I was able to see Bella at a special screening for the NCLR Lideres Summit in Miami,Florida last week. Manny Perez,Eduardo Verastegui, and the producer were present.Also a representative from the Smithsonian was there since Bella is not a part of the Hispanic History Museum at the Smithsonian. The performances are OK, very subtle. They almost straddle the line between under acting or just plain,simple, raw emotion.
Tammy Blanchard as Nina gives the most varied performance. She is perhaps the best thing about this film,she is able to show a variety of emotions in a very convincing manner. I know Eduardo Verastegui means well but he is still used as an attractive visual in this film.It will take a lot for him to rub off his boy band/heartthrob image. Throughout the film you could hear the girls whispering about how "hot" he was.Manny Perez does a good job as Eduardo's somewhat eccentric brother. Angelica Aragon is very underused and the rest of the cast gives decent but not stellar performances.
The message in Bella is good, time after time after time you see situations in where different entities appear to be different but are united because they are humans. A very strong and positive message in a time where there is so much division not only in the U.S. but in the world.
The cinematography and score are top notch.However, if critics aren't able to love other parts of the movie I doubt this will get much recognition.
The movie is not done excellently. The climax comes a bit too early.The development is slow. The ending as many have said is a bit awkward.Talks of Oscar by the cast and the producer are a bit delusional and immature. The cast will certainly not get any nominations. The film as a whole could possibly stand a chance simply on message much like Crash but there are probably 40 films this year that have more hype or have proved their quality at the box office.About 20 of the hyped films would have to severely falter for Bella to even be mentioned in the same breath as those that come through the first few award chopping blocks.
Bella is a movie with a positive, universal, appropriate, and resounding message that needs to be heard. However, the road communicating this message is bumpy,inconsistent,slow, and filled with gaping potholes. Bella is a movie to pass the time and maybe learn something but not a film that will change people or change the world.
Tammy Blanchard as Nina gives the most varied performance. She is perhaps the best thing about this film,she is able to show a variety of emotions in a very convincing manner. I know Eduardo Verastegui means well but he is still used as an attractive visual in this film.It will take a lot for him to rub off his boy band/heartthrob image. Throughout the film you could hear the girls whispering about how "hot" he was.Manny Perez does a good job as Eduardo's somewhat eccentric brother. Angelica Aragon is very underused and the rest of the cast gives decent but not stellar performances.
The message in Bella is good, time after time after time you see situations in where different entities appear to be different but are united because they are humans. A very strong and positive message in a time where there is so much division not only in the U.S. but in the world.
The cinematography and score are top notch.However, if critics aren't able to love other parts of the movie I doubt this will get much recognition.
The movie is not done excellently. The climax comes a bit too early.The development is slow. The ending as many have said is a bit awkward.Talks of Oscar by the cast and the producer are a bit delusional and immature. The cast will certainly not get any nominations. The film as a whole could possibly stand a chance simply on message much like Crash but there are probably 40 films this year that have more hype or have proved their quality at the box office.About 20 of the hyped films would have to severely falter for Bella to even be mentioned in the same breath as those that come through the first few award chopping blocks.
Bella is a movie with a positive, universal, appropriate, and resounding message that needs to be heard. However, the road communicating this message is bumpy,inconsistent,slow, and filled with gaping potholes. Bella is a movie to pass the time and maybe learn something but not a film that will change people or change the world.