In the Mexican state of Michoacán, Dr. Jose Mireles, a small-town physician known as "El Doctor," shepherds a citizen uprising against the Knights Templar, the violent drug cartel that has wreaked havoc on the region for years. Meanwhile, in Arizona's Altar Valley—a narrow, 52-mile-long desert corridor known as Cocaine Alley—Tim "Nailer" Foley, an American veteran, heads a small paramilitary group called Arizona Border Recon, whose goal is to halt Mexico’s drug wars from seeping across our border.
documentary cartels mexico drugs arizona cocaine crack murder gang mexican border knight templars
Nate H. reviewed Cartel Land (2015)
Review from the comment
Cartel Land is a gripping look at two different groups who are fed up with Mexican drug cartels and their effect on their respective communities. On one hand you have Tim Foley, an Arizonan leading a militia who patrol the southern border armed and seemingly ready to fight it out with goons if they ever see any. Most of the time though they just complain about how cartels are invading America but the only thing they come across (in this doc, at least) are a group of immigrants and their coyote.
Foley is an interesting watch in that he is tenfold invested into the belief that he is fighting what he perceives as evil in his patrols. He comes across at most times like a dumb good ol boy, but he believes in the cause and that his work is warranted.
On the other side in Michocan, Mexico is Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles, a community doctor by day and vigilante group leader by night. Mireles is the head of the Autodefensas, a growing faction fighting back against violence from a cartel called the Knights Templar. Mireles is charismatic and extremely likable, but as his group grows in power, it becomes more difficult for him to keep some of them from becoming corrupt themselves.
Watching the plight of the Autodefensas is much more captivating than Foley's group. The doc frames them in a light where there is the constant threat of attacks which evolves into they themselves becoming the threat. Its an embodiment of the classic theme where he who fights monsters needs to see that he not become a monster himself.
Cartel Land doesn't spend enough time with Foley's group to give their story an even hand. I would have a hard time siding with those types in almost any situation, but I have to imagine their side of things has more to tell than what is offered here. That's my only gripe with Cartel Land, and its a small one.
A private user reviewed Cartel Land (2015)
Review from the comment
Cartel Land gives a no BS look at the war on drugs along the border in Arizona and in Michoacán. It's realism will give individuals who don't have a clue of what goes on in this battle a moment to ponder just how intense and possibly, hopeless it can be.
Cartel Land focuses on Tim "Nailer" Foley, the leader of Arizona Border Recon as well as Dr José Mireles, a Michoacán-based physician who leads the Autodefensas. Each man steadfastly believes that what they are doing is right. Foley, is more of the brash, good ole boy, get er done camp. Dr. Mireles is very charismatic and a man of the people. His speeches and rallying of the people in Michoacán makes him a focal point of the war on drugs in Mexico.
Cartel Land gives a perspective of this fight that I had never really seen before. It's captivating, engrossing and very real.
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