John Leguizamo: Indie Rocker?

Just watched an interesting low-budget film called "Sueno," a 2005 movie starring John Leguizamo. He plays a budding musician struggling to make it on L.A.'s Latin rock scene. With a hipster haircut that doesn't entirely suit him, Leguizamo sort of resembles a Latin version of John Rzeznik, the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls. Elizabeth Pena plays Leguizamo's neighbor, a divorced mom he convinces to join his band as a singer. (She later played his mother in 2008's "Nothing Like the Holidays.")

It's refreshing that this movie shows a side of the Latin community that doesn't involve the usual stereotypes -- drugs, gangs, illegal immigration, etc. As much as I like this movie, it's a bit overly earnest. Some of the dialogue is a bit corny, such as when a beautiful girl Leguizamo's character is pursuing rejects him and he says, "I'm here for you. X marks the spot," which he punctuates by drawing an invisible X over his heart. Also, the plot never really explain why this girl is so resistant to dating him. Whether they end up together in the end, you'll have to see for yourself.

Overall, I'd recommend "Sueno," if for no other reason than for showing minorities in a positive light.
Overal

'Outsiders' Still Golden

Enjoyed re-watching “The Outsiders,” one of my favorite movies from childhood. Came across the DVD in Wal-Mart for 5 bucks. Stevie Wonder’s “Stay Gold” is one of the best movie themes of all time, really captures the bittersweet tone of the movie.

'Colombiana': Entertaining Action Flick

Enjoyed seeing "Colombiana" recently. The role seems tailor-made for Zoe Saldana, who gets to explore her Latina roots in this role as a bad-ass gun-slinger.

I appreciate what producer Luc Besson and the other filmmakers were trying to do - an update of "The Professional" with a woman of color in the lead role  (i.e., a young girl witnesses her parents' murder and sets her sights on revenge). On a side note, I was a bit taken aback seeing Jesse Borrego, from the TV show "Fame," playing Zoe's father in a flashback. What a departure, from a dancing high school kid to a professional killer!

"Colombiana" has done a'ight at the box office, so it probably will neither help nor hurt Zoe Saldana's career. It's certainly a great showcase for her as an action star. There's a really cool, stylized fight scene in the bathroom at the end in which the lead character uses a towel and toothbrushes to defend herself.

As much as I like the concept of "Colombina," I'm not sure about the latest round of female action flicks - "Salt" with Angelina Jolie, etc. Is this a step forward or backward for women, being just as cold and emotionless as their male counterparts as they pile up the body count? Maybe Zoe Saldana is simply picking up where Pam Grier left off in the '70s.

'Scrubs' Is Still Good, Clean Fun

Recently picked up fifth season of Scrubs from Family Video (one of the last of the quickly-dying video store chains). The show really holds up, just as funny and entertaining as when it was on the air.

Two reasons why Scrubs was such a good show:

Racial diversity, the black and Hispanic characters were just as fleshed out and integral to the show as the white characters.

Relatable storylines and actors. Much of the humor is over the top, but the characters go through breakups, career challenges and personal crises that everyone goes through. And while the cast is nice-looking and well-scrubbed (pun intended), no one is so drop-dead gorgeous that you feel intimidated by them.

By the way, there's a scene in one of the episodes where Donald Faison (whose character just happens to be named Chris) is wearing a shirt I have. That's the second time in as many months that I've seen someone on TV or the movies wearing something I own (Bradley Cooper wears another shirt of mine in "The Hangover 2"). Maybe I missed my calling? Wardrobe designer?

'Hangover 2' Isn't a Drag After All

Enjoyed "Hangover 2" more than I thought I would. Reviews trashed it and I went in with low expectations. Definitely has a lot of the same gags as the first (instead of a lost baby, this time it's a misplaced monkey), but I thought it was as funny as the first - even funnier in some parts.

In scene where guys go to Zach Galifianakis' house to invite him to the ill-fated bachelor party, Bradley Cooper's wearing a dark green polo shirt - exact same one I have. Glad to know a movie star shares my taste!

A New Phrase?

A new phrase for the dictionary? "Tweef," a beef (usually among celebrities) that breaks out on Twitter.

'Love Field': A Well-Made Interracial Drama

Just watched the 1992 Michelle Pfeiffer/Dennis Haysbert drama "Love Field." Came across the VHS tape at Half Price Books.

This is a very well-made movie about race relations in the South, with the assassination of President Kennedy as a backdrop. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a Dallas housewife obsessed with the Kennedys who ends up going on the lam with an African-American man (Haysbert) and his daughter when their paths unexpectedly cross on a bus trip en route to the Kennedy funeral in D.C.

There are hints of an interracial romance between Pfeiffer and Haysbert, but it's very tame. The characters are nuanced and three-dimensional. Michelle Pfeiffer earned the Best Actress nomination for her performance; Haysbert should have been nominated as well. Wikipedia says Pfeiffer's character is based on writer Don Roos' own mother. No wonder the story's so believable.