I was reading on the recent arrest of the Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán Loera aka El Chapo. One of the biggest cartel bosses of Mexico, when you read the wikipedia page of this guy and you see this movie then you realize everything that's happening is actually the reality of what goes on around there.You follow a woman who decides to inscribe for a beauty contest and then becomes witness of a cartel shooting in a bar. When she falls in the hands of the cartel she becomes sort of a pawn in the 'games' they are playing. Wars between cartels, government officials, police and international criminals.Its an insane ride into the harsh reality of Mexico.

Why is this film entitled "Miss Bala"? It should be "Miss Baja". From the title to direction, acting and even film editing, this movie doesn't live up to the script. It's a story from the headlines, seen through the eyes of an innocent young woman. The story weaves drug violence and corruption through a young girl's dream of becoming Miss Baja....or Miss Bala. Trouble is, the heroine seems stupid and weak, and doesn't seem any wiser at the end of the story. Many scenes are poorly lit and take too long. None of the other characters, except maybe the drug kingpin, seem real; more like cartoon gangsters, policemen, beauty pageant officials and soldiers on both sides. It's worth watching. With the same script in the hands of a better director, technical staff and actors, it could have been amazing.

The film starts with a nice storyline of relating everything to a beauty contest and slowly it takes you to some of the very nice movie experiences. It sure does makes you think why is this and that happening but then again the elements will show the reasons and by the end you will definitely see the whole motive behind the film. The film also encompasses the feelings of the girl entrapped in an impressive way. It shows us how the gangster world works everywhere. The story was very nice and tight. The handling of the film is nice. The acting is average but that is not what you will have to think about. However at the end you will feel sad for the girl."A must watch for everyone wanting a taste of a different cinema."

The story of a young woman (Stephanie Sigman) clinging on to her dream to become a beauty contest queen in a Mexico dominated by organized crime.Living in Wisconsin, I know precious little about the Mexican border. But I have written articles on foreign policy and how America's decisions have affected the gangs of Mexico. This film showcases some of that, focusing on the darkest possible angle.Actress Stephanie Sigman is incredible, having to be a very visual actress in this film: we see her silently cringing or running from gunfire more than she speaks. But I think that this may be harder than just delivering dialogue: her character is kidnapped by gangsters, forced to commit criminal acts, constantly being faced with the possibility of death.While the gangsters here are ruthless, and rightfully so, there was a political point being made that did not escape me: the presence of DEA agents in Mexico. Whether or not you support the war on drugs, there is good reason to question how American police can patrol the streets of Mexico. Do Mexican federales drive around El Paso? I think not. Their presence does not justify the violence from the gangs, but it does raise the question of why a foreign power is facing a domestic problem.