THE PLOT THUS FAR
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Cesar Chavez” is a biopic, so all of the trappings of that genre come along for a ride here. Things like glossing over to a degree his disdain for illegal immigration. But, in 101 minutes…sacrifices were to be made. There is a lot lost about his relationship with women, his brother and the workers united behind him. Too often Hollywood is quick to make a motion picture that they can tie to a hot button issue and then hope for a giant pat on the back. This shouldn’t have been that movie, as America deserves a more even-handed look at what Chavez accomplished for organized labor in America.
Director Diego Luna and Michael Pena are quite a powerhouse. While the script is incredibly lacking, Diego Luna moves from actor to director and sets up shots that would make Beatty or Eastwood jealous. Hell, there are a ton of homages to setups from “Matewan” and “The Grapes of Wrath” throughout the flick. I appreciate a sense of film history in these kinds of affairs, plus the detail that the UFW was made up of more than just Mexicans. John Malkovich shows up to play a heavy villain that enunciates every single word that has ever escaped his mouth. If someone can find me a clip of Malkovich ordering food at the Olive Garden, I’ll include it here. While easy to look over, I hope that a bigger audience gives it a shot during the summer season.
The Blu-Ray comes with a making-of documentary and a Digital HD copy as the special features. The A/V Quality is pretty sharp for an indie drama too. The 1080p transfer makes the best out of bright hues and exterior scenes. Plus, the DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track creates insanely well designed environments. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 07/22/2014