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Latino movie reviews and quick takes on new releases

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)
Mike Pierce
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2008/12/12 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)

12.12.2008 | By |

A holiday movie for the season, Nothing Like the Holidays stars a huge Latino cast, including Freddy Rodríguez, Luis Guzmán, Jay Hernández, Elizabeth Peña, John Leguizamo, and more. It’s about a Puerto Rican family living in the cold, windy city of Chicago—specifically Humboldt Park.

What’s it about, you may ask? Well, mix one crazy family, one fish-out-of-water outsider, a great soundtrack, and you get a pretty damn funny movie. Okay, okay, here’s the breakdown:

  • One son returns from Iraq, uncertain about what he wants to do with his life.
  • Another son is married to a non-Latina wife who happens to be the primary breadwinner.
  • The sister, whom the family believes is a huge Hollywood actress (even if the reality is a little different).
  • The eccentric cousin who is pretty much like another brother—he’s just nuts!
  • The “almost-adopted” son, living the street life while dealing with his own drama.
  • The dad, who runs a cool little store on the corner but is hiding a secret.
  • And last but not least, the mom, who suspects that “secret” is infidelity.

Does that make sense? (Lol) The movie is funny, entertaining, and features a cast I absolutely loved.

‘Nothing Like The Holidays’ Deserves a Rewatch and a Sequel
SBC Staff
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2008/12/08 at 12:00am

Latinos In HollywoodMovie ReviewsMovies

‘Nothing Like The Holidays’ Deserves a Rewatch and a Sequel

12.8.2008 | By |

Elizabeth Peña stares at her grown son across the Christmas table. He hasn’t told her about Iraq. She already knows. That single look carries forty years of Puerto Rican motherhood, and seventeen years later, we still haven’t seen another mainstream holiday film capture anything close to it. Read More

Frost/Nixon (Movie Review)
Mack Chico
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2008/12/05 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Frost/Nixon (Movie Review)

12.5.2008 | By |

Rated: R for some language.
Release Date: 2008-12-05
Starring: Peter Morgan
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.frostnixon.com/

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Frost/Nixon

David Frost, a british entertainment interviewer obtains a confession that no one else can from President Richard Nixon on prime-time TV in the 1970’s. That is the plot line from ‘Frost/Nixon’, a compelling retelling of that story and the consequences it had on each one of them after that historic broadcast.

The film, in essence, is a direct shot by shot remake of the London and Broadway versions of the play. The Broadway version I saw in 2007 was powerful and dramatic and showcased the acting mastery of one Frank Langella (Nixon), who went on to win a Tony award for his portrayal of the late President. Langella didn’t then, nor now, look or sound much like the late 37th President, yet, through sheer force of performance, he embodies Nixon. Logically speaking, given the theater award, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be among the candidates for an Oscar award as well. Michael Sheen (Frost) was definitely the supporting actor here playing off the instincts and skill of Langella.

In essence, the movie is a about two people who are losing their social and market value in society and their need to regain it. That plot pales in comparison to the true centerpiece mano a mano interview both men have. The stage and film version invest all their time and effort into making this, “the clash of the century”, “the dual of death”, into the definitive verbal battle in political and media history.

Even though liberties are taken with the facts to create moments of dramatic tension throughout the film, Frost/Nixon manages to capture a glimpse into the life of one of the most controversial figures in the history of American politics.

The acting performances is what director Ron Howard (The DaVinci Code, Apollo 13) bets the house on. He managed to obtain convincing and captivating performances, yet everything else was secondary for him and it showed.

If you’re not into politics nor the media industry, then Frost/Nixon won’t titillate you that much. If the contrary applies, especially after experiencing the energy and results of our recent presidential campaign, this film is just the right dose of politics you’re looking for.

Four Christmases (Movie Review)
Mike Pierce
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2008/12/05 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Four Christmases (Movie Review)

12.5.2008 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language.
Release Date: 2008-11-26
Starring: Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.fourchristmasesmovie.com/

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Four Christmases

It’s still the #1 movie at the box office. What movie am I talking about you may ask?? Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and “Sexy Cute” Reese Witherspoon. It has a great cast such as Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, John Voight, Tim McGraw, Jon Favreau, and more!

The movie starts off with a couple who are totally in love, but soon find out  that they REALLY don’t KNOW each other. The Christmas holidays roll around…instead of hanging with their family, they decide to lie…once again…to plan a trip to Fiji…but the weather messes everything up so they are forced to visit their 4 seperate families…and these families are nuts.

If you happen to “family hop” during the holidays – you’ll definately can relate. (lol)

You sure laugh a lot and during these hard times – we all could use it.

Punisher: War Zone (Movie Review)
Mack Chico
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2008/12/04 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Punisher: War Zone (Movie Review)

12.4.2008 | By |

Rated: R for pervasive strong brutal violence, language and some drug use.
Release Date: 2008-12-05
Starring: Nick Santora, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA, Canada
Official Website: http://www.punishermovie.com/

This film is so bad, it’s not worth our time writing a review for it.

Transporter 3 (Movie Review)
Alex Florez
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2008/11/25 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Transporter 3 (Movie Review)

11.25.2008 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material.
Release Date: 2008-11-26
Starring: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: France
Official Website: http://www.letransporteur3-lefilm.com/

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Transporter 3

Let’s be frank (no pun intended). This review really isn’t needed. 

The latest installment of the ‘Transporter’ series is everything you expect it to be: one ridiculous action sequence after another with a senseless romantic plot sandwiched in between.  But who says that’s a bad thing?

Frank Martin (Jason Statham), a former Special Forces officer and now a highly skilled courier for the underworld world, has been pressured into ‘transporting’ Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev, a top Ukrainian politician, all across Europe.  But things get pretty ugly for him when he has to contend with the people who strong armed him to take the job, the special agents sent by Vasilev to intercept him, and his unruly passenger.  If you haven’t seen the first two films, you’ll quickly pick up on its simple premise. 

Oh yes, one other matter of hilarious complication. On this particular run, Frank is forced to wear a high tech bracelet which is programed to explode if he gets too far from his Audi S8.  And so he speed races through Europe stopping only to battle dozens of henchmen that are on his tail using his masterful kung fu skills – all within 50 feet of his car, of course.

If nothing else, Transporter 3 is hysterical. The implausibility of all the stunts should be enough to keep you entertained for a couple of hours. And the fact that it takes itself so seriously makes it even funnier. If you’ve seen ‘Crank’ (my personal favorite Statham film), I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. 
 
It is what it is.  A kung fu movie with fast cars and a British accent.

Now we all know the effects a big turkey dinner can have. So if you’re looking for a film to watch on Thursday night, perhaps ‘Transporter 3’ is a better choice than the 3 hour epic which also opens this weekend.

 

Australia (Movie Review)
Alex Florez
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2008/11/24 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Australia (Movie Review)

11.24.2008 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language.
Release Date: 2008-11-26
Starring: Baz Lurhmann, Ronald Harwood
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA, Australia
Official Website: http://australiamovie.com/

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Australia

With ‘Moulin Rouge!’, visionary filmmaker Baz Lurhmann finished his ‘Red Curtain Trilogy’ (Strictly Ballroom and Romeo+Juliet are the other two) – a series of stylized and highly choreographed retelling of stories we’re all pretty familiar with. 

Australia however, Lurhmann’s latest film, is not only a departure in style and content but in ambition as well.  Let’s just say this is Lurhmann’s ‘Gone with the Wind’.   A near three hour epic no one other than himself could have directed. 

But Lurhmann fans need not fret.  There is still plenty of singing (no, it’s not quite a musical) and borderline corniness to make your time worthwhile. 

The romantic action adventure sets itself in a country on the explosive brink of World War II.  In it, an English aristocrat named Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) travels down under, where she meets a rough hewn local (Hugh Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she inherited.  On this journey however, she finds herself caring for an enchanting young orphan named Nullah (brilliantly played by Brandon Walters), a half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy adrift in a segregated society that treats him as an outcast.

And that’s precisely where the strength of the film lies. The story, narrated by the boy himself, is most powerful when it confronts Australia’s horrifying past.  Yet Lurhmann cautiously tries to abstain from the plight of the Australian aborigines in the 1940s.  A deeper exploration of the historical context in which it set its love story, would have served it well. Instead the film flirts with a magical realism that is mawkishly sentimental.

As an action film there are certainly some riveting sequences which prove that Lurhmann can direct more than mere dance numbers.  And though the accents are a bit difficult to navigate past, the performances are solid as well.  But in the end, it’s the long running time and the lack of focus in the screenplay that do the film in.

 

Bolt (Movie Review)
Jack Rico
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2008/11/21 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Bolt (Movie Review)

11.21.2008 | By |

Rated: PG for some mild action and peril.
Release Date: 2008-11-21
Starring: Chris Sanders
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/bolt/

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Bolt

What a breath of fresh air…I had to redeem myself from Twilight people! (lol) Walt Disney has done it again with the adorable America White Shepherd, Bolt.
This movie has a great meaning – for the entire family. “If you put your mind to it – you can do anything!” It’s about a dog named Bolt (voice by John Travolta) and his “person”, Penny (voice by Miley Cyrus) who star in an action hit TV show. Now when the show ends – Penny goes home…but, Bolt…doesn’t. He doesn’t get to be a REAL dog…get this (lol) – the director keeps him locked in his trailer…that way – Bolt STAYS in character, which is better for the show. Are you following me? (lol) Good.
 
One day – Penny is kidnapped by the evil Dr. Calico. (in the TV show) As soon as they end the scene – Bolt is immediately taken to his trailer – STILL thinking Dr. Calico has Penny. Well, it’s time for action – the first chance he gets – he escapes the Hollywood studio lot…only to fall in a box and is shipped to New York City. (Yeah, poor Bolt)
 
While there in the Big Apple, he meets Mittens…a cat…who he thinks knows where Penny is. (KEEP IN MIND, BOLT THINKS HE IS LIVING THE TV SHOW) They decide to make a road trip BACK to L.A. – along the way – they meet a cool little kick butt hamster. (You gotta see him)
 
It’s a great family movie – you laugh and you even cry…yes, I DID tear up. Go see this movie people – – it’s a great and the kids will dig it.

Wall E (Movie Review)
Alex Florez
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By

2008/11/18 at 12:00am

Movie ReviewsMovies

Wall E (Movie Review)

11.18.2008 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated:
Release Date: 2008-06-27
Starring: Andrew Stanton
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:NULL
Official Website: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/wall-e/

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Quantum of Solace (Movie Review)
SBC Staff
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2008/11/14 at 12:00am

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Quantum of Solace (Movie Review)

11.14.2008 | By |

The new Bond film Quantum of Solace isn’t better than its predecessor Casino Royale, and its story isn’t as fun as Wanted. So, where did the $225 million they spent on it go? Read More

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