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If there are a select number of pillars upholding the Hollywood complex as we know it, Ron Howard is no doubt one of them. He's been an prominent actor, director and producer for over the past six decades and clearly shows no signs of stopping, with his latest film "Eden" set for release next month. Howard's presence as an industry fixture is so prolific each stage of his career is a story unto itself. Long before he became an Academy Award-winning filmmaker ("A Beautiful Mind") or one of the co-founders of Image Entertainment, Howard made a considerable name for himself in the world of television.

In the same vein as Jodie Foster, Howard was thrust into the industry at such a young age and built his legacy on its foundation. Although "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Happy Days" are considered the two landmarks of his television career, you would likely...

On January 31st, fans of movie gangster Al Pacino can look forward to one of his most iconic films, Scarface, landing on a new streaming platform.

Say hello to Scarface as it arrives on Prime Video on January 31st. While Scarface was recently made available to stream on Netflix, it is not available in all countries. The American crime drama released December 9th, 1983, was technically a remake of a much older film, Scarface (1932). Scarface (1983) is one of Pacino's best-known films and sits at a 79% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Related Scarface Reboot Gets Grim Update From Director Luca Guadagnino

Luca Guadagnino shares an unfortunate update on his Scarface reboot.

Directed by Brian De Palma, also known for his work on Carrie and the first Mission Impossible, Scarface stars Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee turned Miami drug lord. After killing one of Fidel Castro’s men in a...

Villain protagonists in movies are used to explore the darkest aspects of the human psyche. Some of the best crime movies feature morally depraved protagonists driven by greed. Villain-focused movies like Joker and Nightcrawler delve into toxic mentalities and societal issues.

Movies where the protagonist is also the villain tend to be from the horror and/or thriller genres, but there are possibilities beyond this. Everyone loves a good villain in the same vein as the best Disney villains who are pure evil, but movies where the main character is the villain are inherently darker. This structure is typically used to delve into the most disturbing aspects of the human psyche and what crimes a person will commit to get what they want.

Several of the best crime movies to watch over and over are led by characters who are arguably the villain, as the whole point of the story...

Brian De Palma’s 1983 saga of hoodlum Tony Montana is an exceptional remake that’s become a classic almost by default — it’s too strikingly original to ignore. De Palma did the Latin male stereotype no favors, while bringing attention to the outrageous drug trafficking aided by law enforcement and criminal banks in a shameful decade of excess. Al Pacino added a page to his catalog of great performances, and the careers of Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio were duly launched. De Palma gives this one ‘classical’ direction: he skips his former film school cinema games and homages to Hitch the Master.

Scarface

“The World is Yours” Limited Edition

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

1983 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 170 min. / Street Date October 15, 2019 / 57.22

Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Pepe Serna, Victor Campos,...

Miriam Colón, the Puerto Rican-born actress whose roles over a seven-decade career included playing Al Pacino’s mother in Brian De Palma’s Scarface and who launched the influential Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York, died Friday at age 80. Her husband told the Associated Press that Colon died owing to complications from a pulmonary infection. Colón came to Los Angeles in the early 1950s and attended the Actors Studio. Her early TV credits included everything from P…...

Miriam Colón, the Puerto Rican-born actress whose roles over a seven-decade career included playing Al Pacino’s mother in Brian De Palma’s Scarface and who launched the influential Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York, died Friday at age 80. Her husband told the Associated Press that Colon died owing to complications from a pulmonary infection. Colón came to Los Angeles in the early 1950s and attended the Actors Studio. Her early TV credits included everything from P…...

Miriam Colon, an icon in U.S. Latino theater who starred in films alongside Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, has died. She was 80.

Her husband, Fred Valle, told the Associated Press that Colon died early Friday due to complications from a pulmonary infection.

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Colon came to Los Angeles in the 1950s to study at the Actors Studio before earning roles in various films. She eventually founded the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York, where she helped cultivate young Latino actors and writers.

Colon is widely known as the mother of Tony Montana, played by...

Chicago – Why are those three Oscar winners – Susan Sarandon, Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton – laughing on that fourth poster below? Because they managed to cash a paycheck on the way to participating in one of the Worst Films of 2013.

As studios pump out more and more product, more cinematic sewage clogs up the system. What do you need to avoid at Hell’s Video Store? Read on.

There are no rankings, because they are all rank. The ten are listed in descending levels of dread, caught up momentarily by the one-two punch (“Grudge Match!”) of Robert I-need-to-pay-off-my-vacation-homes De Niro. Each entry has a “Redeeming Factor,” because without it, HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald would probably rip out his eyeballs and have them blessed by Ultima (see below). And 10 of the worst films of 2013 are…

“We’re the Millers”

We’re the Millers

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

What is...

"Scarface" co-star Steven Bauer recalled a decade ago that, during the 1983 premiere for the over-the-top epic of the rise and fall of a violent, foul-mouthed, cocaine kingpin, Martin Scorsese turned to him and said, "You guys are great -- but be prepared, because they're going to hate it in Hollywood" Bauer said he asked why, and that Scorsese replied, "Because it's about them."

Thirty years after the release of "Scarface" (on December 9, 1983), Brian De Palma's glitzy, coke-fueled tale of Cuban immigrant druglord Tony Montana now seems like a landmark of '80s cinema. It provided major early career breaks for a number of stars, from Michelle Pfeiffer to Bauer to F. Murray Abraham, as well as for screenwriter Oliver Stone. Along with fellow gangster Michael Corleone of the "Godfather" trilogy, Tony Montana is the role Al Pacino is most likely to be remembered for. And of course, the movie...

In 2013, witches have finally established their supremacy. But there is more than one idea of what a witch is. Amidst all the campy, bitchy witches of Beautiful Creatures and American Horror Story: Coven, there are some that are more spiritual. Ultima (Miriam Colon) is just such a witch in Bless Me, Ultima, an adaptation of the classic Hispanic novel by Rudolfo Anaya.

But Bless Me, Ultima isn’t focused on Ultima. It tells the coming-of-age story of Antonio (Luke Ganalon) who struggles to understand how good and evil can exist simultaneously in the world. He is raised in the Catholic church, and devoutly believes what he is taught. But after some adventures with his grandmother Ultima—including an exorcism—Antonio begins to doubt his beliefs in God.

Read more...

When Rudolfo Anaya wrote a novel based on his childhood experiences growing up Mexican-American in rural New Mexico he probably didn't imagine it would become one of the best-selling Chicano novels of all time. After the huge success of the book, he was approached by countless producers who wanted to adapt it for the big screen. Anaya said yes but none of those projects came to fruition.

More than 40 years after "Bless Me, Ultima" was published, Christy Walton, heiress to the Walmart fortune, put up the money to make a film based on the mystical book. Finally, the stars aligned. After playing theaters for a few weeks earlier this year, the movie is now on DVD.

Turning Anaya's words into a script couldn't have been easy. Rudolfo Anaya's writing style drew from his physical surroundings in the great landscapes of the Southwest and was influenced by Native American beliefs in the spirit world. For many Latinos it was the first time they read a book that spoke to them the same way they did, in English peppered with Spanish. For the actors of the film, reading the book was also an important watershed moment.

LatinoBuzz spoke to Miriam Colon, Benito Martinez, and its young breakout star Luke Ganalon ahead of the DVD release. They share what it was like to bring the book to life and funny memories from the shoot. Colon says that playing Ultima was her most significant role since Scarface.

Have you read the book, "Bless Me, Ultima"?

Luke Ganalon: Yes, I read the book in 5th grade. I had read many pieces of the story during the filming because my parents thought it would be better to understand the story, Antonio's character and how Antonio saw life. It meant even more after having finished the film.

Benito Martinez: I grew up in New Mexico and I've known Rudolfo Anaya since I was a kid. I've read his book many times. To me he was just a guy from my neighborhood. I was just reading a homeboy writing about how we grew up. Then later, I read it as a father, with my kids and it had a different meaning for me. I was so glad the script was so close to the book. Getting to be in the movie was just icing on the cake.

Miriam Colon: No, it caught me totally by surprise. Then I was ashamed and embarrassed to realize that this man is a very distinguished, well-known, highly-respected author. I think it's just that we do not know enough about each other. We don't know enough about the cultures of the people next to us, that are part of our lives. A man like that is very important because he writes with tremendous honesty and perception, and a depth of understanding of the dignity and the character of these people.

Were you able to meet the author of "Bless Me, Ultima"?

Luke Ganalon: Yes, we met on the set when we were filming at Garson Studios in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We talked about the story. Senor Anaya gave me a great compliment. He said when he wrote the story, he imagined Antonio to be just like me. That meant so much to me! When we spoke at the film's second showing in Santa Fe (the first was in El Paso, Texas), Senor Anaya mentioned that he hoped the film would get to Hollywood and make it!

Benito Martinez: When he walked on set he said, "Oh my God. This looks so real." That story is almost autobiographical for him. So, he stopped by the set and gave his bendicion (blessing).

What about the story do you think has resonated with so many people?

Benito Martinez: This story at its core is about family. I love the way it's told. It's a traditional American story that happens to be Latino. Those families were there before the border. And it's a celebration of the land and sounds that make up New Mexico. It's just a story about family, family taking care of family. It's a universal story, ultimately.

Miriam Colon: Well, the story is about people, it happens to be in a small town, in a town in United States, their struggles. There are the heroes, and the dedicated people, and the cynical people, and there are the treacherous people, and there are the people who are very honest and there are the people who are rotten also. So, it's like a miniature of what you find today anywhere.

Luke, you were only nine years old when you tried out for the part. What was the audition like?

Luke Ganalon: I auditioned twice each for Antonio and for Cico. And then I read a fifth time as Cico in front of the producers and director Carl Franklin. Then I found out later that I had been hired as Antonio. We heard through a phone call from my agent that I had earned the role. I was so excited. I ran through the house screaming!

And then you got an award for Best Actor! Can you talk about the day you won the Imagen Award?

Luke Ganalon: I had been very nervous just to be nominated for this award and really never thought I'd win. I was going up against so many great actors. I couldn't believe when they called my name. I was shocked and excited! I felt so honored and grateful that Carl Franklin, the crew and the cast believed in me.

Luke, you play the young Antonio. Do you have anything in common with the character you play in the film?

Luke Ganalon: We both believe in God. We both have questions about life and religion. We both strive to do well in school. We have similar personality traits. We are both serious and think things through and Antonio is an old soul and cares for others; I have also been told the same things.

Miriam, you play Ultima, a curandera. Are there any similarities between you and her?

I am very much Ultima. I recognized Ultima immediately. And I sympathized with her. And the trouble is that I fell in love with the role when I read the first draft that I was given of the lines. You should never do that because out of one hundred scripts, maybe you get seven, that you land the role. So it's heartbreaking, the disappointment. I blew the rules. I fell in love with her. I feel it's maybe the most significant role that I have ever played next to the woman that I played in Scarface, who is in a way similar. The mother in Scarface was a courageous woman, a great character. She could not be corrupted. It's a wisdom and a kind of intelligence that I love.

Do you have any funny stories or favorite memories from the shoot?

Luke Ganalon: Most of my favorite memories would definitely be the scenes I filmed with the other kids. The "gang" was always fun. The family scenes were even more special because we became very close and were like a real family. A very funny memory is when my First Communion wardrobe was Way too big and Ernie walked out of his trailer in a suit Way to small. We all laughed as we rushed to change and get filming.

Benito Martinez: We shot a couple of years ago but there are lots of funny moments. Someone's boyfriend handled animals for a living. So he brought a snake to the set and I was walking around with a snake on my shoulders. And learning to drive one of those old trucks, that was hard! There's no power steering, the clutch always sticks. For the scenes that it was raining I had to wear a plastic suit under my clothes so I wouldn't get sick or catch pneumonia.

Miriam, you have been a strong advocate for Latinos in film and theater. What do you think of the current state of Latino representation in cinema?

Miriam Colon: I am sort of tired of seeing the Mexican or Puerto Rican or the Latino in general being portrayed many times like a treacherous, mysterious, not to be trusted, not too intelligent, smiles easily but somehow is a foolish idiot. That is offensive and I hope that the powerful medium of film can be used to spread more understanding about each other.

The more we know about the majesty of our men and women workers, the more we know about a poor person that manages to survive in a negative environment, the more we reveal about our soul and about also the similarities of the struggles for survival: material survival, physical survival, spiritual survival, intellectual survival. I guess that the way to offset the kind of direction in which we are going is by creating vehicles that offer an honest and really penetrating and responsible analysis of what moves us, what affects us.

And film should be a vehicle because it is such a powerful, powerful medium. I love it and I want to be part of it but I hope that more responsible vehicles are created and that the Latino and other minorities will be given the opportunity to express their struggle for survival and their capacity to love, to construct, and to build, and to improve.

Bless Me, Ultima is now on DVD and streaming on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.

Written by Vanessa Erazo. LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook.

Check out what's new to rent and own this week on the various streaming services such as cable On Demand, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, and, of course, Netflix. Cable On Demand: Same-day-as-disc releases, older titles and pretheatrical exclusives for rent, priced from $3-$10, in 24- or 48-hour periods Bless Me, Ultima (drama; Miriam Colon, Luke Ganalon; PG-13) Blue Caprice (drama based on true story of the DC snipers; Isaiah Washington, Tim Blake Nelson; available On Demand and in theaters; rated R) Disconnect (drama; Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Alexander Skarsgård; rated R) Paradise (Diablo Cody-directed comedy; Julianne Hough, Russell Brand; premieres 9/19 weeks before theatrical; rated PG-13) C.O.G. (comedy; Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare; premieres 9/20 the same...

Read More...

On Demand DVD New Releases Sept. 16-22 A mid-month set of releases that offers some big names and some smaller titles … let’s see what this week has in store! Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo Anaya’s controversial novel comes to life in this adaptation set in World War II-era New Mexico, where a young boy’s life is drastically affected by an elderly medicine woman who comes to stay with his family. Miriam Colon, Luke Ganalon, Dolores Heredia (PG-13, 1:46) 9/17 [Same as DVD] The Bling Ring (pictured above) Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) directs this examination of celebrity culture based on a true [...]

The post On Demand DVD New Releases Sept. 16-22 appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.

The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.

Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.

"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 276 members of the entertainment industry invited to join organization. The list includes actors, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, producers and more. Of those listed below, those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2013. "These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today," said Academy President Hawk Koch in a press release. "Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy." Koch also told Variety, "In the past eight or nine years, each branch could only bring in X amount of members. There were people each branch would have liked to get in but couldn't. We asked them to be more inclusive of the best of the best, and each branch was excited, because they got...

The Academy just added 276 Oscar voters.

That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.

AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.

Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.

Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.

“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”

The 2013 invitees are:

Actors

Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”

Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”

Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”

Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”

Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”

Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”

Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”

Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”

Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013. “These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.” The 2013 invitees are: Actors Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno” Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface” Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City” Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved” Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises” Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid” Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town” Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator” Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl” Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...

It’s an exciting week for Latino film. There are lots of options at theaters across the country including the Oscar nominated No (starring Gael García Bernal), the Puerto Rican thriller Los Condenados, and Bless Me, Ultima based on Rudolfo Anaya’s classic Chicano novel.

Bless Me, Ultima

Writer, Director: Carl Franklin

Starring: Miriam Colon, Luke Ganalon, Dolores Heredia, Benito Martinez, Castulo Guerra, Joaquin Cosio

Country: USA

Language: English

After a small regional release last summer, Bless Me, Ultima is now in the second week of its national release. This past weekend its box office sales passed the $1 million mark, a feat that few Latino films achieve. Last year only three Latino films were able to surpass six figures.

Synopsis:

Based on the controversial, award-winning Chicano novel by acclaimed author Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima is a turbulent coming-of-age story about a young boy, Antonio (Luke Ganalon), growing up in New Mexico during World War II. When a mysterious curandera (healer) named Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family, she teaches him about the power of the spiritual world. As their relationship grows, Antonio begins to question his strict upbringing by his parents (Dolores Heredia & Benito Martinez). Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events, Antonio must grapple with questions about the nature of divinity and his own destiny.

Bless Me, Ultima is currently playing in over a hundred theaters in California, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, and Florida.

For details visit the website and use the theater locator. Follow @BMUmovie on Twitter and Facebook

Los Condenados (The Condemned)

Director: Roberto Busó-García

Starring: Cristina Rodlo, René Monclova, Axel Anderson

Country: Puerto Rico

Language: Spanish

Synopsis:

In this haunting psychological thriller, dark and terrible secrets hidden in an old mansion stir back to life when the original owner of the house returns. Beautiful Ana travels to a remote town to transform the abandoned family mansion into a museum detailing her father’s scientific and humanitarian achievements. She discovers that the mysterious caretaker has kept the house in pristine fashion. However, the townspeople – now destitute and helpless — do not welcome her warmly. And neither does the house.

The Condemned is currently playing at the Quad Cinema in New York City and opens Friday, March 8 at Laemmle’s NoHo 7 in Los Angeles.

For more info visit the website and like their page on Facebook

No

Director: Pablo Larraín

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers

Country: Chile

Language: Spanish

It didn’t win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film but the nomination has helped build buzz for Pablo Larraín’s political drama inspired by actual events in Chilean history. Now in the third week of its theatrical release, it is expanding to many major cities beyond just New York and Los Angeles.

Synopsis:

In 1988, Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet, due to international pressure, is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. The country will vote Yes or No to Pinochet extending his rule for another eight years. Opposition leaders for the No, persuade a brash young advertising executive, Rene Saavedra (Gael García Bernal), to spearhead their campaign.

Reviewing materials already created for the campaign, René is convinced their grim, endless montages of killings, torture, tanks and tear gas will turn off voters. With the opposition outspending them an estimated 30 to 1, No must come up with campaign ads that speak to the heart of the people of Chile and motivate them go to the polls. "Everyone wants to be happy," René says in his quiet, convincing way. "Happiness" will be the campaign: "Happiness is coming if you vote No!" This approach meets resistance from colleagues who see it as an affront to the many who have suffered under Pinochet, but René confidently commissions jingles and celebrities to join in delivering the message: "Chile: happiness is coming!!!"

No is currently playing at theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego and will open in other cities in the coming weeks.

For dates and theater info visit the website. Follow @NOlapelicula on Twitter and Facebook...

Chicago – One of the major tenets of the “memoir” genre – the type of film in which a main character is looking back at their lives – is the unforgettable character that influences them forever. New Mexico during World War II is the setting for “Bless Me, Ultima.”

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Based on a popular novel, the character of Ultima is an old woman who comes to live with her Mexican family in America. She possesses magical powers of vague proportions, and is thought of by others as a witch. For some reason, the little boy in the story (the person looking back at his life) is enamored of Ultima, except when he isn’t. The film doesn’t specifically focus on Ultima, and even though she is the title character she disappears for long stretches in the story, while other moments of the boy’s life are emphasized. There is no focus in the narrative,...

Bless Me, Ultima is an interesting blend of film genres. On one hand it’s a nostalgic coming of age drama set in that golden era of the 1940′s similar to Summer Of ’42 and A Christmas Story. It recalls that simpler time that was not quite as idyllic as many remember. The film’s also a look at culture clashes with this Mexican family settling in the Us in search of a better life. Most of all Ultima is about different forms of faith. The Catholic church is a large part of this family’s life, but they still have a belief in the old ways. Namely the supernatural. They speak of it in hushed tones, whispering of witches and curses and demons. All these themes are explored in this story of a boy and a wonderous time that seems so long ago.

Antonio (Luke Ganalon) is young boy of...

Producer Mark Johnson discusses Bless Me, Ultima, debuting in theaters February 22

Producer Mark Johnson has been successful in all avenues of the entertainment business, making movies such as the Oscar-winning Rain Man, Bugsy, Donnie Brasco, What Lies Beneath, The Rookie, The Chronicles of Narnia series, and last year's Not Fade Away, just to name a few. He is also one of the producers of the hit AMC series Breaking Bad, which wraps up its fifth and final season this summer. His latest project is much smaller in scope, but features just as powerful a story as any of those other big-budget movies.

Bless Me, Ultima centers on a young boy named Antonio (Luke Ganalon) who has an awakening of faith when his grandmother Ultima (Miriam Colon), an aging spiritual healer, comes to live with his family in this drama set against the backdrop of World War II. I recently had...

Bless This Mess: Franklin’s Period Piece Strangles Intriguing Premise

Carl Franklin returns with Bless Me, Ultima, his first feature since 2003’s Out of Time. An adaptation of a 1972 novel by Rudolfo Anaya, which is reputedly the best selling Chicano novel of all time, is actually the first novel of a trilogy, documenting the coming of age of a young boy in 1940’s New Mexico through his special relationship with an elderly family friend. Told with flourishes of magical realism depicting the mysticism and folkways of the indigenous culture of the area, this tale of a young boy’s spiritual transformation documents the vainglorious struggles of Christianity encroaching on the ways of old world pagan rituals and his subsequent disillusionment with religion. What sounds like a philosophically intriguing premise doesn’t quite translate in this bluntly conditioned film treatment that butchers a Bildungsroman into a parody of good vs. evil.

“Dark Skies” and “Snitch” are the big ones making their way to theaters this weekend, but February 22nd also brings the less hyped, albeit very influential, “Bless, Me Ultima.” Based on Rudolfo Anaya’s Premio Qunito Sol-winning novel, Carl Franklin’s feature highlights the Chicano culture of the 1940s in New Mexico. When young Antonio’s (Luke Ganalon) parents invite the curandera, Ultima (Miriam Colon), to live with their family, Antonio takes to Ultima’s spiritual guidance, causing him to question how he lives his life, the divide between good and evil, and the difference between what Ultima preaches and what he learns at church. In honor of the film’s limited release, Ultima herself, [ Read More ]

The post Interview: Bless Me, Ultima’s Miriam Colon appeared first on Shockya.com.

Based on the provocative award-winning novel by celebrated author Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima tells the turbulent story of Antonio Márez (Luke Ganalon), a young boy growing up in New Mexico during World War II.  When Ultima (Miriam Colon), a mysterious healer comes to live with his family, she introduces Antonio to the power of the spiritual world.  A strong woman with a great understanding of life, Ultima encourages Antonio who begins to question his strict upbringing.  Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events, Antonio must grapple with questions about the nature of divinity and his own destiny.

The film will be in theaters February 22nd.

Wamg invites you to enter to win 2 seats to the advance screening of Bless Me, Ultima on February 20th at 7:00 Pm in St. Louis.

Answer the following question:

Do you believe herbs hold special healing powers?

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be In The St.

Watch 3 new clips from Carl Franklin's Bless Me, Ultima starring Luke Ganalon, Miriam Colon and Benito Martinez. The drama from Arenas Entertainment gets a limited theatrical run on February 22nd, and is both directed and adapted by Franklin, based on the controversial novel by acclaimed author Rudolfo Anaya. Bless Me, Ultima is a turbulent coming-of-age story about Antonio Marez (Luke Ganalon), a young boy growing up in New Mexico during World War II. When a mysterious curandera named Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family, she teaches him about the power of the spiritual world. As their relationship grows, Antonio begins to question the strict Catholic doctrine that he has been taught by his parents (Dolores Heredia and Benito Martinez). Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events Antonio must grapple with questions about his own destiny, the relationship between good vs. evil and ultimately...

Watch 3 new clips from Carl Franklin's Bless Me, Ultima starring Luke Ganalon, Miriam Colon and Benito Martinez. The drama from Arenas Entertainment gets a limited theatrical run on February 22nd, and is both directed and adapted by Franklin, based on the controversial novel by acclaimed author Rudolfo Anaya. Bless Me, Ultima is a turbulent coming-of-age story about Antonio Marez (Luke Ganalon), a young boy growing up in New Mexico during World War II. When a mysterious curandera named Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family, she teaches him about the power of the spiritual world. As their relationship grows, Antonio begins to question the strict Catholic doctrine that he has been taught by his parents (Dolores Heredia and Benito Martinez). Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events Antonio must grapple with questions about his own destiny, the relationship between good vs. evil and ultimately...

Hollywood director Carl Franklin (Out of Time, Devil in a Blue Dress, High Crimes) takes his talent to an indie film based on a controversial novel by Rudolfo Anaya with Bless Me, Ultima

Bless Me, Ultima is a turbulent coming-of-age story about Antonio Marez (Luke Ganalon), a young boy growing up in New Mexico during World War II.  When a mysterious curandera named Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family, she teaches him about the power of the spiritual world.  As their relationship grows, Antonio begins to question the strict Catholic doctrine that he has been taught by his parents (Dolores Heredia & Benito Martinez).  Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events Antonio must grapple with questions

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Latino culture vultures across the country will soon have a chance to see the film adaptation of a classic Mexican-American novel.

“Bless Me, Ultima,” based on the 1972 novel by Rudolfo Anaya, will be released to more than 200 theaters in February, according to Politic365.

The film, directed by Carl Franklin, premiered in El Paso back in September.

Set in 1940s New Mexico, the book tells the story of the relationship between a young boy named Antonio and a curandera named Ultima. Antonio must then learn to reconcile the Catholic and Native American beliefs that are both part of his heritage.

"I fell in love with her in the sense of understanding her conduct, her character and a little bit of her soul,” actress Miriam Colon, who plays Ultima, told the El Paso Times. “She is the type of woman that I love because she reminds me of my mother."

The Chicano...

Carl Franklin to direct City of Night, which is not a movie version of John Rechy’s novel about a gay sex worker. Instead, this City of Night, from a screenplay by David Chisholm, is set inside the Los Angeles Police Department. The following synopsis comes courtesy of TheWrap: "Emmett Conlin [is] a rookie cop who joins the Los Angeles Police Department’s toughest crime unit. Conlin is drawn into a web of deceit and corruption that threatens his job and his life." Does this sound like a Training Day remake? That cop flick about the putrid underbelly of the Lapd (and of Los Angeles as city) was directed by Antoine Fuqua, and starred eventual Oscar winner Denzel Washington as the scuzzy cop and Ethan Hawke as the babe-in-the-woods rookie. Considering that Hawke somehow managed to make his absurd character believable, he fully deserved his Oscar nomination (though in the wrong category,...

When it comes to favorites around the Dread Central offices, few actors hold a spot higher than the always excellent Dee Wallace (The Howling, Rob Zombie's Halloween, Cujo, Critters, E.T.). This lady has done it all, and now she's about to tango with big red himself.

Bloody Disgusting got word that Wallace will be starring in the new film from Gregori J. Martin (The Intruders, Raven) Unhallowed, which shoots February in Los Angeles and New York.

Along with Wallace, Kristos Andrews, Gabrielle Stone, and Miriam Colon (who is still in talks) star. Martin's latest is in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist. It follows a family who loses their son and seeks guidance from a spiritual healer whom many believe to be the reincarnation of Luke (from the Bible). Cue supernatural happenings, vigorous readings from the Bible, and the usual Satanic hijinx.

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Chicago – Who you are at birth eventually becomes entangled in where and how you are nurtured throughout your life. Given who you are, did you get the proper care, encouragement and love? Did you get to blossom into the best part of your nature? The new film “Gun Hill Road” explores these questions, filtered through the family, in an odd and poignant way.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Written and directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green, Gun Hill Road is a clash of cultural attitudes within one three person family. It tests the boundaries of love and trust within that family on the mean Bronx streets (the nickname of the area is the title) and dares to graphically punctuate it with the journey of a transgender teenager. The film is set in a macho, posturing culture, but it is the transitioning teen that exhibits the most courage.

Esai Morales is Enrique, a tough-as-nails convict who...

Let me introduce you to my high-def little friend. Al Pacino.s scenery chewing turn as Tony Montana has gather admiration by some, but one would hope that nobody would wish their life would follow the hellish path that Montana treads. Tony Montana (Al Pacino) is a Cuban refugee after the American Dream. He and his best friend Manny (Steven Bauer), who is also a refugee, start off small running dope for a dealer named Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) and his henchman Omar (F. Murray Abraham). A botched deal ends with much carnage but ingratiates Tony and Manny to Frank. Tony also eyes Frank.s girlfriend Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer) as well as his wealthy lifestyle. Tony.s mother (Miriam Colon)...

We have an exclusive clip from the upcoming hi-def debut of Scarface, which is available on Blu-ray for the first time starting today, September 6. Click on the video player below to watch actress Jillian Barberie, director Antoine Fuqua, and many others discuss the importance of the dinner scene in this gangster classic.

Click to watch Exclusive: Dinner Scene!

In the spring of 1980, the Mariel boatlift brought thousands of Cuban refugees to the sun-washed avenues of Miami in search of the American dream. From acclaimed director Brian De Palma, Scarface is the rags-to-riches story of Tony Montana (Al Pacino), who finds wealth, power and passion beyond his wildest dreams...at a price he never imagined. Tony Montana's meteoric rise, lavish life and soul-destroying fall anchor an epic film that inspired a worldwide following. Pacino is at his most memorable as Montana, blasting his way to the top of Miami's drug underworld in a bravura performance.

Rank the week of September 6th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases X-men: First Class

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #91

Win Percentage: 64%

Times Ranked: 16606

Top-20 Rankings: 109

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn

Starring: James McAvoy • Michael Fassbender • Kevin Bacon • Jennifer Lawrence • Rose Byrne

Genres: Action • Based-on-Comics • Comic-Book Superhero Film • Fantasy • Science Fiction • Sci-Fi Action

Rank This Movie

Hanna

(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #570

Win Percentage: 60%

Times Ranked: 5675

Top-20 Rankings: 19

Directed By: Joe Wright

Starring: Saoirse Ronan • Eric Bana • Cate Blanchett • Tom Hollander • Olivia Williams

Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Crime • Crime Thriller • Hitman / Assassin Film • Mystery • Thriller

Rank This Movie

Everything Must Go

(Blu-ray & DVD | R | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #5694

Win Percentage: 53%

Times Ranked: 854

Top-20 Rankings: 2

Directed By: Dan Rush

Starring: Will Ferrell • Rebecca Hall • Laura Dern • Michael Peña • Stephen Root

Genres: Comedy Drama • Drama

Rank This Movie

Last Night

(Blu-ray & DVD | R | 2010)

Flickchart Ranking: #7377

Win Percentage:...

Chicago – In our latest gangster classic edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Blu-ray, we have 5 Blu-rays up for grabs to the highly anticipated home entertainment release of one of the most influential gangster films ever: “Scarface” with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer!

“Scarface” will be released on Blu-ray on Sept. 6, 2011. The Golden Globe-nominated film also stars Steven Bauer, F. Murray Abraham, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Ángel Salazar, Arnaldo Santana, Pepe Serna, Michael P. Moran, Al Israel and Dennis Holahan from director Brian De Palma and writer Oliver Stone.

To win your free “Scarface” Blu-ray courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The Blu-ray for “Scarface” with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Image credit: Universal Home Entertainment...

In today's cinematic landscape, the word "remake" is often associated with disdain among critics and ardent movie fans. It's probably safe to say, though, that even the hardcore haters of remakes will praise one remake in particular, the 1982 classic Scarface, a movie that forever changed the landscape of crime and criminals, primarily through Al Pacino's iconic portrayal of Tony Montana. Scarface is finally making its debut on the Blu-ray format on September 6, with a luxurious Limited Edition Gift Set also available on that date, which comes with a handcrafted cigar humidor.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment held a special event at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles last night to celebrate this high-def release, which featured exquisite gourmet Cuban food, a performance by Ludacris, and lavish setting which Tony Montana would have surely approved of. Despite all these bells and whistles, most in attendance were likely drawn to the...

Blasting onto the silver screen with the intensity of its original release nearly 30 years ago, the pop culture phenomenon Scarface, starring Al Pacino and directed by Brian De Palma, returns to movie theaters in a one-night Fathom event on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Presented by Ncm Fathom and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, audiences nationwide will get the opportunity to experience one of the most influential gangster classics ever made like never before - with all-new restored high-definition picture and enhanced audio. Fans who attend this special event will also get an exclusive look at a 20-minute special feature that showcases interviews with popular filmmakers and talent expressing how this epic feature redefined the gangster genre, leaving an enduring influence on cinema.&#8232&#8232

Tickets for the Scarface Special Event (clickHere) are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices,...

Trailer and clips from Gun Hill Road, starring Isiah Whitlock Jr., Judy Reyes and Esai Morales. Rashaad Ernesto Green directs and writes this unique story of an ex-con returns home to the Bronx after a three year stint in prison, only to discover his wife estranged and his teenage son exploring a sexual transformation that will put the fragile bonds of their family to the test. Also in the cast of Gun Hill Road are Tyrone Brown, Franky G, Miriam Colon, Vincent Laresca and Robert Prescott.

Trailer and clips from Gun Hill Road, starring Isiah Whitlock Jr., Judy Reyes and Esai Morales. Rashaad Ernesto Green directs and writes this unique story of an ex-con returns home to the Bronx after a three year stint in prison, only to discover his wife estranged and his teenage son exploring a sexual transformation that will put the fragile bonds of their family to the test. Also in the cast of Gun Hill Road are Tyrone Brown, Franky G, Miriam Colon, Vincent Laresca and Robert Prescott.

Trailer and clips from Gun Hill Road, starring Isiah Whitlock Jr., Judy Reyes and Esai Morales. Rashaad Ernesto Green directs and writes this unique story of an ex-con returns home to the Bronx after a three year stint in prison, only to discover his wife estranged and his teenage son exploring a sexual transformation that will put the fragile bonds of their family to the test. Also in the cast of Gun Hill Road are Tyrone Brown, Franky G, Miriam Colon, Vincent Laresca and Robert Prescott.

Popular indie soap The Bay returned on Thursday picking up the story of Pete Garrett who is "Far From The Bay". In this new chapter of the series, Pete (Kristos Andrews) will travel to New York in search of the woman who raised him in the early years of his life (Claire). Instead, he encounters other "familiar" faces who aren't so familiar because he is suffering from amnesia. He will also meet some new people which will include web series crossovers with Empire's Lucy Lively (Afton Boggiano) and Steamboat's Michael (Michael O'Leary).

Watch the first installment of "Far From The Bay" below which features former Guiding Light actress Miriam Colon:...

Creator of The Bay, Gregori J. Martin and LANYfilms Productions have announced the premiere of Far From The Bay, a spin-off and prequel of Season Two, to begin streaming on the web Thursday, June 23rd at 3:15 p.m. Et / 12:15 p.m. Pt.

Viewers will follow Peter (Kristos Andrews, X Games Champion and Guinness World Record Holder), the youngest son of Sara Garrett (Mary Beth Evans, Days, Atwt, Gh), on his quest to find the woman he believes to be his mother. Shot on location in New York City, Peter retraces the steps of his cruel childhood in an attempt to find Claire Andrews (Marie Wilson, Atwt, PC), his adoptive mother who raised him until the age of seven.

With no memory of his recent past, Peter encounters members of his adoptive family, as well as those of his biological family, who are stunned by his misguided determination and jaded memories.

On Monday, We Love Soaps TV was on set of the upcoming film The Southside.

Photo: Kristos Andrews, Gregori J. Martin, Fiona Hutchison, Derrell Whitt

Best described as an urban and modern day The Outsiders meets critically acclaimed Good Will Hunting, The Southside is based on the true story of 19 year old Robert Areizaga Jr. who was murdered in White Plains, New York at a party in the Fall of 2010 by a vicious gang. The story follows Robert’s journey to turn his life around and become a New York police officer five months before his tragic death.

Monday was the final day of the shoot, which is being produced by LANYfilms Productions and New Universe Pictures, and directed by The Bay's Gregori J. Martin. Emmy-nominated actress Fiona Hutchison was there playing a cop, and bringing her usual magic to any scene she's in.

The film stars The Bay...

With machine guns blazing, the explosive underworld epic Scarface arrives on Blu-ray Hi-Def September 6, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Considered one of the most influential gangster films ever made, Scarface's gritty depiction of Tony Montana's lethal ambition has made it a cultural touchstone that spans generations. Now, fans can experience the film's raw power in the newly restored, high-resolution, high-definition picture and explosive 7.1 audio for the first time ever. Exclusive new bonus content created especially for this release reveals the film's iconic legacy as one of the greatest crime sagas of all time. For a limited time only, Scarface Special Limited Edition Blu-ray comes with collectible SteelBook packaging, ten exclusive art cards, a digital copy of the film and a DVD of the original 1932 Scarface, making it a must-own addition to every film fan's library. And, for the ultimate collector and cigar enthusiast, an elegantly hand-crafted Scarface-themed humidor...

Coming off the success of the recent Indie Soap Awards and a successful winter full of fabulous new episodes, the web series community is excited about what's next. We Love Soaps TV is happy to offer our Indie Soap Spring Preview Guide with the latest news and happenings from returning shows to crossovers and spin-offs. Check it out below.

Season Premieres

Then We Got Help!

Season Two Premiere Date: March 18

Creator and star Julie Ann Emery offers a preview of the new season: "The thing I think I'm most proud of is Season Two is fully fan funded. We did a crowd funding campaign and we surpassed our maximum budget asked for. We may not have the biggest audience on the web, but our fans are Fierce!

"We used that money to improve our sound, get all our actors back, and add an impressive list of guest stars including Sam McMurray (Rasing Arizona,...

It's the first day in December, and whether you want to recognize it or not, January isn't too far away. Today the awesome folks at the Sundance Film Festival unveiled their first list of films, international and domestic, which will be presented at the festival. Check it out, and yes there are more to come. Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition Categories, the Festival presents films in six out-of-competition sections to be announced on December 2. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.For the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, 115 feature-length films were selected, representing 28 countries by 40 first-time filmmakers, including 25 in competition. These films were selected from 3,812 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,943 U.S. and 1,869 international feature-length films.

The announcement of the movies playing the 2011 Sundance Film Festival is like looking into our film futures. It's December and most movie fans are looking back at the last 12 months, picking out award winners, writing top ten lists, and chances are we haven't even heard of the Sundance films. They're just titles, people, words on a computer screen. Then in January they unspool on screens across Park City, Utah and become something more. Finally, months later, these are the movies we discuss with our friends and choose on ballots at awards parties. Yet we get to read about them now, a year in advance. Last year at this time, who had heard of Four Lions, Catfish, Exit Through The Gift Shop, Blue Valentine, The Kids Are All Right, Winter's Bone, Restrepo or Animal Kingdom? Sundance, that's who. All those films screened at the 2010 festival and now many have become not only personal favorites,...

Park City, Ut . Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition Categories, the Festival presents films in six out-of-competition sections to be announced on December 2. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival runs January 20-30 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. The complete list of films is available at http://www.sundance.org/.

On Day One, the Festival will forego the convention of one opening night film and instead screen one narrative film and one documentary from both the U.S. and World Cinema competitions, as well as one shorts program.

John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival said, .The Festival is a challenge to narrowly define. It is all at once exciting, fun, crazy, engaging, visceral, and sometimes even painful. We can explain storylines,...

Soccer is obviously not a huge thing (yet) in the U.S., but Danny Cannon's "Goal!" still found its way into theaters in 2006 and pulled in $4.2 million domestically. I know that's not much, but the film at least had a very solid international career. If you saw and liked the first film, you can now gear up for the sequel, "Goal II: Living the Dream," which is currently scheduled for limited release on Aug. 29, 2008.

After gaining the necessary experience in professional soccer at Newcastle United, lead character Santiago now finally gets a shot at international fame when he's transferring to Real Madrid. You can watch the trailer just above. The film is directed by Jamue Collet-Serra and stars Anna Friel, Miriam Colon, Stephen Dillane and Sean Pertwee.