I’ve always liked Andy Garcia’s acting. I remember seeing The Untouchables way back when in the movie theatres – and he had a small part in it. Barely any lines, if I recall correctly. But while he was onscreen, you couldn’t take your eyes off him, even when he was in the background. I was with my friend Mitchell, and we kept whispering, “Who IS that guy??” I am completely not surprised that that quietly intense glorified extra who made such an impression on us has gone on to become a big star.
And so I am really happy to read that he is nearing completion of his long-awaited, long-worked-for project called The Lost City – read the article here. Andy Garcia has wanted to make a movie about Cuba, his lost homeland, for years. Garcia’s family left Cuba when he was 5 years old, and he has never been back. He refuses to go back until Castro has stepped down. Garcia has been persistent, fearless, and creative – he knew he had to make the story personal, not just a political rant because nobody wants to see that. You want a political rant? Read a book. Read an op-ed column. Movies that try to do that are big fat YAWNS, unless you have a story. You need a STORY, you need characters, all that stuff. For that, Garcia hired Guillermo Cabrera Infante, a Cuban novelist, living in exile, to write the screenplay. The movie tells the plot of 3 brothers, forced to take sides during the Cuban revolution.
It sounds like a very emotional piece of work, something he feels really strongly about, something he has dreamt of doing for years. I hope it finds distribution in this country – I would love to see it.
Anyway – here is the article about the making of this movie. Go, Andy!
Barely any lines, but is in one of my favorite scenes of all time (shamelessly copied from imdb.com):
Bodyguard: Me and the bookkeeper and walking out of here, getting into a car, and driving away. Or else he dies… and you got nothing!
Eliot Ness: You got him?
Stone: Yeah, I got him.
Bodyguard: I’m gonna count to three… one!
Eliot Ness: Take him!
[Stone shoots him]
Stone: Two!
Too cool (Yes, I’m THAT shallow that I think that’s great acting; rather than just good dialog)
Ha! But that’s what I mean!! He was somehow so riveting in that movie – I don’t know – I think it’s just that weird “star quality” thing. He obviously had it. As far as I recall, he even got some LAUGHS – with small reaction shots in the background. He was the ultimate cool dude. Also not too rough on the eyes, I might add!
The earlier scene in the movie when Sean susses him out, “Why do you want to join the force?”
and recruits him into the Untouchables, is also worth noting – “Oh, I like him.”
I remember him in that scene – right – that’s when he first appears in the movie, right? Mitchell and I both were, at first, struck by his handsomeness – like: holy crapola, who is THAT? But then, he had something ELSE going on, this intensity or something …
Two of my favorite scenes in that movie. I thought the motion in the Bookkeeper bit was fabulous – the combination of him sliding across the floor, catching the carriage, tossing the gun, and aiming was really cool. Maybe not Fred Astaire, but still…
Yep.. that quiet intensity again.. Al? are you listening Al?..
He’s also excellent, IMHO, in Things to do in Denver
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be bad, actually. I’ve never seen him be phony or bad.
I love him in When a man loves a woman too – You might not want to see it because it seems like it would be an issue-movie, a 12-step movie, blah blah … but I do recommend it. he is so good in it, and the child actress who plays their daughter is so damn good. It’s one of those creepily powerful child performances. Doesn’t seem like acting at all.
He’s great in that first scene in Untouchables.. when Sean asks him why he joined the force.. He gives the answer from the manual, and we know that he knows it’s bull.
A 12-step movie, Sheila?… hmm.. I’m not sure there’s room on The List for that one.
//don’t think I’ve ever seen him be bad, actually. I’ve never seen him be phony or bad. //
Nope – but I don’t think he’s been utilized, or cast, properly over the last ten years or so. I hope his mew prject works out.
When Cuba opens up, it’s going to be like Christmas, the first day of baseball season, the Fourth of July, and a total solar eclipse all at the same time. Cuba is so fabulous and so unspoiled by time or the outside world – I may just move there.
…at first, struck by his handsomeness – like: holy crapola, who is THAT? But then, he had something ELSE going on, this intensity or something …
Come on, Sheila. You know what that intense something else is: he’s Cuban.
:-)
Val … so THAT’S what that was!! I knew it was something like that!! :)
Cuba linda de mi vida
I dont write much about celebrities here, save for a few rants on the castro and che loving Hollywood types, or tributes to the late Celia Cruz and other Cuban artists and musicians. Yet there’s one guy, one very famous…
Eight Million Ways to die, he stole the film from Jeff Bridges.
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