Hey folks, Harry here with a look at a passion project of Andy Garcia called, THE LOST CITY. This sounds like an amazing film that Andy has cooked up, and is due out September 9th from Lions Gate - lest you think all they put out are cool as hell bloody horror flicks... there's this otherside to Lions Gate that puts out the hard films that slip through the cracks otherwise. Just reading about this movie makes me want to go eat at Habana here in Austin. Great Cuban food! Here ya go...
Hey Harry,
Just got out of a private screening of Andy Garcia's "The Lost City" and loved it so much I wanted to write a review. There are spoilers so beware. Long time reader 1st blah blah blah......
I have always felt that good movies are made from people who have a passion for them (Sam Raimi with Spiderman, Peter Jackson with LOTR. Etc.). The audience was told before the movie started we would be the first to ever see the film and that Andy Garcia spent 16 years getting the movie made (it takes time to create a gem, take notice fox before you ruin X3) and it shows, Andy Garcia has brought us a view of pre and post communist Cuba and its toll on a family threw beautiful visuals, great story and wonderful music.
The story is about one family and what happens before and after the revolution. Andy Garcia is the oldest brother, Fico and there are two younger brothers. The two younger brothers have wives while Fico is single, he does have an attraction with his middle brothers wife and she with him. Fico owns a night club and his uncle a large farm, his father is a professor at a college. This family is rich and smart. The men go upstairs and that's where the characters allegiances become known. The father and uncle don't believe in violence for the revolution if they believe in the revolution at all. The younger one believes in any means possible to get President Batista out of power and Fico stands by his father while the middle son stands quiet. Eventually the younger one goes to fight for Castro, the middle one dies after attempting to assassinate Batista with his own political movement and Fico stays neutral running his club (ala rick in Casablanca) and taking care of his family (ala Godfather). Eventually the younger son betrays his family for the revolution and kills himself for it. Fico leaves for New York City and becomes a nightclub owner again. There is also the love story between the widow of Fico's brother and him that become a great love but her character is so lost and easily manipulated that it goes bad and you hate her for it. A tiny plot involves Meyer Lansky, the head of the Jewish mob played amazingly by Dustin Hoffman (When he asks for an egg cream I smiled ear to ear).
The art direction was fantastic leaving no small detail behind, a picture of the three brothers in the background makes a movie like this perfect (god is in the details). The music was amazing; the guy said they put more than fifty pieces of classic Cuban music in it. I didn't understand a word of it but it really gives you a feel for the Cuba that was and one day could be again. The cinematography made Cuba look like Eden and later hell, the colors were vivid, the shot of the tall green grass in one scene is begging to be used as an example of how clear a plasma screen is in electronic stores everywhere. The cinematographer lights the film wonderfully, I love cinematographers who aren't afraid of shadows. The outside shots were bright but not overblown to make everything clear. He also knows exactly when to use long lenses and wide lenses for maximum effect. When you need to look into the eyes of a character your there and when you need to see the beautiful vistas of Cuba its wide and far.
The acting was terrific. Andy Garcia was great as Fico trying to keep everything together. The family was a bunch of unknown actors I've never seen before and all of them portrayed there characters with heart and emotion. The other actors also did well creating characters believable and full of emotion. The supporting characters like Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman was a welcome surprise, funny and it didn?t feel like they were winking at the audience, they played it straight but funny. Good cast all around.
The movies biggest strength would have to be the ability to make you feel for its characters. It takes a lot for me to sit and forget I?m watching actors and this movie did that. At one point I wanted to scream out: You fucking whore what is wrong with you, cant you see what?s going on!!!!!!, but I didn't. There is only one small thing that hindered the movie, its length, the third act dragged a little and could have been cut down. Overall though I loved the film and loved how Andy Garcia and the other talented cast and crew showed me a Cuba I never known (I?m only 21) and hope to discover one day.
I know there will be at least one talkbacker that will yell "Plant" and I probably would have too since I just said so many good things, but the truth is I?m a graduate of film studies and have a passion for movies.
Adios,
if you use this call me: Jackie Boy
