By Luis Reyes
Although the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiative report, which was released on August 2014 showed that Latinos made up only 4.9% of movie characters across 100 of 2013’s top-grossing films, we question if there is any indication of an upswing in 2014?
Oscar Issacs as the lead character of Abe Morales in A Most Violet Year
In 2014 filmgoers were treated to the presence of Latinos in many theatrical feature film roles, a few in leading roles such as: Oscar Issacs who starred as Abe Morales, a New York businessman in A Most Violent Year (which has already received accolades and three National Board of Review selections, one for Issacs for Best Actor). Gael Garcia Bernal starred in Jon Stewart’s directorial debut Rosewater as an imprisoned Iranian-Canadian journalist.
Other starring roles went to Michael Pena who had a banner year first in the title role in Cesar Chavez. He then starred alongside Ed Harris and Eva Longoria in Frontera, a story about an undocumented worker and a rancher (Harris) who forged an unusual connection. In October he starred as a World War II soldier opposite Brad Pitt in Fury. Fast becoming one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood, in 2015 Pena has two high profile films releasing, The Vatican Tapes in May of 2015 and The Ant Man in July of next year in which he stars.
However, mostly is was in supporting roles that Latinos had the most impact in some of the most memorable and significant performances in 2014 in major motion pictures. Here is a sampling:
John Wick starring Keanu Reeves featured John Leguizamo as a character named Arellano.
Kill The Messenger featured Yul Vasquez, Paz Vega and Andy Garcia (who also co-starred in the hit comedy, Let’s Be Cops.)
Addicted co-starred Mexican heartthrob William Levy.
Rosario Dawson as the journalist who interviews Chris Rock’s character in the feature Top Five.
The Drop featured John Ortiz as a Puerto Rican NYPD detective and he is also featured in Michael Mann’s Blackhat which is set to release on January 16, 2015.
The horror hit Annabelle co-starred Tony Amendola as the priest.
The tremendous worldwide Box office hit, Guardians of the Galaxy starred Zoe Saldana and Benicio Del Toro.
Pepe Serna in the featured role in Cake which stars Jennifer Aniston and but also starred in the sleeper film festival award winner Man From Reno
Kate del Castillo was the other woman in the thriller No Good Deed.
Enrique Castillo as the cancer ridden patriarch in Fanny Veliz’s indie film Homebound about a young man forced to return to his home town in El Campo, TX to care for his ill father.
Jorge Gutierrez’s Book Of Life the animated film from Dreamworks had a dream cast of the voice talents of Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Kate del Castillo, Danny Trejo, Anna de la Reguera, Hector Elizondo and Placido Domingo among many others.
The final word on whether there were enough roles in 2014 to raise the statistics of Latinos in film is yet to be confirmed, but it’s always good to take the opportunity to spotlight the talent worked last year.
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