For Greater Glory (2012)

It’s the mid-1920s and the Mexican government under President Calles is trying to curtail the influence of the Catholic church.

Foreign-born priests are to be deported. Any priest criticizing the government can be sentenced to five years in prison. And public church services are prohibited.

Peaceful demonstrations to oppose those measures are having little effect. Soon foes of the federal government are taking up arms to fight for religious freedom.

And those who were peacefully protesting are supporting the armed rebellion by organizing chains of communication and smuggling arms and ammunition to the rebels.

But what the Cristeros really need is a general to pull together and command the rebel forces. They turn to retired officer Enrique Gorostieta (Andy Garcia). He’s not Catholic, but his family is. Most importantly, he believes in religious freedom.

With Gorostieta, fighting padre Father Vega (Santiago Cabrera) and Victoriano Ramirez (Oscar Isaac) leading the way, the rebels soon prove quite the match for the federal troops.

Meanwhile, Gorostieta has found a protege — an adopted son of sorts — in a boy named Jose. He joined the Cristeros after watching a firing squad kill an aging priest (Pete O’Toole) who had befriended him.

Andy Garcia as Enrique Gorostieta, rallying his troops as a battle approaches in For Greater Glory (2012)

Santiago Cabrera as Father Vega, the fighting priest in For Greater Glory (2012)

Review:

A well-done film depicting a little known chapter in Mexican history — at least little known in the U.S.

Curiously, it was U.S. Ambassador Dwight Morrow who helped broker an agreement that brought most of the hostilities to an end.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. government’s interest in the conflict stemmed more from possible implications for oil companies doing business south of the border than concern over priests and peasants being murdered.

But while director Dean Wright covers all that in the film, he keeps the focus on the action. Andy Garcia, Santiago Cabrera and Oscar Isaac portray the Rebel leaders with fine performances.

The film’s biggest drawback is the subplot involving young Jose, portrayed as being unbelievably brave, especially for a boy deemed to young to fight.

Garcia’s Gen. Gorostieta is depicted as a military genius. Yet he jeopardizes his entire Army in an attempt to rescue Jose.

It’s also a bit difficult to believe the Mexican federal troops would pay so much attention to one young rebel. Watch the film — and it’s certainly worth a view for Western fans — and you’ll see what i mean.

Oscar Isaac as Victoriano Ramirez, the headstrong and fearless leader of vaqueros in For Greater Glory (2012)

Mauricio Kuri as Jose Sanchez del Rio, a youngster determined to join the rebellion in For Greater Glory (2012)

Directed by:
Dean Wright

Cast:
Andy Garcia … Enrique Gorostieta
Eva Longoria … Tulita Gorostieta
Mauricio Kuri … Jose Sanchez del Rio
Peter O’Toole … Father Christoper
Oscar Isaac … Victoriano “El Catorce” Ramirez
Santiago Cabrera … Father Vega
Eduardo Vesastegui … Anacieto Gonzalez Flores
Ruben Blades … President Plutarco Elias Calles
Nestor Corbonell .. Mayor Picazo
Catalina Sandino Moreno … Adriana
Bruce Greenwood … Ambassador Dwight Morrow
Bruce McGill … Calvin Coolidge
Adrian Alonso … Lalo
Joaquin Garrido … Minister Amaro
Karyme Lozano … Dona Maria del Rio
Alma Martinez … Senora Vargas
Andres Montiel … Florentino Vargas

Runtime: 145 min.

Ruben Blads as President Pltarco Elias Calles, announcing the crackdown on Catholic practices in For Greater Glory (2012)

Peter O’Toole as Father Christopher, the aging priest who befriends Jose in For Greater Glory (2012)

Memorable lines:

Enrique Gorostieta: “Memories? They say if you live in your memories, you’re already dead.”

Father Vega, distributing communion: “You need to confess first.”
Gen. Gorostieta: “Wouldn’t he already know?”

Gen. Gorostieta: “We must remember, men may fire bullets, but it is God who decides where they land.”

President Calles, pondering on to convince Gorostieta to change sides: “Filio Diaz used to say, ‘a dog with a bone in his mouth doesn’t bark and doesn’t bite.’ In politics, everything has a price. Go find his.”

Eva Longoria as Tulita Gorostieta, listening to her husband’s offer to command the rebels in For Greater Glory (2012)

Catalina Sandino Moreno, blessed by Father Vega (Santiago Cabrera) for helping smuggle ammunition to the rebels in For Greater Glory (2012)

Bruce Greenwood as Ambassador Dwight Morrow, the man who helps negotiate a peace agreement in For Greater Glory (2012)

Andy Garcia as Enrique Gorostieta and Oscar Isaac as Victoriano Ramirez discuss an upcoming battle in For Greater Glory (2012)