That man can act! There's just no doubt about it. It's amazing how he is able to put aside his bad-boy notoriety and just sink his teeth into the meaty roles Hollywood seems to always throw his way (see Alexander, The Recruit, Tigerland etc.).
He shines again here as Arturo Bandini (yup, I was thinking the same thing you're probably thinking here too when I saw that name. I was wondering how he was going to pull off playing such a character but he does) an uninspired short-story writer who comes to California from Colorado hoping to find love (preferably a White Blonde chick with a bank account) and be inspired to write a successful novel. Salma Hayek, plays Camilla Lopez, an illiterate Mexican waitress who would rather be a White woman just to better her luck in life. Needless to say, this two character who are conventionally & logically wrong for each other collide one day at a bar and the sparks between them begin to fly immediately.
Arturo struggles to continue writing while Camilla provides a worthy distraction. As the relationship between the two builds, the ugly sides of both parties temporarily puts a damper on things. Arturo realises (albeit too late) that prejudice is the demon that has stood in his way all along and only when he gets over this is he able to produce his masterpiece.
Donald Sutherland in a severely underwritten role provides the voice as an aging but friendly neighbour. Eileen Aitkins manages to upstage the usually marvellous Hayek as the mysterious Vera Rivkin. Good cast, poor script but never the less it's watchable.
He shines again here as Arturo Bandini (yup, I was thinking the same thing you're probably thinking here too when I saw that name. I was wondering how he was going to pull off playing such a character but he does) an uninspired short-story writer who comes to California from Colorado hoping to find love (preferably a White Blonde chick with a bank account) and be inspired to write a successful novel. Salma Hayek, plays Camilla Lopez, an illiterate Mexican waitress who would rather be a White woman just to better her luck in life. Needless to say, this two character who are conventionally & logically wrong for each other collide one day at a bar and the sparks between them begin to fly immediately.
Arturo struggles to continue writing while Camilla provides a worthy distraction. As the relationship between the two builds, the ugly sides of both parties temporarily puts a damper on things. Arturo realises (albeit too late) that prejudice is the demon that has stood in his way all along and only when he gets over this is he able to produce his masterpiece.
Donald Sutherland in a severely underwritten role provides the voice as an aging but friendly neighbour. Eileen Aitkins manages to upstage the usually marvellous Hayek as the mysterious Vera Rivkin. Good cast, poor script but never the less it's watchable.