Sunday, August 24, 2008

Hollywood Reporter Article - Latinos in Entertainment

Interesting article giving an overview of some of the Latino writer-directors in Hollywood.

Latinos in Entertainment by Noel Murray

Two years after Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu took the year-end awards circuits by storm with "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Babel," and a year after they inked a $100 million deal with Universal to produce five films under their Cha Cha Cha banner, opportunities for other Latino filmmakers -- both veterans and those relatively new to the scene -- have been on the rise.

For complete article click here.

Friday, August 22, 2008

On the Road in America, Baghdad High and Quid Pro Quo

I have been watching the reality show, “On the Road in America” on the Sundance Channel. It follows four young Arabs traveling the United States and documenting their reactions as well as their interactions with the people across the country. It allows the viewer to see what Arabs are like and helps to break our perceptions formed from watching mainstream media. The show does not try to make them out to be perfect models of Arab youth but shows them as humans with positive and negative aspects to their personality. You do see them struggling with their preconceptions about Americans and at times trying to hold on to these preconceptions but ultimately becoming more open. The series ends with the original pilot with a slightly different cast. Next week, the series is being re-aired. It is worth checking out.
Today, I watched two films, one a documentary called “Baghdad High” and a drama, “Quid Pro Quo”. The first film, much like “On the Road in America” gives us an insight into a different culture. This time, four high school boys in Baghdad are given video cameras to document their last year of high school. The four boys are friends in spite of being from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. The boys are Christian, Kurdish, Shia and Sunni. We get a glimpse into their every day struggles trying to get an education while dealing with a war raging around them, with bombs exploding and bullets flying. This is a documentary that should be shown to students here in the United States to give them a view of how fortunate they are.
The second film I watched was first time director Carlos Brooks’ “Quid Pro Quo.” The plot revolves around a radio host who is a paraplegic. He gets a tip about someone bribing a doctor to amputate his leg and while investigating comes upon a subculture of people who are wannabe amputees or paraplegics. The film is a very sensitive portrayal of people with disabilities and their struggles. At the same time, the film is not judgmental of people with psychological issues. The performances by Nick Stahl (In the Bedroom, Carnivale) and Vera Farmiga (The Departed) are excellent, taking you with them into their world.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Angel Movie Trailer - A Jacobo Morales Film

This is the trailer for the latest film by Jacobo Morales. The movie stars Braulio Castillo Jr. and Jacobo Morales.It is one of the films to be screened at the Film Society of Lincoln Center Latin Beat 2008.

Tribute to Jacobo Morales

The Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting Latin Beat 2008, their annual survey of Latin American Cinema. In this series, they are presenting a tribute to Puerto Rican auteur, Jacobo Morales, three of his films will be shown with an introduction by the director.
The three films to be screened are “Angel” (his most recent film), “What Happened to Santiago” (1990 nominee for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film) and “Linda Sara” (starring popular Puerto Rican singer Chayanne and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres).
Jacobo Morales was born in Lajas, Puerto Rico in 1934. He began his career as an actor in theater and radio when he was fourteen years old. In 1954 he began working in television as an actor, writer and director. He worked in Hollywood, as an actor in the 1970’s then became a film director in 1979. He has written and directed six films.
If anyone is in the New York City area the Latin Beat 2008 is running from September 5-September 25. In addition to the tribute to Jacobo Morales, there will other panels and film series. For more information click here.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Made in Japan - NYILFF Short Film

This is a short film shown at the New York International Latino Film Festival about a Spanish man who finds out that his father is Japanese.

Off Jackson Avenue

This is the trailer for one of the films I reviewed previously from the New York International Latino Film Festival. I don't think the trailer does the movie justice, the movie is so much better that what the trailer sets up.

Harrison Montgomery Trailer

This is the trailer for a film at the New York International Latino Film Festival. My review is in a previous post.