— spare parts —

Based on an incredible true story, about four hispanic, highly intelligent, underprivileged high school kids, who may not usually mix well, but enter a national robotics competition and come together to allow this truly inspiring story to be told. It’s going to make you laugh, perhaps even cry.

This is a beautiful movie that has so many layers to it. It’s undeniably one of the better films I’ve seen to date, which makes me happy to share this review. This film reveals the quality of the human race and being a true story, you are straight away drawn in by its underdog style. It reminds you of how important it is to see the true potential of everybody around you and to let them blossom.

Stereotypes and prejudices are all thrown away. It delivers a truly wholesome story that allows you to feel and witness the rise of these kids, who prove how possible it is, to make something, out of nothing.

In many ways, this film has matched other larger budget films, in that it’s full of inspiration and ingenuity. This clearly had a smaller budget, but didn’t detract from how powerfully it’s philosophies are portrayed. The making and acting definitely oozes out passion and storytelling. The bilingual aspect also adds a tremendous depth, staying true to the brilliant kids of Carl Hayden Community High School. Without any spoiling, stay for the credits. It really sums up this amazing journey.

Spare Parts available for purchase here.

TRIVIA COOKIE: Much of the filming, was done on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

– Scott Niehus

NELSON REMUNCHES: As Scott has mentioned, it’s worth waiting for the end credits to roll. For me, this was the most rewarding moment of the film, not because the film had ended, because the film has moments of worth, but because it’s inspiring to learn that this amazing story is indeed based on real people! I do feel that the documentary Underwater Dreams is a better celebration of this story, than this film. The stellar cast here, namely Jamie Lee Curtis and Marisa Tomei, had the potential to elevate this film to even higher status, but the script failed these actresses. Spare Parts could have done better by focusing on the relevant ‘parts’, instead of all the ‘spare parts’.

— the munch in FilmMunch 2 —

In El Salvador, where my husband is from, the tortilla is a staple food. My husband and his family introduced me to the El Salvadorian tortilla, and now I love making them myself! My preferred way to eat them is refried in butter so they become nice and crunchy, and although not the authentic way of eating them, they are wonderful with a dip, which is what I’ll be sharing with you today.

Now there’s a special technique used to make the tortilla but instead of describing it to you, I think it’s best if I link to a video below that shows you an expert demonstrating the technique!

SALSA CASHEW DIP

1/2 cup cashews

2 tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup + 1 tbsp water

1 tbsp chopped jalapeño (or to taste)

1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast – optional*

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cumin powder

1/4 tsp salt

1. Add water and tomatoes into a blender and blend until combined.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until mostly smooth. This may take quite a few minutes, depending on your blender.
3. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. Add a little more cumin if you like or more salt, it’s all up to your personal preference. You can heat this up for a few minutes until warm or serve cold.

*Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast product and is not the same as brewers yeast. I know the name is not very appealing but it adds a great flavour and health benefits. Give it a try!

TORTILLAS

1 1/4 cup masa (I purchase mine at a local food wholesaler)

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup water

1 ½ tbsp butter (I use the brand Nuttelex, a non-dairy butter)

1. Combine masa and salt into a bowl, pour in water and stir until absorbed and a dough is formed. It will be quite soft. Using your hands, knead the dough for a minute.
2. Divide the dough into six balls. Now you can simply flatten the ball into a tortilla shape, just over 1/2cm thickness or use a tortilla press if you have one. You can also check out the link for my favourite way to make them, the traditional El Salvadorian way!
3. Once the tortillas are shaped, heat a frying pan to medium high heat, no oil needed. When the pan is ready, cook for three to five minutes. Check the tortillas and if nicely browned turn them over and cook for a further three minutes. Leave for another minute if it’s not at the desired colour.
4. Once you’ve cooked all the tortillas, cut them into quarters. Place pan on low heat and melt 2 tbsp of butter. Cook the tortilla triangles along with a good pinch of salt for a further minute or two on each side until crunchy.
5. Serve with dip and enjoy!

El Salvador isn’t the only country to enjoy tortillas. I had the opportunity to live in Mexico for about a year, and let’s just say that I had my fair share of tortillas! So to continue with our Latin inspired theme, Amy and I paired her tasty recipes with a Mexican film, El Mariachi.

El Mariachi is Robert Rodriguez’s first feature length film. Perhaps the only thing that he doesn’t do for this film, is act in it, and that’s because he had no one to hold the camera for him! The micro budget nature for this film meant that the most expensive cost was the film negative, and as such only 1 take was permitted for most scenes, just so that Rodriguez could stay within budget. The film was very successful and basically launched Rodriguez’s career forward. In addition, had it not been for the film negative, apparently Rodriguez only spent about $600.

The drive in this rebel film maker is amazing, and a source of inspiration for all of us. In order to collect a large portion of his budget, he participated as a ‘lab rat’ for a new cholesterol lowering drug, as a result he was locked up in a laboratory for 30 days. It was during this time that he penned most of the script for El Mariachi! One of his fellow ‘rats’ was Peter Marquardt, who went on to play onscreen villain, Moco. Peter Marquardt didn’t speak any Spanish, so most of his scenes are filmed up close, because he read from cards, where he had written down his lines, which he held in his hands.

It is worth mentioning that this film is best enjoyed with subtitles, as opposed to the dubbed version. I believe the truer essence of the film is captured in it’s originally intended language. And if you speak Spanish, then you will find this film truly hilarious! This is interesting because it’s not technically a comedy, but there is a comedic tone to it, from the quirky sound effects, to the clever use of time lapse, slow motion and even some of the characters names. For example, Moco literally means booger!

What makes this story watchable is the editing. Rodriguez is able to create a beautiful sense of intimacy between El Mariachi (Carlos Gallardo) and his love interest, Domino (Consuelo Gomez). In addition to the editing, the music and score help solidify these characters and make their story meaningful to us. I personally really enjoyed the foreboding sound of the drums as scenes are built up. Plus El Mariachi entertains us with a beautiful love song.

El Mariachi is also the first instalment of Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy.

Combine tasty Tortillas with the amazing Cashew Salsa Dip, El Mariachi and you’re set for a truly enjoyable Latin experience!

We hope you have enjoyed our second offering of The Munch in FilmMunch. Please give us your feedback and share this post with your friends and family. Amy and I will return to bring you another FilmMunch combo!

For more of Amy’s yummy and healthy recipes please check out her Instagram.

Purchase a copy of El Mariachi here.

TRIVIA COOKIE: The main protagonist, El Mariachi, played by Carlos Gallardo, was actually born in the very same city that this film is shot, Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. El Mariachi was his first lead role.

— django —

Inspiration is a great thing. Inspiration can generate the right amount of spark to get someone going, it can be what is needed to initiate a series of creative outputs. The 1966 film, Django is inspiration. We can say this because it was such an influential film when it came out, that it would even go on to influence and inspire some unborn directors, like Robert Rodriguez, and his Mexico Trilogy. Other directors like Quentin Tarantino, would also be influenced later in life, by this Spaghetti Western masterpiece.

First lets take a look at it’s director, Sergio Corbucci. Sergio Corbucci, not to be confused with Sergio Leone, is considered to have set a new level of violence and sadism in the spaghetti western genre. Django is a violent film, and even watching it today, I got a shock, when I watched the ‘ear’ scene. Here is were this film demonstrates why it is one of the greats, because it wasn’t afraid to innovate and try new things. The body count for this film is 138. The highest for it’s time, by far, and even today it lists among the highest. Sergio Corbucci does no sugar coating here, no doubt he was also inspired by the neo-realism films of his fellow Italian film-makers in the 40’s.

Franco Nero’s first lead role was Django. For an actor to become best known for their very first lead role, is a formidable achievement, to say the least. His performance as Django inspired so many other films, that there are over thirty other films that use the name ‘Django’, although none are official sequels. Now a days, Django’s tagline is, “The Movie that spawned a genre.” Franco Nero is as convincing as Clint Eastwood in the Dollars Trilogy.

Luis Bacalov is an amazing composer. If Sergio Leone is to Sergio Corbucci, then Ennio Morrincone is to Luis Bacalov. Luis has won an Oscar, and has a second Oscar nomination under his belt, in addition he has composed for over 150 films, and counting! I think that here is where a major source of inspiration can be found for Quentin Tarantino. Django Unchained is not strictly a remake of Django, but rather is more like a tribute to it. Luis Bacalov’s opening theme for Django is also used in Django Unchained, and Franco Nero also has a cameo in the film. Luis Bacalov and Quentin Tarantino’s collaborations don’t end there, Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 both use Luis Bacalov’s music.

Django is seen dragging a coffin, and as soon as you see this, all you want to know is, what is in it!? This device is very clever, and if you haven’t seen Django, rest assured, you will not be disappointed, the reveal is worth the wait!

There is a lot of significance to this film, and all avid Film Munchers should consider watching this film. It’s because of Django that we have the Mexico Trilogy, by Robert Rodriguez, and its because of Django that we have Django Unchained. Let Django inspire you!

Grab a copy here.

TRIVIA COOKIES: The name Django is pronounced Jango, ‘the D is silent’, as Franco Nero clarifies in his cameo during Django Unchained.

The name was also taken from guitar jazz musician Django Reinhardt, who although having crippled hands was able to overcome his disability and play masterfully. The conclusion to Django reveals the relevance to this.

— biutiful —

**NOMINATED FOR 2 OSCARS**

I wanted Biutiful to be beautiful. Rather it’s a painful movie to watch, and the beauty of it comes a little too late.

By painful, I mean, thats some of the scenes are tough viewing material, and I am not saying that the film is painfully bad, although I must admit that at a runtime of 148 minutes, it does to feel laborious, especially a non-essential ‘strip-club’ scene, which carries on for way too long.

Javier Bardem is Uxbal, the main protagonist here. Bardem received an Oscar nomination for this role, and rightfully so. The performance by Maricel Alverez as a manic and depressive free spirited mother is also, in my opinion, Oscar worthy. But, this is Bardem’s film and with director Aeljandro Gonzalez Iñarritu writing the script with Bardem in mind, there isn’t probably a better actor out there to have played this role. In fact Javier Bardem became the first all spanish speaking actor to be nominated for Best Actor. Unfortunately he lost to non other than Colin Firth for his amazing performance in The King’s Speech.

Life, death and coping with guilt are the main subject lines for this film, and because it comes from Birdman director Alejandro, do not expect a light view of these topics, but rather a dark and brutally honest take. You really have to be in the mood for this one my fellow Film Munchers. I don’t know if you can really ever be in the mood for morbidity, but if you’re inclined to enjoy the odd art-house film here and there, then Biutiful is for you.

My favourite part to this film is the ending, and ironically it is also my least favourite. The thing is that Uxbal’s life isn’t just about his life, he has a family, he has people that rely on him. When we understand Uxbal’s fate, this is uncomfortably comforting. What about the fate of the others, Uxbal’s kids? Enough said, I don’t want to spoil this for anyone…

This film requires a commitment, and if you’re not prepared to make that commitment, then it’s best left for another time, because what will most likely happen is, you’ll try and watch this film over a few sessions, as opposed to one concerted viewing, and it will ruin it for you. Film Munchers, this film is worth a visit, because it dares to explore serious issues, but you’ve been warned, it won’t be as beautiful as you think.

TRIVIA COOKIE: Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu spent 14 months editing this film. This doesn’t come as a surprise to me, because there is a complex feel to the way the scenes are cut, considering that the film’s story is mostly told in a linear fashion. Must have been frustrating for Alejandro!?