Latino movie news, reviews, trailers, and festival coverage

From Prada to Nada

‘From Prada to Nada’ marks a special occasion in film history since its release signals the coming of a new type of cinema into the Hollywood landscape – Hispanic American films for the US Hispanic. Pantelion, a new movie studio joint venture between Lionsgate and Mexico’s powerful Group Televisa, is the first major Latino Hollywood studio to enter into the foray of the $9 billion dollar box office US film industry. It’s purpose is to create culturally relevant Hispanic motion pictures, in English and Spanish, that include top-rated Latino actors, directors and writers. But it seems that this mission statement was only half met on their first cinematic effort.

‘From Prada to Nada’ is a modern twist on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. It’s a riches to rags story of two spoiled sisters: Nora (Camilla Belle), a law student, and Mary (Alexa Vega), an undergrad party girl, living with their father in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills.  Mary has become so “90210” she refuses to admit she is of Mexican descent. When dad suddenly passes away, their posh lives are turned upside down.  They discover they have been left penniless and are forced to move into their estranged aunt Aurelia’s (Adriana Barraza) modest but lively home in the Latino-centric Boyle Heights neighborhood of East LA. They are terrified to leave their world of privilege, and terrified of their new thug neighbor with a heart of gold played by Wilmer Valderrama; neither Nora nor Mary speak Spanish or have ever had to take on actual responsibility. The girls gradually adapt to their new environment; their BMW and Prius are traded for the public bus and a used car.  As they embrace the culture that for so long they refused to accept, they both discover the true meaning of their Mexican heritage and romance along the way.

Though it might not seem it at a glance, ‘Prada’ is carrying around a tremendous amount of responsibility and pressure to deliver a good film. Why? In part because historically, US Latino films have underwhelmed, disappointed and failed to meet the expectations of a hungry Hispanic moviegoing demographic, along with its press compeers. It seems that almost all Latino oriented films made never improve, better or advance the current state of Latino cinema in this country. Therefore, Hollywood producers take less risks in investing in movies that adhere to the culture, unless its obscenely stereotypical like Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Hispanic American movies made in the United States live in a type of limbo where it’s not gritty, political, or intriguing enough to attract critical attention, as its South American counterparts do, nor do their production values rival its Hollywood peers.

Even though it’s not as embarrassing as the disgraceful ‘Chasing Papi’, it doesn’t deliver anything that can make you feel proud of the future of Latinos in Hollywood. I must confess that Alexa Vega is very good and better than a lot of actresses out there, period. She’s charming and pretty and delivers. Unfortunately she can’t carry this film all on her own.

‘From Prada to Nada’ is a DVD movie that should’ve gone directly to DVD and not via a theatrical release. You can see what I’m talking about at a Netflix near you.

¡’Fast Five’ is #1 in the box office!

The action film ‘Fast Five‘ sped to the top of the box office this weekend, grossing $83.6 million in North America and raising movie studios’ hopes for a profitable summer after a lackluster spring.

The Fast and Furious saga just beat its own record in the United States. ‘Fast Five’ takes no less than $83.6 billion in its U.S. debut in theaters. The biggest success so far this year for any production in its first week.

“Fast Five“ also set a record as the best debut ever for a month in April, surpassing its predecessor “Fast and Furious 4“, which debuted with $71 million at the box office two years ago.

In second place is the second highest grossing film of 2011 “Rio“ with $39.2 million. “Rio“ slipped to No. 2 this weekend, with $14.4 million.

In third place was the comedy “Tyler Perry‘s Madea‘s Big Happy Family“, with $10.1 million.

Here are the 10 highest grossing films of this past weekend.

1. “Fast Five“, 83.6 million.

2. “Rio“, 14.4 million.

3. “Tyler Perry‘s Madea‘s Big Happy Family“, 10.1 million.

4. “Water for Elephants“, 9.1 million.

5. “Prom“, 5 million.

6. “Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil“, 4.1 million.

7. “Soul Surfer, “ 3.3 million.

8. “Insidious“, 2.7 million.

9. “Hop“, 2.6 million.

10. “Source Code“, 2.5 million.

Fernanda Romero sentenced to jail

Mexican-born actress, Fernanda Romero, who had small scenes in “Drag Me To Hell” and “The Eye,” and who will next be seen in Mun2’s new ‘Fast Five’ television Spanglish show ‘RPM Miami,’ is accused of entering a sham marriage to remain in the United States. On Monday (April 25), U.S. District Judge Manuel Real ordered both Romero and American musician Kent Ross to spend 30 days behind bars. She and her husband will serve the sentence on weekends.

In January, the Drag Me To Hell star pleaded guilty to making a false statement to authorities investigating her fraudulent marriage.

Federal prosecutors presented evidence that the couple didn’t live together as they stated on immigration forms, and essentially lived separate lives.

Romero, is best known in Mexico for a soap opera called “Eternamente Tuya.”

Exclusive: First pics of Shalim and Trejo in ‘Bad Ass’

Shalim Ortiz, known from his work in the critically acclaimed Dominican film Yuniol, and the NBC series Heroes, doesn’t know it, “but he just f@cked with the wrong Mexican” – Danny ‘Machete‘ Trejo. What we mean is that Ortiz is teaming up with Trejo, Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Cronos, Sons of Anarchy) and Charles Dutton (Alien, Gothika) in a movie called ‘Bad Ass‘, which has still to have an official release date, but is rumored to be aiming for a Toronto Film Festival premiere, September 8-18th. 

The plot for the film has Trejo playing Frank Vega, a Vietnam veteran and senior citizen, who becomes a YouTube sensation and local hero when he takes on political corruption and a vicious street gang in an effort to solve and avenge his best friend’s murder.

Shalim plays the 17 and 25 year old versions of Danny Trejo’s character, Vega, in the film. He’s a high school football star who leaves his girlfriend Lindsay behind to enlist in the army and serve in Vietnam. He proves to be a skilled, brave and dedicated soldier, earning a Purple Heart and suffering a severe leg injury. Upon returning home, Frank discovers that Lindsay has moved on and his job prospects are bleak.

Ortiz just wrapped up the production a few days ago in Oklahoma and is on a work frenzy as he has 7 films in the can and 6 in development, including the highly anticipated ‘Gardel‘ about the Argentinian raised tango icon, Carlos Gardel, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1935. He’ll play Pizarro, and most likely, will speak with an Argentinian accent. Let’ see how he pulls it off. The movie is set for release sometime in 2013.

Below are the first exclusive movie stills from Bad Ass.

The film is directed by Craig Moss (The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It), and produced by Ash Shah, Ben Feingold and Jim Busfield.

Gulliver’s Travels

Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt cast in “The Dark Knight Rises”

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Oscar^® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.

“When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again.”

Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.

Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.

The film reunites the actors with Christopher Nolan, who recently directed them in the award-winning blockbuster “Inception.”

The director stated, “When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again.”

Heading the cast of “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The main cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy as Bane.

Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Christopher Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

First look at Will Ferrell’s Spanish language comedy ‘Casa de mi Padre’

We’ve been talking about this movie for almost 8 months now and the first trailer for ‘Casa de mi Padre‘ starring Will Ferrell in an historic all Spanish speaking role is finally here.

The comedy, which is told in an overly dramatic telenovela style (yes, the same ones from Telemundo), is going to be spoken fully in Spanish with English subtitles. Ferrell had to learn Spanish in one month for the role. For all intents and purposes, this is a Spanish language movie with the best actors from Mexico in Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. 

Ferrell plays Armando Alvarez who has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Diego Luna), shows up with his new fiancé, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). It seems that Raul’s success as an international businessman means the ranch’s troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal).

Rounding out the cast are Pedro Armendariz Jr., Hector Jimenez and Adrian Martinez.

Will Ferrell’s participation in the project is not entirely based on his connection with the material. Rather, he was embroiled in a pending lawsuit against Gary Sanchez. Ferrell’s participation is part of a closed-door settlement between both parties. Further details were not disclosed.

Matt Piedmont directed the movie, which is set for release this year. Ferrell is producing with his Gary Sanchez Prods. partners Adam McKay, Kevin Messick and Jessica Elbaum. Also producing are Emilio Diez Barroso and Darlene Caamano Loquet of NALA Films, which is fully financing the film.

Will Ferrell isn’t the only American white actor to act in an all Spanish film. Michael Cera will be doing the same for a movie with Sebastian Silva from Chile and Matt Damon recently revealed in an interview that he’s looking to work with Pedro Almodóvar soon. 

Watch the first 3 minutes of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II’!

The world wide web can sometimes be the worst enemy for many movie studios trying to keep secret its promotional campaign for its upcoming films, so as to not “break the magic“ to the public. This is one of those cases.

Watch th first 3 leaked minutes of the upcoming film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” directed by David Yates, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Rupert Grint, amongst others. The video is not in high definition but recorded with a handheld camera (perhaps an iPhone?) with English subtitles.

What you’ll see is Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) asking about his wand to an elderly man at the opening of the final film. This is the video that Warner Bros. does not want you to see.

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2‘ will be released in theaters nationwide on July 15 of this 2011. This scene will be featured on the DVD and Blu–ray of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1‘ which will be released on April 15.

Let us know what you think of the scene.