Just by chance, I happened to begin my Labor Day by watching the movie Cesar Chavez, the biopic of arguably the most famous labor organizer in history.
Watch the Cesar Chavez trailer by clicking the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awP3yXv-4ng
Released in the spring of this year, Cesar Chavez stars Michael Peña as Chavez, the Mexican-American labor leader who cofounded the United Farm Workers union. Chavez worked tirelessly for the rights of workers, many of whom were exploited immigrants.
Cesar Chavez is what I'd call "infotainment." It's one of those "good for you" movies that you feel you have an obligation to watch, as any American who even half-way cares about history should. The movie is very timely, drawing attention to issues that are unfortunately still relevant today about the rights of immigrant workers.
As someone who's had a lifelong, sincere interest in Latin culture and is trying to become fluent in Spanish, I've been wanting to see Cesar Chavez since glimpsing a poster at a movie theater while visiting my friend Patricia in Tampa, Fla., in March. (And by the way, I'm so proud of myself for learning how to correctly type Peña's name, with the Spanish "n" with the little squiggly thing over it.)
I just happened to pick up the Cesar Chavez DVD at the library in mid-August, watched part of it one day, and then watched the rest while working out this morning - coincidentally, on Labor Day.
Perhaps best known for the ABC series Ugly Betty, Ferrera seems like one of those actresses who is not a huge, glamorous superstar like, say, J.Lo, but is very talented and respected and will work steadily for the rest of her life. Even if in small yet memorable parts in critically acclaimed indie flicks like 2002's Real Women Have Curves.
In addition to Peña and Ferrera's performances, there are many positives to Cesar Chavez. I'm glad Chavez's story was told by a Latino director, and an epic of this scope is quite an accomplishment for Mexican actor-turned-director Diego Luna (Elysium), who is just 34 years old.
For Peña, the meaty lead role was an opportunity to flex his considerable acting muscles in a non-stereotypical part. Peña is not exactly matinee-idol handsome in the classical sense, but there are camera angles in Cesar Chavez in which he looks very striking, like a browner Andy Garcia.
Rosario Dawson and John Malkovich also turn in excellent supporting performances.
But for all its strengths, Cesar Chavez raises more questions than it answers. A lot of social history and back story is crammed into a running time of not even two full hours.
I was left wondering, what was Cesar Chavez like as a child, a teen, a young man before he got married and took up the cause? What led him to become so passionately involved in workers' rights? Even just one or two flashbacks would have helped answer these lingering questions.
And like many biopics of revered pioneers, Cesar Chavez paints a somewhat one-dimensional portrait of its subject. Like movies about Dr. Martin Luther King and even last year's Jackie Robinson biopic 42, Cesar Chavez portrays the main character as saintly, with no apparent flaws.
It's difficult to depict the life of a national hero that millions of people respect. It's hard to imagine a "warts and all" biopic of, for example, Dr. King that would show his reportedly wicked sense of humor and alleged philandering.
Similar, Cesar Chavez only portrays the leader as a serious family man and activist. Did Cesar Chavez like to laugh or dance? Did he have any irritating habits that annoyed his wife and son? Did he ever goof off, or did he always have a stone-serious expression?
Cesar Chavez ends with a brief film clip of the real-life Chavez and a sound byte of one of his quotes about the importance of workers' rights. Many biopics, including the recent James Brown story Get on Up, end with a clip of the real person.
Including footage of the real person doesn't always work in a biopic. Oftentimes, as in Get on Up, it undermines the actor's performance. In Get on Up, for example I thought Chadwick Boseman had nailed James Brown until photos of the real Godfather of Soul at the end actually accentuated how much Boseman doesn't resemble Brown, who had a broader face and stouter build.
However, the clip of the real Cesar Chavez at the end of the movie is fitting and will hopefully encourage viewers to research more on the life of this important historical figure.
Perhaps someday someone will expound on Cesar Chavez's life in a miniseries that could air on the History Channel, or even Mexican-American filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's new Latino-themed El Rey TV network.
But, overall, I'm glad the movie Cesar Chavez got made and released. It's a quality, worthwhile depiction of an international icon that's worth seeing.
No comments:
Post a Comment