: His older sister Angie (Maria Isa)—a single mom, struggling in the white corporate world; and his uncle Manny (Trejo), an ex-gang member, who has fallen into an acting career playing gang bangers since his release from prison. Juan is caught between a sister he loves and an uncle he respects and admires. And then there is that deadly web of gang affiliation and the judicial system created to work against him.Breakout artist, Johnny Ortiz (McFarland USA, American Crime), in his very first film, is an impressive Juan. Ortiz comes from a Los Angeles suburb not unlike Boyle Heights, and has stated that had it not been for this role, he might have been the real-life Juan.The reason this film and its storyline is important is because California's Three Strike Law devastates the lives of 80% of the youth living in targeted communities like Boyle Heights. "Strike One" should be a mandatory must-watch film for all Latino and Black youth.It was wonderful to once again see Billy Gallo as Sgt. Veritas give a powerful performance. Veritas and Manny have an old ax to grind. Alma Martinez, as Juan's mother is believable with the way she brings dignity as Juan's mother. Veteran actors James Russo, Reginald VelJohnson and French Stewart, Lawrence Smiglys and Zahn McClarnon round out the cast and they do not disappoint."Strike One" has a fantastic soundtrack of original hip-hop and Latin beat music. Johnny Wilson did a phenomenal job with composing the music.From start to finish, "Strike One" is exciting, gritty and real. Movie viewers will leave with a better understanding of the challenges faced by everyone living in communities like Boyle Heights– where they must deal with "life chose me" circumstances like the family portrayed in the film.Entertaining. Great Performances—with a dramatic interpretation of how devastating the Three Strikes Law is.–Latin Heat/Latinowood Review