Mateo

Whether intentional or not, Mateo left a bitter aftertaste -- and Matthew Stoneman's story becomes one so much more grating than intriguing.

It's easy to see what drew filmmaker Aaron I. Naar to his eponymous subject in "Mateo," but it's almost impossible to share his enthusiasm.

What begins as a quirky portrait of the artist as a gringo mariachi troubadour proves to be a telling study of a lost soul whose palpable passion for his music acts as a surrogate for more meaningful human contact.

Mateo won't do much for an average viewer, but those interested in the subject matter will find themselves having a good time with it.