TV Series – Rosie’s Rules

Genre: Animation, Family

Creator: Jennifer Hamburg

Cast: Ellora Lopez, Carlos diaz, Ana sofia Ferrer, Gabby Clarke, Amanda Martínez

REVIEW

A young Latina solving the mysteries of life on her own terms. In this pre-school animated comedy series, we follow the hilarious adventures of 5-year-old Rosie Fuentes (voice of Ellora Lopez). This curious, independent kid has many questions about the world outside of her family and neighborhood. No worries. Rosie is a smart little kid who figures things out on her own. 

Production Company: 9 Story Media Group

Distributor:  9 Story Media Group

Rating:

TV Series Alma’s Way

Genre: Animation, Family

Creator: Sonia Monzana

Writer: Jorge Aguirre

Cast: Summer Rose Castillo, Maya Shoken, Neo Vela, Jacob Crispo, Jesus E. Martinez

REVIEW

“Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king” —Ecclesiastes 4:13. Alma Rivera (voice of Summer Rose Castillo ), is the proud six year old Puerto Rican living in the Bronx embodiment of the  Biblical saying. 

In every episode, Alma’s Way aims to model self-awareness, responsible decision making, and empathy, encouraging kids to generate and value their own ideas and questions. As she uses “Think-Through” moments to stop, listen, and process in the face of a tough decision, Alma reflects and takes action while demonstrating social awareness.

Production Company: Fred Rogers Productions

Distributor: PBS Kids

Rating:

Rosie’s Rules and Alma’s Way are two great animated educational series that highlight and portray positive images of young Latinas who are smart, curious, thoughtful and wonderful role models for young Latina viewers.

Rosie’s Rules and Alma’s way can be seen on PBS Kids.

The post Thumbnail Reviews: Rosie´s Rules and Almas Way first appeared on .

Film The Gray Man

Genre: Action, Thriller

Directors: Anthony russo, Joe Russo

Writers: Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Cast:  Ryan gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush

REVIEW

Fact: Behind every bad ass white guy is an equally bad ass Latina. When the CIA’s most skilled operative code named Six, played by Ryan Gosling (La La Land, Dune) inadvertently uncovers dark agency secrets a nutso evil looney tunes former colleague, Lloyd Hansen, played with demonic over-the-top glee by Chris Evans (The Avengers, Captain America: Civil war) puts a bounty on Six’s head setting off a world-wide manhunt by international assassins.

But coming to protect Six’s head as well as his “six” (behind) is Agent Dani Miranda played by Ana de Armas (Knives Out, No Time to Die). Miranda is every bit as capable and tough an agent as Six which is handy since the two get involved in more furious, fever-pitched gun battles with Lloyd’s hired goons than the Marines in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. Fortunately for Six and Miranda the paid pistoleros are either myopic or just terrible shots because despite all the firepower aimed at Six and Miranda, they never seem to hit anything and come off looking more like the Keystone Kops than stone-cold killers.

The Gray Man is one of those large-scale action-adventure movies that is meant to be seen in a theater with appropriate booming deafening sound system. But now that The Gray Man is streaming on Netflix in order to fully appreciate the powerful visual impact of the film the bare minimum of a 60-inch flat screen TV with surround sound is required to get the full effect.

However, no particular screen size is required to enjoy watching Ana’s exploits as Agent Miranda in The Gray Man as she shoots, fights, kicks but and escapes danger side-by-side with Six as they battle the seemingly overwhelming and endless killer, heavily armed enemy forces of Lloyd Hansen. Ana de Armas is on the verge of becoming a superstar in Hollywood. Her star power gets closer and closer to supernova brilliance with every movie.

Ana de Amras has proven her acting versatility in different genre films like Blade Runner 2049 and Knives Out. She was the “Bond” girl in No time to Die and soon will be seen in Netflix’s highly anticipated biopic of Marilyn Monroe, Blonde. The Gray Man is a crowd-pleasing high-octane action-adventure movie that could turn into a franchise like The Bourne Identity or Mission Impossible which will give us the pleasure of watching Ana de Armas’s future exploits as Agent Dani Miranda either in the theaters or on a streaming platform near you.

Producers: Chris Castaldi, Jeff Krischenbaum, Mike Laroca

Production Company: AGBO

Distributor: Netflix

Available: Netflix

Rating:

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Film: The Valet

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Director: Richard Wong

Writers: Bob fisher, Rob Greenberg, Francis Veber

Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt,  Carmen Salinas, Amaury Nolasco

REVIEW

A Mexican character actor puts on a Master Class in light comedy.  The Valet, a sweet, charming romantic comedy becomes the perfect vehicle to showcase the comedic acting talents of Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco, CODA). Derbaz plays Antonio, a parking valet for a swank Beverly Hills restaurant. His life takes a convoluted turn for the weird when a beautiful movie star, Olivia, played by Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Guns Akimbo), talks Antonio into posing as her boyfriend to cover up her relationship with a married man. Antonio is offered a lot of money for the gig and he needs it, so he agrees.

This theme of a famous  gorgeous female superstar celebrity getting romantically involved with a regular guy was used successfully in the hit movie, Marry Me with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson and sadly all too briefly in the short-lived TV series, The Baker and the Beauty featuring Victor Rasuk and Natalie Kelley. In all three stories the Hollywood star is transformed by her relationship with her  “down to earth” working-class romantic interest. In The Valet, Olivia not only is smitten with the irresistible good-natured charms of Antonio, but also finds herself accepted into his Mexican family, especially by his mother, Cecilia, played by the late veteran Mexican actress, Carmen Salinas (Man on Fire, Carnival Nights) in a lovely supporting role.

But it’s Derb az’s effortless comedic performance that is the linchpin of The Valet. Light comedy acting is an underappreciated art in Hollywood. Performing light comedy at a high level like Derbez does in The Valet is not only underappreciated but often overlooked when it comes to getting nominations during award season.

Such was the case this year as the Emmys looked past Derbaz’s comedic performances in both The Valet and his bi-lingual comedy TV series, Acapulco. But Derbez is in good company. Cary Grant, another master of light comedy roles, never won an Oscar (except an Honorary one toward the end of his life)and was only nominated twice. Whether Derbez ever wins any acting awards for his unique light comedy gifts, his on-screen persona will continue to warm our hearts and bring a smile to our faces.

Producers: Eugenio Derbez, Ben Odell

Production Company: 3Pas Studios

Distributor: Hulu

Available: Hulu

Rating:

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TV Series:  Mayans M.C.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Creators: Elgin James, Kurt Sutter, 

Showrunner: Elgin James

CAST: JD Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Sarah Bolger, Michael Irby, Carla Baretta, Raul Max Trujillo. Edward James Olmos

REVIEW

Get ready for the return of cool tunes, cooler bikes, and the coolest group of motorcycle dudes on TV, because FX has renewed Mayans M.C. for a 5th season.

Watching the Mayans M.C. roar down the highway on their Harleys sounding like approaching heavy metal thunder while gripping those butterfly handlebars, they look like a flock of bad-intentioned raptors searching for some prey to pounce on.

During the Dark Ages feudal lords had small armies of knights who protected the feudal lord from his rivals, helped collect taxes and tributes and controlled the peasants who lived on the lord’s land. Mayans M.C.is a modern hipper retelling of that medieval European reality. But now rather than European knights in shining armor on mighty steeds, we have leather-clad, tattooed Latinos on powerful chrome and steel “hogs”.

For four seasons, the Mayans M.C. have dealt with the usual drug cartel mayhem: battles with rival gangs over territory and distribution routes, protection and distribution of the Galindo heroin and cocaine, revenge killings, kidnapping, extortion and assassination, family secrets, and the audience can’t get enough of this.

Season 4 ended with EZ Reyes (JD Pardo) taking the reins of the club as the President of the Mayans after Marcus (Emilio Rivera) is ousted. All of this is cause for Angel’s (Clayton Cardenas) concern for his brother. Meanwhile, Galindo (Danny Pino) is revealed as “familia’ to the Reyes’ by the patriarch Felipe (Edward James Olmos).

Despite the fact that the Mayans are a motorcycle gang of arch criminals, you find yourself rooting for these “bad boys” because they do everything with kickass Latino gusto style and flair to a great soundtrack.  Bring on Season 5!

Producers: Elgin James, Kurt Sutter, Sean Trotta

Production Company: FX Productions

Distributor: FX Network

Available: FX, Hulu

Rating:

TV Series  Now and  Then

Genre: Crime, Drama. Mystery

Creators:  Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, Teresa Fernández+Valdés

Showrunners:  Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-V aldés

CAST: Mateo Guerrero, Naruba de Tavira, Maribel Verdú, Jose María Yazpik, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil, Zeljko Ivanek, Rosie Perez

REVIEW

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive” —William Shakespeare. 

It’s an accepted historical fact that Richard Nixon didn’t have to resign his presidency because of the break-in at the Watergate hotel. He had to resign because of his subsequent cover-up and lies surrounding the third-rate burglary of the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel by his “Plumbers.”

Now and Then is the multi-level story of five well-to-do individuals in Miami who have been covering up the mysterious death of one of their friends twenty years prior at a college graduation beach party. During the ensuing twenty years, these five people have formed a secretive cover-up bond that holds them together like connective tissue. The threads of their tangled web now weave through each other’s lives and affect them personally, politically, financially and emotionally.

Making matters more complicated now is Detective Sergeant Flora Neruda (Rosie Perez) who back twenty years ago was just a rookie cop on the initial investigation. But now she is back investigating the case and driven by a personal agenda  not to let “those rich kids get away with it again.”

Now and Then features a brilliant cast of actors from various Spanish-speaking countries. As a result, you will hear the distinctive accents from Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Argentina and Brooklyn. The creators and writers of this eight-part mini-TV series envision it will have global appeal. Now and then has all the ingredients for global appeal; an international cast, an intriguing mystery, complicated characters, and a plucky little latter-day Inspector Hercule Poirot-like detective sergeant in Perez bound and determined to figure out whodunit. 

Producers: Andres Barahona, Victor Fandiño, Luís Malet

Production Company: AppleTV+

Distributor: AppleTV+ 

Available:  AppleTV+

Rating:

The post Thumbnail Reviews: ‘Mayans M.C.’ Returns for Season 5; ‘Now & Then”, It’s Complicated first appeared on .

Genre: Drama

Director: Edward James Olmos

Writers: Marcus DeLeon, Timothy J. Sexton

CAST: Alexa Pena Vega, Michael Peña. Yancey Arias, Laura Harring, Efren Ramirez, David Warshofsky

 A Retrospective Screening of Walkout will be shown at the Mexican American Film & Television Festival on May 15, 2022 at Raleigh Studios: Click Here for tickets.

REVIEW

They stood. They walked. They delivered. Walkout is the inspiring true story of solidarity, determination and courage by a group of East LA Chicano high school kids fighting against the oppressive racist policies of the local school system, set against the backdrop of the social unrest and turbulence of 1968 America.

It would have been easy for Walkout to be turned into a preachy, didactic, self-congratulatory story about some noble Chicano kids organizing a movement that resulted in some historic drastic changes in the East LA school system. But under the evenhanded direction of Edward James Olmos, Walkout shows us the complicated humanity of the principal characters, their doubts, fears, courage and ultimate resolve and call to action.

 It’s almost impossible to comprehend that in 1968, Chicano high school kids in East LA were not allowed to speak Spanish in class and suffered corporal punishment if they did. They could also be forced to do janitorial duties for the same offense. Their school counselors routinely discouraged them from applying to go to college. The massive walkout by the students of the East LA high schools resulted in the school board finally having to address those overtly racist policies.  Walkout is the story of one of the earliest and most dramatic episodes of emerging Chicano Power.

Producer: Lisa Bruce, Félix Enríquez Alcala

Production Company: Esparza / Katz Productions

Distributor: HBO Max

Available: HBO Max

Rating:

Film:  GREEN GHOST AND THE MASTERS OF THE STONE

Genre: Action, Adventure, comedy

Director: Michael D. Olmos

Writers:  Charlie Clark, Michael D. Olmo, Brian Douglas, Rafael Antonio Ruiz

CAST: Charlie Clark, Danny Trejo, Rene Victor, Elpidia Carrillo, Sofia Pernas, Michelle Lee, Kuno Becker, Pepe Serna, Enrique Castillo, Jesse Garcia, Marco Zaror

REVIEW

Lets’ go get stoned! Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone is not about a Sixties-era San Francisco psychedelic rock band. Green Ghost is equal parts comic book, video game and Hong Kong martial arts film all wrapped up in this action, adventure, comedy film featuring a Latino cast.

The story is a familiar one to this genre: the existence of the universe is at stake due to the existence of an omnipresent evil force that can only be defeated by an elite team of heroes imbued with special martial arts fighting skills. The source of the power is usually housed in a seemingly insignificant object like an amulet, a ring or in this case a green stone.

But these are not plot-driven stories. They are action and character-driven stories, and Green Ghost has both in abundance. There is enough bruising, intense martial arts fighting scenes in this movie you will wonder how many tubes of Ben Gay and bottles of Advil they went through at the end of the day.

But happily, Green Ghost does not take itself too seriously and there are many moments of good-natured comedy. Danny Trejo as Master Gin is a riot as a kind of drunken Mr. Miyagi to Charlie Clark’s Karate Kid in training. Trejo has one of the best self-referential scenes when he is handed a machete. Trejo looks at it quizzically and says: “Machete? I don’t need no stinking machete.”

Elpidia Carrillo is deliciously sexy and wicked as the villainous Lechusa. She makes Cruella Devil look like Mary Poppins. The hero’s nana is played by veteran actress Renee Victor and it also features appearances by popular favorites like Pepe Serna and Enrique Castillo.

The recent arthouse success of Everything Everywhere All the Time, a fanciful kung fu flick starring Michelle Yeow, is a hopeful sign Green Ghost should also find an audience in the arthouse circuit and then on a streaming platform. There is an untapped treasure trove of Chicano and Mexican comic book action-adventure stories that need to be told and there’s plenty of Latino talent behind and in front of the camera ready to bring them to life

Producers: Karen E. Goulekas,  Nicolás Ibieta, Brandon Lee Kerpian, Aaron Lee Lopez

Production Company: Mutt Productions

Distributor:  Gravitas Ventures

Available:  Premieres Nationwide April 29, 2022.

Rating:

The post Thumbnail Reviews: ‘Green Ghost’ and ‘Walkout’ first appeared on .

TV Mini-Series:  DMZ

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Cast: Rosario Dawson,  Benjamin Bratt,  Venice Ariel, Freddy Miyares, Hoon Lee,  Mamie Gummer,  Bryan Gael Guaman

Director: Ernest R. Dickerson, Ava DuVernay

Writers: Riccardo Burchielli, Roberto Patino, Brian Wood

REVIEW

A story ripped from tomorrow’s headlines? Two years ago, the thought of another American Civil War was unthinkable. But today Mr. and Mrs. MAGA America think a new American Civil War is inevitable.

This is the eerily uncomfortable future explored in the HBO Max Mini-Series, DMZ. This futuristic apocalyptic thriller is structured like the classic Escape from New York. DMZ like Escape from New York asks the viewer to take a lovin’ spoonful of suspension of disbelief before crossing the story threshold into this saga of a world gone mad. Fortunately, we have a stellar, well-rounded performance by Rosario Dawson as our guide through the chaos of DMZ.

A future civil war has once again divided the United States into two separate Americas with a DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in between. Eight years prior, Dawson lost her young son, Christian (Bryan Gael Guzman) during the evacuation to freedom. She returns looking for him. The DMZ is populated by people of color who exist in a world of violence, corruption and warring tribal gangs. Young Christian is now associated with a powerful faction headed by the brutal Parco, played with wicked relish by Benjamin Bratt. Parco is in a political struggle with an odious oily well-dressed murderous businessman, Wilson, (Hoon Lee). Dawson finds herself embroiled in this bloody power struggle for dominance as she battles to reclaim her son.

DMZ is far and away Dawson’s best performance in a demanding dramatic role. As a despondent mother looking for her long-lost son, Dawson hits every emotional note with pitch-perfect clarity As Alma Ortega, Dawson can at once be vulnerable, strong, resolute, humble, fearful and touching. Her performance will likely generate some acting nomination buzz when award season comes around again.

Producers: Ava DuVernay, Emanuel Fidalgo, Roberto Patino

Production Company: ARRAY Filmworks

Distributor:  HBO Max

Available: HBO Max

Rating: 

FILM: Son of Monarchs 

Genre: Drama 

Director: Alexis Gambis

Writers: Alexis Gambis

Cast:  Tenoch Huerta, Paulina Gaitán, Electra Avellan, Angélica Aragóm. , William Mapoter,Gabino Rodriguez, Angelina Paláez,  Noë Hernández

REVIEW

The butterfly as a metaphor. Mendel  (Tenoch Huerta), returns to his hometown in the awe-inspiring butterfly forests off Michoacán on the advice of his uncle to come to visit his ailing grandmother.

 Mendel has been living and working as a biologist in New York City. Upon his return, he begins to have childhood flashback memories of he and his brother, Simon, (Noé Hernández), wandering through the butterfly forests pondering their beauty and the meaning of their yearly migration which brings them back to this same spot century after century.

 Mendel also begins to question his hybrid identity and where he belongs.

Son of Monarchs is a beautifully shot allegorical story that illustrates the spiritual connection between the butterflies and the Mexican people of Michoacán.

Ninety percent of the dialog in Son of Monarchs is in Spanish with English subtitles. Alexis Gambis, the director of Son of Monarchs, won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

Producers: Maria Altamirano, Abraham Dayan, Jonathan Estreich

Production Company: Imaginal Disc

Distributor: HBO Max

Available: HBO Max

Rating:

The post Thumbnail Reviews: ‘DMZ’ and ‘Sons of Monarchs’ first appeared on .

Film:  MARRY ME

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music

Director: Kat Coiro

Writers: John Rogers, Tami Sagher, Harper Dill

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluna, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman

REVIEW

An improbable premise begets an improbable marriage which begets a funny, warm rom-com. At first glance, Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson don’t seem like a match made in Heaven. Let’s face it, a love affair between J-Lo and O-Wil is not going to make the cover of any supermarket tabloid.

Kat (Lopez) is a mega superstar who gets stood up during a worldwide telecast concert. In a moment of despair Kat spots an unsuspecting nerdy math teacher, Charlie (Owen Wilson), coaxes him on stage, and.…say it ain’t so, J-Lo!..marries him! It’s just a phony-baloney publicity stunt resulting from a heartbroken Kat being humiliated in front of the whole world, right?

It starts out that way, but slowly but surely these two “accidental” lovers begin to find common ground and begin to bond as humans. Lopez is especially good at shedding her diva persona in the story and revealing a softer more vulnerable side. Wilson has perfected his reliable “everyman” character with his uneven good looks that underscore and complement Lopez’s smoky, sexy charm.

Marry Me probably won’t win any Oscars. But there is some good music by J-Lo and Marry Me is a nice, cozy little date movie.

Studio: Universal

Producers: Courtney Baxter, Kevin Beisler, Alex Brow

Available: In Theaters, Peacock

Rating:

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TV Series  ACAPULCO 

Genre: Bilingual Comedy, Romance

CreatorS: EduardoCisneros, Jason Shuman, Austin Winsberg

Writers: Eduardo Cisneros, Eddie Quintana,  Jason Shunan, Chris Spain

Cast: Enrique Arizon, Fernando Carsa, Eqmián Alcázar, Camila Perez, Vanessa Bauche, Raphael alejandroEugenio Derbez, Chrod Oversteet

REVIEW

Will success spoil Maximo Gallardo? That’s the ultimate question underlying this funny, sparkling bi-lingual comedy set in gorgeous Acapulco, Mexico. Every episode begins with Old Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) telling his curious nephew, Hugo, (Raphael Alejandro) the story of how he acquired all his current fabulous wealth and property.

Acapulco begins when Young Maximo (Enrique Arizan) and his buddy, Memo (Fernando Carsa) land jobs at the ritzy Las Colimas Resort. Memo ends up working in the laundry room, while Maximo finds himself hobnobbing with the wealthy guests as a pool boy.  Maximo is ambitious and aims to please his boss, Diane (Jessica Collins) with well-intended, but often mixed results.

Acapulco is a morality tale within a comedy. Every story contains a moral lesson Old Maximo learned as Young Maximo, such as dealing with the special needs and secrets of certain guests, competing with a workplace rival, handling a delicate personal romantic situation, coping with his mother’s disapproval for working in a “den of sin” resort.

The real joy and pleasure of Acapulco is watching the irrepressibly charming Arizan, as young Maximo, encounter, overcome and learn from each new challenge he faces. The writing in Acapulco is 14-carat gold. Each supporting cast performance is a gem that adds value to this priceless jewel of a comedy.

Will success spoil Maximo Gallardo? Acapulco has been picked up for a second season so Hugo and the rest of us will find out.

 Production Company: 3Pas Studios

Producers: Eduardo cisneros, Alehandro Cárdenas, Chris Harris, Jake Harris

Available: AppleTV+

Rating:

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