GFY, Cartel Land
In the past, I’ve watched Narcos, Blow, Traffic, Breaking Bad, Sins of my father and other cartel dramas. So, when I see Cartel Land in my Netflix cue and read the summary I’m thinking, “How many more of these things do I have to fucking watch?” And I turn the dial. Then I read an article on Matthew Heinemann and his summary is quite different. The variation being Netflix makes no mention of Tim “Nailer” Foley, leader of the vigilante group ABR (Arizona Border Recon), his cause or role in the film. This bothers me as I feel a bit misled by Netflix, but I’ll get back to that later. I watch the film and Ho-ly Fuck. Thank you posse comitatus. I love the flick because I love Nailer. I love Nailer because I was Nailer.
My first introduction to posse comitatus was back in 1997 while I was enlisted in the Marine Corps. I was a senior communications non-commissioned officer (or a radio operator, if you wanna be a dick about it) detached to a weapons company that was assigned to assist the US border patrol with their reconnaissance efforts in regards to “illegals” and the drug toting “coyotes”. Briefed by Commanding Officers and Border Patrol agents, posse comitatus was drilled in our heads. The Act, signed into law in 1878 and subsequently updated a several times through the years, was basically put forth to prevent military dictatorship by disallowing the military from enforcing domestic policy. So, our mission and rules of engagement were quite clear. Do not apprehend, arrest or detain. Observe and report to the BP. We were there to recon lookout posts and water supply dumps that illegals used to enter the country. We did in So Cal 19 years ago, exactly what Nailer and his ABR are doing in southern Arizona. We traversed the same type of dry, shade-less mountains they do during the day. We froze to our recon positions, in the desert valleys at night. Experienced a remarkably similar situation Nailer does when one of his teams encounters illegals and a coyote. In addition to bringing illegals, the coyotes are bringing the cartel’s drugs into the country. Do you think they won’t kill you in order to stay out of jail? I know first hand the courage it takes to do what he does. The threat is real. How can anyone overlook Nailer and his ABR? That side of Heineman’s story hooked me.
The man with whom Nailer shares a parallel story, but not nearly the same results, is Dr. Jose Mireles. Dr. Mireles is a physician and leader of a vigilante group called Autodefensas, trying to eradicate the Knights Templar Cartel in Michoacan, Mexico. It is in the beginning of his story that the film can become difficult to watch. Without going into detail, if you’ve heard of the many ways Cartels enforce, then the images, videos and victim interview accounts will all be there for you. If you haven’t heard, let’s just say it’s pretty despicable what humans have the capacity to do to each other. It’s a tough watch, but what pushed me through it was noticing how entrenched the director was. Heineman is a Boss for his willingness to follow and capture story. At one point, during the Autodefensas manhunt to flush out two Knights Templar, the director is in a vehicle with four other “white shirts” when shots are fired nearby. Everyone quickly exits and Heineman, still rolling, takes cover behind the vehicle, as one of the Autodefensas drop to the prone – ready to return fire, just a few feet away. Fuuuck. The remaining part of the story, sparsely interspersed with footage and interviews of Nailer’s ABR, focuses on the internal issues and subterfuge that occurs once the Autodefensas find themselves leaderless. I Dr. Mireles. I admired his virility and some of his ideas. But to be candid, the guy gave me a real creepy vibe. Like the priest who’ll show you the way to God, but still wants to diddle you a little bit. Not to say that Nailer, by contrast, doesn’t give off a creepy vibe. But given the choice between a racist and a rapist, I’ll take the racist. Every time.
Now, getting back to what bothers me about the summary and promotion of the film on Netflix. Cartel Land’s movie cover is the image of 2 assault rifles, sticking out of the window of an SUV that’s driving down a street, with a masked man shown in the passenger side mirror-captured from the POV of a third row passenger inside the vehicle. Ok, fine. Clicking on the cover sends you to the summary and play movie page. On this screen, three images scroll past. The first one shows a Mexican, Dr. Mireles, holding a rifle. The second shows a few Mexicans mourning the loss of loved ones. The last image is of several Mexicans raising their assault rifles in the air. The summary reads “This documentary offers an up-close look at the two vigilante groups that have formed in Mexico in response to the increasing dominance of drug cartels.” No mention of the vigilante group on the US side. No image of Nailer and his cause. My question, Netflix or anyone, is why or why not? Is it a promotional thing? Is it a propaganda thing? Is it a fear mongering thing? Is it a black thing? Idfk, but I need help with this thing because I’m an idiot.
Anyway, the film was awesome. The story is sobering and the direction/camera work is second to none. Dr. Mireles has balls. Nailer is a trailblazer. But Matthew Heineman takes the cake. He is simply a Beast with zero inhibitions, when it comes to getting the goods. How it didn’t win an Oscar for best documentary, I do not know. Oh, wait, yes I do. Some talented idiot killed herself ingesting too much fire water…legally.
Cartel Land, Good For You. Netflix, Go Fuck Yourself.