MARCH 6, 2012 | A&E
THE REPORTER
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NETFLIX RESURRECTION As a new feature in The Reporter, we bring you the Netflix Resurrection, where we recommend and review an independent film from the past that you may have missed. //
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Coming Of Comedy
An Explosive Satirical Comedy
COURTESY OF DESTINATION FILMS BOOM
Dynamite: Michael Jai White plays Black Dynamite, a kung-fu expert, Vietnam veteran and former CIA agent with swag.
UPCOMING FILMS
UPCOMING FILMS
Will Ferrell: En Español
Hangover Star Promotes Movie Featured In MIFF
Will Ferrell, along with Genesis Rodriguez and Diego Luna, sat down for a round-table discussion on their new film Casa de mi Padre.
Ed Helms, of The Office and The Hangover fame, talks about his involvement in the film Jeff, Who Lives At Home, which is being shown during the 2012 Miami International Film Festival.
By Stteffanny Cott steffanni.cott001@mymdc.edu Will Ferrell, Diego Luna and Genesis Rodriguez were in town promoting their new film Casa de mi Padre, set for release on March 16. Casa de mi Padre is a breakthrough in the cinematic world. It is an American production, shot and filmed in the States, with a mix of American and Latino actors featuring a Spanish language script. Ferrell stars as Armando Alvarez, a good-hearted and gentle soul who lives and works at his father’s (Pedro Armendáriz Jr) ranch. When the ranch is plagued by financial difficulties, Armando’s successful brother Raúl (Luna) returns with his new girlfriend Sonia (Rodriguez), promising to annul any debt the ranch has amassed. Armando, however, falls for Sonia and after it is revealed that Raúl’s business dealings are illicit, and all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a full on war with Mexico’s most feared capo, the powerful Onza (Gael García Bernal). The film also marks the first of its class as it satires the telenovela genre, complete with fake scenery, exceedingly dramatic dialogue and an animatronic tiger to boot. “The most important thing that I want to stress about this movie is that this is the first time anyone has ever done this—anyone. It’s history. And it’s history for Latinos. It’s history, you know, for Americans that such an icon would take on such a huge risk,” Rodriguez said. The film, which has already caused controversy is, of course, not to be taken as a reflection of Latinos or their entertainment content. Fearing that Latino audiences might interpret the film negatively or take offense to it, Rodriguez adamantly said: “It’s not meant to be taken seriously; it’s meant to be taken as a joke.” The film posed a problem for Ferrell. It was written entirely in Spanish. “Obviously, not being a native speaker, it was extremely difficult,” he said. “But the whole concept was my idea so I was happy to do it.” “Those were intense days simply because...this translator would show up at my house at six in the morning and we would drive to [the] set and go over the scenes, work all day, drive home together and work on the next day’s lines, because I wanted it to be as authentic as it could be,” Ferrell said. Although the film contains underlying social and political issues, the amalgamation of American and Mexican viewpoints is one that proves reflective of current relations between the two countries. “There is an intense critique on how Mexicans see Americans and how Americans see Mexicans and how we see what’s going on,” Luna said. Nevertheless, the film should resonate with audiences of both cultures. “It would be fun if this movie, shot in America, all completely done in Spanish, was a big hit in Mexico,” added Ferrell. “That would be really cool, I mean just from a cultural standpoint.” www.mdc.edu/thereporter
By Stteffanny Cott steffanni.cott001@mymdc.edu What do Ed Helms, Jason Segel and Susan Sarandon have in common? Not only their wickedly awesome comedic talents, but they also happen to comprise the starring cast of the new film Jeff, Who Lives at Home. The film, which will screen at the upcoming Miami International Film Festival, stars Jason Segel as Jeff, a thirty-something-year-old who is still living at home in his mother’s (Sarandon) basement, and Pat (Helms), his oblivious but goodhearted brother who is coming to the realization of his failed marriage. While still retaining a comedic foundation, the film is not entirely what you’d expect from Helms and Segel as it ventures into more dramatic roles for both actors. Helms, who is predominantly known for his comedic roles in The Office and The Hangover, explored a side of dramatic acting that, until then, had remained unexplored. “In high school I was in [the play] All My Sons and that might be about the most dramatic thing I’d ever done. I really had no interest in drama,” Helms said. “I wouldn’t call this movie drama, I would just call it, like, in a sense that sort of realism but with a really nice comedic touch to it. So, it might be a little bit different than what people expect, but I hope in a good way, like, kind of a nice little – a nice treat, if you will, a little twist on the expectation.” Not entirely removing itself from a comedic core, the film’s directing duo the Duplass brothers, allowed for creative freedom and improvisation. “Well, it’s funny because they wrote a fabulous script. Down to the word, it is a wonderful, compelling, hilarious and moving script. That said, they were the first ones to say, don’t say a word of this,” Helms said about the artistic autonomy they received. The artistic autonomy of the directorial order proved “exhilarating” for the Nard Dog. “I know for Jason and myself, to just sort of be handed a scene, we’d read through it and sort of understand what needs to happen in the scene, what it’s about, where it takes us and where it goes. And you just find these really kind of authentic moments and it feels real when you're doing it,” Helms said. That creative liberty proved useful for Helms as he embodied his character Pat. The film, which is set for release on March 16, is one that Helms feels particularly proud of. “This movie doesn’t shy away from the kind of painful aspect of a dysfunctional life… This is a little bit more played for reality and I hope that it resonates. I can only hope that this [movie] is well received. I’m insanely proud of it.”
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Black Dynamite, starring Michael Jai White as the title character, is a fast-paced comedic homage to the blaxploitation films of the 1970’s. By Rafael Tur rafael.tur001@mymdc.net Filmed in 2009 but set in the groovy 1970s, Black Dynamite takes the blaxploitation genre to a new level. Make no mistake, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) is the slickest, most feared and coolest cat on his block. He’s a kung-fu expert, Vietnam veteran and former CIA agent. An introductory narration builds up the character in a way reminiscent to Shaft, yet slightly more satirical with lines such as, “he drives a $5,000 car and wears a $100 suit.” When his only brother is killed during an undercover CIA operation, Dynamite is hell-bent to find his killer. Little does he
know of the corruption and how high up it will take him. His enemies know even less about Dynamite’s will to fight every last jive sucka involved in what becomes a drug-ring tied into a ridiculous conspiracy involving malt liquor. The carefully preserved illusion of a 1970s world is nothing short of a time-warp: Afros, corduroys, plaid suits and a funky soul soundtrack paired with a Mel Brooks-style satire. Black Dynamite is as fastpaced as a modern action film while perfectly executing its cheesy antics and one-liners. A slew of actors and cameos, including Arsenio Hall as the ring-leader of the pimps, help make Black Dynamite a noholds-barred outrageous resurgence to the blaxploitation flicks of the past 30 years. Black Dynamite—2009—Directed by Scott Sanders—Starring Michael Jai White, Arsenio Hall & Tommy Davidson—84 minutes