We watch Pedro (Robert Sosa) , as he graduates highway patrol academy, and heads out to the roads of Mexico. His chiefs are only interested in the ticket quotas, and he doesn't seem to be making the totals. And then we see Pedro marry one of the first women he meets (Zaide Gutierréz), who is breaking the law, of course. Each day, he realizes that bribes are a natural part of business, but he is torn as to what is the right thing to do. If he follows the law, it holds up the drivers, waiting for the right paperwork... even the drivers would rather just pay the bribe and get on their way. Some very pretty scenes of various parts of Mexico. Also some blood and guts, when some thugs shoot Pedro up pretty badly, and kill his co-worker. Its like a biblical test of Job. Currently showing on "Fandor" channel. Pretty good. Entertaining. We kind of watch the narrative, and maybe sympathize with the difficulties of trying to be a good worker in Mexico, where regular rules don't really apply. Directed by British born Alex Cox. Mostly good stuff... my one complaint was the subtitles... they left out a WHOLE lot of stuff... some short comments, some swears. Still entertaining, but leaving that in would have been a nice touch of reality.

the best alex cox film i've seen since sid and nancy, having been disappointed by death and the compass, and less disappointed by three businessmen. one to watch! great soundtrack too.WHERE WAS EL PATRULLERO SHOT? In Mexico City and on location all over northern Mexico. We began in Parras, Coahuila, which - by complete coincidence - was the town where Peckinpah filmed THE WILD BUNCH. We traveled west through the desert to El Chocolate, Torreon, Gomez Palacio, and Mapimi; thence to Durango and the surrounding hills; and down to Sombrerete in Zacatecas, and the Desierto de los Organos. Superb locations, but we were only scratching the surface -- as I learned later, directing DEATH & THE COMPAS and acting for Arturo Ripstein in LA REINA DE LA NOCHE and for Luis Estradda in LA LEY DE HERODES, Mexico is the most visually stimulating place on earth.

Alex Cox is one of the most original, brave and uncompromising directors to emerge from Britain in the last twenty years. Unfortunately it seems he has to fight tooth and nail to get his movies made, and when he manages to get them released they are virtually ignored. It's a shame that a second rate, audience pleasing hack like Guy Ritchie gets all the attention he does when he doesn't have a TENTH of the talent Cox has! Ever since Cox's second feature 'Sid And Nancy' his career has been a mess. His follow ups, the controversial political drama 'Walker', and the self indulgent spaghetti western homage 'Straight To Hell', almost killed stone dead any chance of mainstream Hollywood success. After a period in the wilderness he returned with his Mexican made 'Highway Patrolman', and it is his most polished, conventional and artistically successful movie to date. Sadly it hasn't reached a larger audience, though one wonders if Steven Soderbergh is a fan, as sections of his 'Traffic' (the good bits!) bear quite a striking resemblance to Cox's movie.Everything about 'Highway Patrolman' is superb - the script, the acting (especially Roberto Sosa in the title role of an idealistic young cop who must wrestle with his conscience), the editing and cinematography. The movie lacks Cox's trademark surreal subversiveness, so it is not all that representative of his output, but who cares when the results are as fine as this. An emotionally engaging, well crafted movie that any film maker should be proud to be responsible for. Try and see it!

I liked this movie. Especially the acting by the guy who played the policeman Rojas is great. This is not an action movie and this is good so. Its a very critical movie.The corrupt social life in Mexico becomes very transparent through the figure of Rojas, who shifts between adjusting to the system (becoming a corrupt policeman) and holding to his ideals (helping the poor). Brilliant is also his almost parodical performance of "policeman machismo".See this movie. It's worth it!