By Sumaya Samarasinghe - The Sunday LeaderLet me be perfectly honest, none of the two films mentioned above have the slightest chance of winning any major cinematic honors.
However, both are ultra watchable and pleasant in their own way despite being completely different in their themes and styles. So if the plan is to put your feet up and consume a large amount of junk food over the weekend while watching some mindless entertainment, take your pick: A chick flick with “From Prada to Nada” or “Unknown” an action packed thriller.
“From Prada to Nada” is very, very loosely based on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, 21st century, Latina version. It is the utterly predictable story of two Mexican sisters Nora, played by Camilla Belle and Marie played by Alexa Vega who has really grown up since acting in Spy Kids. The two girls have clearly lost their Mexican roots and don’t even speak a word of Spanish.They live in an enormous Beverly Hills mansion with their adoring father. Nora is the bookish, smart one who plans on becoming a lawyer and Marie is an easy going shopholic. On his 55th birthday while dancing with both his daughters, Pablo collapses and dies on the spot of a heart attack. The girls are supported in their ordeal by their tough talking and kind aunt Aurelia who tries to dampen their shock when they watch their half brother and Pablo’s illegitimate son come to the funeral with an overly made up and unpleasant wife.To add on to their misery, the two girls are told that their father was bankrupt at the time of his death and has left them penniless.
Let’s get this clear, despite the rather sad situation of the two sisters, most of the characters are caricatures and they are either ridiculous or quite funny. Their new sister-in-law is like a younger version of Cruella de Vil and it comes as no surprise when she sends Nora and Marie packing. The two sisters find themselves with no other option than to move in with their aunt in her East L.A home filled with illegal immigrants. From the point onwards the clichés are a few too many. Any white person with a suite is a possible INS agent, the Latinos and Latinas are overweight and carb abusing, they belong to gangs, are loud, semi jobless or work as janitors and shoot outs take place regularly on the streets! It would be putting it mildly to say that the urban Hispanic population is being portrayed in a negative manner.more
Not once does the script make you want to scream in delight at its creativity, but the film is pleasant thanks to its very appealing cast and good camera work.
Obviously since this is a rom com, there will be some romantic entanglements thrown in but it is a little difficult to believe that the stunning Camilla Belle is supposed to play a 24 year old spinster who has “never been kissed” and is waiting for her prince charming to walk by! With a title like “ From Prada to Nada”, it is best to keep your expectations low and enjoy a rather predictable but pleasant movie.
If love stories aren’t your cup of tea, better watch “Unknown” starring the wonderful Liam Neeson.
Neeson is Dr. William Harris who is traveling with his wife Liz to Berlin for a biotechnology summit. When he reaches the hotel, he notices that his briefcase has been left at the airport. He gets into a cab driven by Gina and orders her to take the shortest possible route to the airport. But the two meet with an accident in a superbly filmed scene and the car crashes into a river. Harris is knocked unconscious and saved by Gina who flees the scene of the accident.
When he wakes up in hospital, he is told that he will suffer memory loss but is able to remember the name of the hotel he was staying at and what his wife looks like. When he goes back to the hotel, William sees his wife who does not recognise him and is with another man who claims to be Dr. William Harris! From that point onwards, William loses control of his life and will use every possible skill in him to discover the truth.
Revealing more of the intrigue however unrealistic and convoluted it may seem, would be a mistake. Apart from a lengthy car chase and an often over complicated plot, ‘Unknown’ is exciting to watch for several reasons. Set in Berlin, the European touch and feel to the film brought back memories of Roman Polanski’s film “Frantic” where Harrison Ford played an American in Paris whose wife is kidnapped. Diane Kruger who comes as Gina shows more presence that she ever had in her previous roles. But it is really Neeson and in a supporting role the wonderful Bruno Ganz who bring class to this movie.Liam Neeson is a super human action hero with a sensitive touch. He just does not understand why his life is falling apart and gradually lets paranoia seep in. We find ourselves watching him and wondering what his next move will be; and that is what makes a good film, when curiosity pushes you to want to know more and watch until the end. Enjoy your week end!
