Elisa Bocanegra Movies
- 2008
An unlikely ranchero star finds fame on both sides of the Mexican border in this mockumentary comedy drama satirizing our celebrity-obsessed culture. When Jonathan French (Spencer John French) was just three years old, his parents were stoned to death by lepers. Subsequently adopted by his Mexican nanny (Lupe Ontiveros) and her God-fearing husband (Danny Trejo), Jonathan grew up to become a hard working janitor and gardener, eventually adopting the name Juan Francés. When Juan turned 33, he was blessed with a beautiful singing voice by the Virgin of Guadalupe. Over time, Juan sharpened his musical skills by performing in front of modest crowds at East L.A. soccer bars. In the wake of a successful performance at a prominent music festival, however, the burgeoning singer became a bona fide superstar on the Mexican pop charts. Eventually, Juan becomes so wrapped up in his own fame that he changes his name to "El Guero," and makes the leap from ranchero music to Reggaeton. Just when it seems that Juan's identity couldn't become any more clouded, a sensitive secret from his past prompts him to question everything he's ever known, and make a tough choice about who he really wants to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Spencer John French, Lupe Ontiveros, (more)
- 2003
50 years ago, the Egyptian Theater was founded to "celebrate children." But in the intervening decades, theater owner Ben Horner (Alex Rocco) has come to despise all children, especially the juvenile delinquents who vandalize the Egyptian on a daily basis. Moreover, the theater's current resident company is comprised of pompous, self-serving actors who could care less about entertaining youngsters. Monica (Roma Downey) and the other angels endeavor to restore the Egyptian's original mission--and to bring the various warring factions together on common ground. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
Officer Maya Anderson (Tanya Wright) finds herself in deep trouble when her story of her partner's death during a shoot-out does not jibe with the testimony of other eyewitnesses. This incident culminates in a clash between Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) and his sweetheart, ADA Valerie Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon). In other developments, while making living arrangements for her late sister's baby, Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) joins Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) in investigating a child abduction. And suspicion mounts that John Clark Jr.'s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) detective father (Joe Spano) may be a player in the IAB's scheme to get some damaging dirt on the 15th precinct. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
The Oprah Book Club best-seller by Janet Fitch makes it to the big screen in this adaptation from British director Peter Kosminsky. White Oleander recounts the traumatic adolescence of Astrid Magnusson (Alison Lohman), who finds herself an orphan after her short-fused, enigmatic artist mother Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) is carted off to prison on murder charges. Astrid first finds herself in the care of Starr (Robin Wright Penn), a garish, born-again mother of two with a gruff but sensitive boyfriend (Cole Hauser). From there, she's shunted back to a state-run facility, where she tangles with other troubled teens and finds temporary solace in the arms of Paul (Patrick Fugit), a dough-faced comic book artist with dreams of moving to New York City. Astrid then lucks into a living arrangement with a successful but insecure actress (Renee Zellweger) who offers her unconditional love. But Ingrid's stifling influence continues to haunt her daughter, whether through the occasional prison visit or via manipulative letters to Astrid's caretakers. White Oleander received a Gala North American premiere at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival before reaching multiplexes later that fall. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alison Lohman, Michelle Pfeiffer, (more)
A crystal-meth addict struggles to get his next fix as he obsesses over a recent breakup in Spun, a black-comic drug drama from music video director Jonas Akerlund. Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman stars as Ross, a young man who finds his maniacal world crumbling around him over the course of one long weekend. Spun chronicles Ross' travails as he tries to score from his regular dealer, Spider Mike (John Leguizamo), who realizes during Ross' visit that he's misplaced his stash. Indisposed by the frantic drug search, Spider Mike's girlfriend, Cookie (Mena Suvari), enlists Ross to pick up her stripper friend Nikki (Brittany Murphy) from work, and when he grudgingly agrees, he learns that Nikki might have an inside line on some of her own speed, courtesy of The Cook (Mickey Rourke). Meanwhile, two bumbling cops are onto Spider Mike's trail, and in his paranoid-delusional state, he sets out to find out who set him up. Spun premiered at the 2002 CineVegas Film Festival before securing berths at the Sundance, Toronto, and South by Southwest festivals. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Schwartzman, John Leguizamo, (more)
Karyn Kusama makes her debut with this sensitive, subtly told coming-of-age story about boxing and love. Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) is a tough though painfully honest girl living in Brooklyn. Surly, frustrated, and directionless, Diana seems to have a ticket on the express train to expulsion; she repeatedly finds herself in detention and schoolyard fights. At home, her weak though abusive single father Sandro (Paul Calderon) clearly favorites her bookish brother Tiny (Ray Santiago) over her. While running an errand for her father, Diana finds herself in one of New York's more renowned boxing gyms, and she instantly connects to the same. Though traditionally a thoroughly male pastime in Latino culture, Diana perseveres and gains self-worth thanks to the help of gruff Panamanian trainer Hector (Jaime Tirelli). Soon Hector assumes the role of Diana's father from her deadbeat biological progenitor. As Diana gains physical strength and agility in the ring, she finds herself drawn to the dashing boxer Adrian (Santiago Douglas), who is supposedly involved with someone else. Slowly though, the two give into their mutual attraction and fall completely in love. Fate intervenes when the two lovers are scheduled to fight one another in the ring, forcing each to choose boxing or love. Executive-produced by none other than John Sayles, this film received rave reviews at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, (more)
