Guatemalan award-winning movie star Oscar Isaac talks to Latin Post in an exclusive interview about 'A Most Violent Year,' 'Star Wars,' 'X-Men' and the one role he did that portrays Latin American men in a new light.
"Spare Parts'" final half hour, arguably its most interesting, is also its most predictable and not until the final epilogue, which details these characters' outcomes, does the viewer actually feel invested in the four teenagers. There is no doubt that the intentions (aside from the horrific McDonald's commercial) are sincere in highlighting the achievement of Latinos. But unfortunately this film offers nothing new that has not been seen before. Clocking in at almost two hours, the movie almost feels like it is being forced down the viewer's throats as a way to make people feel sorry for Latinos rather than celebrate their greatness. Any attempts at cultural authenticity falter because the film relies so heavily on the tired stereotypes to represent its characters. There was certainly a great story here, but the execution is as poor as it gets making "Spare Parts" live up to its title as another throwaway movie.
"Remontada" or bust is what they were saying. Over turn a 2-0 deficit or walk away embarrassed in front of fans at the Santiago Bernabeau, almost washing away the good will built over the last few months. For Real Madrid this was the situation heading into Thursday's meteoric tilt with rival Atletico Madrid.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer. In just a few days time, their fates as Ballon d'Or candidates will be determined. And then in 365 days, the world will be looking at another three candidates, possibly two of the same trio vying for that same award. Of course many have wondered whether decline is imminent for both superstars due to injury woes, overuse and in the case of Messi, a declining team. So the big question is: Will Ronaldo and Messi still be favorites to lift the Ballon d'Or in 2016?
Luis Suarez's time in Barcelona has not been what most have expected. And as a result, the Uruguayan, who already has a target on his back every time he steps on the pitch for his biting antics, is under ever increasing scrutiny at one of the most challenging places to play in the world - the Camp Nou.
They often say that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The cynical would say that the poor who get poorer get themselves stuck in their own problems and should not be considered. This certainly seems to be the attitude of some in the Barcelona camp as things go from bad to worse. And the one person who apparently feels that the only way to be freed from problems is to escape them is Lionel Messi.
It is far from a happy new year for Real Madrid. The defending World and European champions have yet to win a single game in 2015 and have looked increasingly embarrassing over the last few matches. First it was a blunder in the second half against Valencia that saw the team lose its 22-game winning streak.And then on Wednesday, the team met with its seeming Kryptonite and lost 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey knockout round. Never mind that Atletico Madrid has not lost to Los Blancos in the four games since that fateful Champions League final last May. When Real Madrid plays its crosstown rivals these days, the team simply looks lost.So what is Atletico doing that brings out the worst in arguably the best team in the world?
A year ago, Real Madrid headed to Schalke 04 with a lot of question marks. Of the 25 games the team had played on German soil heading into this matchup, it had won one, drawn six and lost an appalling 18.This Madrid side knew that to make a deep run it would have to break the curse and did it ever. After plundering Schalke 6-1 on the road and running away with a 9-2 aggregate win, Los Blancos would overcome Borussia Dortmund 3-2 (though losing 2-0 in Dortmund) before making the statement of all statements in a 5-0 annihilation of then reigning Champions Bayern Munich (including a 4-0 win in Bavaria).So a year later, Los Blancos head into the tournament against a Schalke side that is arguably weaker this time around, while the reigning champions themselves look a cut above the squad that dominated last year. But is that sufficient to escape the round of 16?
While most see it as a done deal that Cristiano Ronaldo will hoist his second straight Ballon d'Or and his third overall, there are some that view Manuel Neuer as the true contender to run away with the individual honor.Goaltending and the Ballon d'Or was analyzed in depth in a previous post, but one perspective is that Neuer's involvement in the World Cup winning side should have a huge bearing on the outcome for the personal award. In fact, many have been vocal about it.
Can Barcelona B save Barcelona during its transfer ban? Barcelona's transfer ban is a huge issue for the legendary Spanish side. The team will be stripped of the opportunity to buy up reinforcements for its squad for the next year, forcing it to rely on the mixed bag that it currently has.
In 244 matches, Fernando Torres scored 91 goals for Atletico Madrid, cementing himself as one of the top scorers of the team. He never managed to get into the top 10 on the team's scoring list (Ruben Cano sits in 10th with 97 tallies), but he will get a chance to break into that historical table in 2015 as he makes his big return to the club where he rose to fame.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi looked to get their respective 2015 campaigns off to a great start. Ronaldo finished the year with a bit of a slump as he struggled to score in the FIFA Club World Cup. Meanwhile his great rival had been finding new ways to consistently score for Barcelona. Heading into this week, Ronaldo had an 8-5 lead on his rival. Would he add to the lead? Or see Messi creep ever closer?
Last year was a major breakthrough for Cristiano Ronaldo. After four straight years as number two in the world (and in one year he was not even in the top three), the Portuguese superstar is in the running to finish up 2014 as the top player in the world for the second straight year. That would put him in an exclusive group that includes Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten as the only players to win the award in back-to-back years. Moreover, his third trophy would unite him with Cruyff, Platini, van Basten and Messi as the only players to win the award three times.
What were Latin Post.com film writer David Salazar's favorite films of 2014? Here is a run down including the honorable mentions which include "The Imitation Game," "A Most Wanted Man," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," "Inherent Vice" and others.
On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that it would reject Barcelona's had its appeal to have its year-long transfer ban removed, thus leaving the team without the ability to make a single transfer in 2015. Barcelona had been found guilty by FIFA of signing underage overseas players and was thus sanctioned. So how exactly does this affect Barcelona over the long run and in the short run?
Everyone dreams of an all-star team. What would the best soccer players in the world working alongside one another look like? Without further ado, here is a look at the starting XI of 2014. For the lineup, Latin Post has picked a 4-3-3 formation because it is arguably the most balanced lineup in the modern game:
People who enjoy the fart jokes, man-children, homophobic slurs, stereotypes, cliches and objectifying women in movies will probably get a kick out of "The Interview." But those wondering what the big fuss is all about will probably leave their respective viewing experience wondering why they wasted their time in the first place.
More than a cautionary tale, "A Most Violent Year" almost condemns the impossibility of ideals such as the heroic American Dream. While the film shows that this dream is attainable, it lambasts any notion that it can be achieved without making certain concessions. And this is where this film, which takes many cues from Francis Ford Coppolla's great "Godfather" films, connects itself most fully with those two great films. To fulfill the American Dream, compromises must be made. And these aren't always the ones we feel most comfortable making.
One more time and this time with some feeling. All year round, the world monitors the performances of the two best players in the entire world. Lionel Messi's rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo probably spurs more arguments than any other topic in the world with two rather decisive camps. But when all is said and done, the numbers and results do not lie. One player and one player only had the better year in the 2014.
The bizarre nature of "Big Eyes'" story and its actual outcomes is perfect for cinematic adaptation and Burton has certainly showcased his way with the material. While the film's tone might feel unbalanced at times, there is no denying that at its best, it is cracking entertainment. And this only adds to the discussion at the core of the film - is art's greatest value in its personal expression or its commercial viability? This film in and of itself can certainly fit right into that conversation when juxtaposed with its creator's output.
Marina Rebeka came on the scene at the Met as an irresistible Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, but here she has showcased another wondrous aspect as the tragic heroine in Verdi's unforgettable masterpiece. Flanked by the multi-faceted turn by Quinn Kelsey and Willy Decker's ever-fascinating production, this is a must-see of the Metropolitan's 2014-15 season.
The Club World Cup final takes place this weekend and features a matchup between Europe's reigning champion Real Madrid and Argentinean club San Lorenzo, the winner of the 2014 Copa Libertadores.This is seventh time in the tournament's history that the European champion takes on the South American victor. As the record stands, European teams have won five of those matchups. In the most recent final between two clubs from those two continents, Brazil's Corinthians took down Chelsea 1-0.Real Madrid enters the contest as the clear-cut favorite, but as exhibited in this short tournament, anything can happen. Can San Lorenzo stage an upset? To see those possibilities, it is essential to see how the teams got here.
Barcelona's rematch with Manchester City is a match-up made in heaven for fans. Barcelona, which has struggled with consistency all season long, may enter the match-up as the favorite, but has the most to lose in the Round of 16 draw. How do these teams actually match up?
Richard Eyre's production showed it staying power and furthered the notion that the director favored his actors over any model concept. The world of his Figaro came alive thanks to its tremendous cast and solid conductor. There is one more performance of this great masterpiece before it is completely finished for the 2014-15 season.
From playing loyal, easy going Angel Bautista on "Dexter" to ruthless gangster Sal Maroni on the hit TV show "Gotham", David Zayas has worn many hats. Now, Latin Post interviews the award-winning Puerto Rican acting star about his latest role in the upcoming movie "Annie," in theaters on Friday, Dec. 19.
