Bichir to Star in “Dom Hemingway”

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may be known for his dramatic work… But Demian Bichir will soon be showing off his comedic chops on the big screen…

The 49-year-old Mexican actor, who received an Oscar nod this year for his work in A Better Life, will play a crime boss in the black comedy Dom Hemingway from The Matador writer-director Richard Shepard.

Jude Law and Richard E. Grant were already signed on to star in the revenge story. Law plays an eponymous larger-than-life safecracker who’s back on the streets of London after 12 years in prison and anxious to get some money in exchange for keeping his mouth shut. But things take a turn for the worse when he sets off to visit Bichir’s capo in the south of France.

Shooting is expected to start on October 15 in the south of France.

Bichir recently appeared in Oliver Stone’s Savages with Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek, and he’’ll next be seen in Robert Rodriguez’ Machete Kills with Sofia Vergara and Danny Trejo, as well as Paul Feig’s The Heat with Sandra Bullock.

Bichir Feeling “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir’s star continues to rise in Hollywood…

The 48-year-old Mexican actor, who earned his first Oscar nomination this year for his role in A Better Life, has signed on to star opposite Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in The Heat.

In his first English-language comedy, Bichir will play an FBI agent.

Bichir, who was last seen starring opposite Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek in Oliver Stone’s Savages earlier this summer, recently wrapped up work on Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills with Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba and Sofia Vergara.

MTV Tr3s Announces Best Latino Actor Nominees

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s time to cast your vote for Best Latino Actor, to be announced at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards…

MTV Tr3s announced the nominees in the category; and the bilingual entertainment channel is urging the public to vote for their favorite.

This year’s nominees include Zoe Saldaña for her role in Colombiana, Diego Luna for Casa de Mi Padre, Demian Bichir for A Better Life, Penelope Cruz for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Harmony Santana for Gun Hill Road.

Between now and June 2, MTV Tr3s viewers can vote online for this year’s Best Latino Actor at movieawards.tr3s.com.

The winner will be announced on MTV Tr3s on June 10, during the Spanish-subtitled rebroadcast of the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.

MTV will broadcast the MTV Movie Awards live on June 3, with Kid Cudi this year’s lone Latino nominee.

Last year, film fans selected actress Alexa Vega as Best Latino Actor for her role in the comedy From Prada to Nada.

Bichir Firming Up Post-Oscars Projects

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s one of Mexico’s beloved actors… And, now it appears Demián Bichir is on the verge of superstardom in Hollywood…

The 48-year-old Mexican actor—who received an Academy Award nomination for his critically acclaimed performance in A Better Life—is lining up his next two English-language projects.

Bichir is currently in talks to join the cast of Machete Kills, the follow-up to Robert Rodriguez‘s cult classic Machete. Co-starring Jessica Alba and Mel Gibson, the sequel will find Danny Trejo’s iconic character Machete battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer looking to launch a weapon into space.

In addition, Bichir will star in William Friedkin‘s thriller Trapped, where he’ll reportedly play an Israeli agent.

Bichir—who got his start in Mexican telenovelas before crossing over into English-language projects, including an acclaimed recurring role on Showtime’s Weeds, can next be seen in Oliver Stone’s upcoming dramatic thriller Savages, co-starring Salma Hayek and Benicio del Toro

Bichir Receives First-Ever Oscar Nomination…

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir is following in the footsteps of legendary actor Anthony Quinn…

The 48-year-old former telenovela star has become only the second Mexican actor to receive a lead actor Academy Award nomination; nearly 50 years after Quinn won an Oscar for his role in Zorba the Greek.

Bichir received the nod for his starring role in A Better Life where he played Carlos Galindo, an illegal immigrant gardener living in East Los Angeles. Struggling to remain employed but undetected by immigration authorities, Galindo attempts to provide a better life for his American-born son.

“I’m overwhelmed for having my name among those incredible actors,” Bichir tells Us Weekly in a statement. “This could have never happened if Chris Weitz had not been the head of this film. He is my brother and I thank him deeply.”

Bichir’s performance—which led to a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and Independent Spirit Awards nod, has simmered on Hollywood’s back burner since awards season began.

“You know, when you encounter a character like this and a project like this, the first reaction is how lucky I am,” said Bichir in a recent interview with USA Today. “Because this is my Hamlet. This is my King Lear… It’s a bigger-than-life character that any actor would fight for it, would die to do it.”

Bichir will face-off against George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball).

Meanwhile, Bérénice Bejo is also a first-time Oscar nominee. The 35-year-old Argentine star—who was the best-dressed Latina at this year’s Golden Globes—received a Best Supporting Actress nod for her star-making role in The Artist.

Bejo is up against Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and  Octavia Spencer (The Help).

Here’s a look at the other Latinos nominated for an Academy Award this year:

Music (Original Score):
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Music (Original Song):
Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown & Siedah Garrett, “Real in Rio” from Rio

Martin Scorsese’s Hugo was this year’s most nominated film with 11 nods, followed by Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist, with 10.

The 84th Academy Awards will be televised on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Bichir Declared a Film Virtuoso

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s turning out to be a better life for Demián Bichir after his starring role as a an East L.A. illegal immigrant gardener.

The 48-year-old Mexican actor, who has received a Spirit Award nod and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, will receive one of the Virtuosos Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival next month for his inspired work in A Better Life.

The critically acclaimed film centers on an illegal immigrant father’s love and details the lengths he’ll go to give his child the opportunities he never had.

Along with Bichir, Virtuosos Awards will be presented on Friday, February 3 to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’s Rooney Mara, Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy, Young Adult’s Patton Oswalt, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Andy Serkis and The Descendants’ Shailene Woodley.

In addition, The Artist’s Bérénice Bejo and her co-star Jean Dujardin will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the festival on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

The 27thAnnual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place from January 26 through February 5.

Life’s a SAG (Nomination) for Vergara & Other Latino Stars…

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt Sofia Vergara is a real scene-stealer on Modern Family… And, apparently her peers in Hollywood agree.

The 39-year-old Colombian actress received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination today for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on ABC’s hit sitcom. It’s her second straight SAG Award nomination for playing the beloved character.

Along with Vergara, this year’s nominees in the category include her Modern Family co-star Julie Bowen, Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco, 30 Rock’s Tina Fey and Hot In Cleveland’s Betty White.

The Modern Family cast, including Vergara and her television son Rico Rodriguez, has received a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance By An Ensemble In A Comedy Series, an award they won last year. The Modern family will face-off against the casts of 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Glee (featuring Latina starlets Lea Michele and Naya Rivera) and The Office.

Meanwhile, Mexican actor Demian Bichir received a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role for his heart-wrenching performance in A Better Life. It’s his latest nod for his starring role as an illegal immigrant gardener in East L.A.

The Artist’s Bérénice Bejo received an Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role nod. It’s the Argentine actress’ latest recognition for her work in the critically acclaimed film, which also received a nomination for Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture.

The 18th annual SAG Awards will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Bichir’s Got “Spirit”…

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir is reaping the recognition after starring in critically acclaimed film about an East L.A. illegal immigrant gardener.

The 48-year-old Mexican actor has received a Spirit Award nomination in the Best Male Lead category for his star-making role in A Better Life, a poignant film about a father’s love and the lengths he’ll go to give his child the opportunities he never had.

Bichir—who depicted Fidel Castro in Steven Soderbergh’s Che and had a recurring role on Showtime’s Weeds—will face off against Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Gosling (Drive) and Woody Harrelson (Rampart), as well as Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and Michael Shannon (Take Shelter).

But Bichir isn’t the only Hispanic actor getting some Spirit love…

Transgender actress Harmony Santana has received a Best Supporting Female nomination for playing Michael/Vanessa in the coming out drama Gun Hill Road, the same role that landed her a Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor. She’s up against Jessica Chastain (Take Shelter),  Anjelica Huston (50/50), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants).

With five nods each, The Artist and Take Shelter lead this year’s nominations for the Spirit Awards, which honor films made outside of the Hollywood studio system.

Winners will be announced at the 27th annual Spirit Awards daytime ceremony on Saturday, February 25 that will be broadcast later in the evening on the IFC channel.

The Spirit Awards are produced by Film Independent—the non-profit arts organization that also puts on the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: A Better Life