When will there be a good Dominican movie?

Guatiao · #1 05-05-2007, 06:21 PM

I am being very broad when I ask this question/statement, I'm including movies made by Dominicans and movies about DR topics. I just saw "The Galindez Files", and it was bad. The movie is about a collegiate researching Galindez mysterious disappearance, it supposedly takes place in DR, and the plot revolves around the Dominican Republic and Trujillo, etc. In reality, the movie is filmed in Cuba with Cuban actors, it looks and feels nothing like DR. I was not amused by the plot or direction, I was amazed how the lead actress tried to carry the script, she was the only enjoyable part of the film. After viewing this film, I began to ponder, "will there ever be a good Dominican movie?"
I've seen many Dominican films. The only film that I've "enjoyed" to date is "Negocios son negocios", I would rate it a 5/10. The script is not original, it has a bunch of Dominican cliches, for example mentioning the name of the movie in the movie. Some of the characters are miscast-ed (sic), for example Cuquin Victoria as the evil banker Jacinto Montes de Oca, he just can't play an evil person. The jokes although cliche seem to be more than plain old Dominican humor, universal, they gave me a nice chuckle.
After viewing movies from other countries I wonder if the Dominican movie industry will ever catch up. I've seen bad movies from other countries as well but yet some can make me think, for example the Spaniard produced film "Goya's Ghost", this movie was not particularly bad, just disappointing. "Goya's Ghost" at least gave me something to think about, although the director seems to be throwing alot of ideas to the audience until one would stick. The Mexican film industry has grown since the days of ranchero movies, nowadays they have produce good films such as "Y tu mama tambien", "Amores perros", and even controversial films such as "Batalla en el cielo".
What bothers me as well are the movies done by foreigners about DR or a Dominican topic that just are not well thought out. "The Galindez Files" is a perfect example, why is it that movies about DR are filmed in Cuba, yet movies about Cuba are filmed in DR? "La fiesta del chivo" is another movie that let me down, after viewing it a couple of times since me first review, I just think Trujillo wasn't represented as the tyrant he was, and the atmosphere of 1960s DR wasn't captured.
Another thing that comes to my mind was the supposed Studio (LF announced) that was going to be built in DR for like $2 Billion Dollars, what ever happened to that?
So to conclude, do you think that the DR film industry will ever produce a good movie?

Peace.
Heketi

NALs · #2 05-05-2007, 07:15 PM

I won't say that we will never see a really good movie because never is a very long time.

If at least one Dominican movie is produced each year from now to eternity and assuming the quality of the average film doesn't improve by much, most of those movies will be crap but a few will be real gems. It's a numbers game, the more movies are produced the greater the chances a good one will come through some day, but that will only be an anomaly.

I think that we are years from seeing a consistent flow of good Dominican movies.

As the Dominican film industry expands and attracts more directors/producers, the quality will inevitably improve. It's either that or the Dominican film industry will experience a premature death.

It's like the old saying: "good things takes time."

-NALs

Mirador · #3 05-05-2007, 11:09 PM

"free marketers" be damned, but the only way the DR can develop a decent film industry is through legislation, like making it compulsory that all movie theaters have to show a Dominican made movie at least one day of the week.

Squat · #4 05-06-2007, 06:33 AM

I don't think we'll ever see a good dominican movie, because if it was good, it couldn't be made by dominicans for dominicans. They have a different sense of entertainment than us westerners. They don't laugh at the same jokes. They don't get our subtility, and sometimes we fail to see what could be subtle in theirs...

If you are a westerner, and you want to see what dominicans really like, just watch national TV, Telemicro, Colorvision etc... Sabado de Corporan, La opción de las doce etc...

If you are dominican reading my post and thinking I am wrong... Well, you are part of the minority then... First, regular dominicans don't read DR1, then most of them don't read english anyway...

something_of_the_night · #5 05-06-2007, 10:36 AM

Nunca.

When the lights go on at Wrigley Field. Okay, I take that back.

How 'bout cuando Colón baje el deo?

Durante la semana de los siete jueves.

En el mes de notiembre.

The 12th of never.

Indie · #6 05-10-2007, 02:46 PM

You're right, Kid. I've yet to see any Dominican-made, Dominican-produced, or Dominican-acted movie that was any good. None. They are so......stupid. And cliche. They are insulting to the average person's intelligence.

I've often wondered, "Where do they get these 'actors?'", and who told the 'writer' he could write, or the 'director' he could direct? Their "creativity" is so limited and they have such narrow minds and corny humor. They need to get out more, read more, broaden their horizons, and explore the world before they start thinking they can represent the DR and show the rest of the world a cinematic interpretation of anything.

I, however, am more than happy to act in any movie. And as soon as I have sufficient time to totally immerse myself in this project, I will begin writing my memoirs and its ensuing script. Seriously, any takers?

-Indie

Keith R · #7 05-10-2007, 03:06 PM

Gee, I guess none of you liked Nueba Yol.... :-(

Indie · #8 05-10-2007, 03:17 PM

I sure didn't. Poor excuse for a "movie."

qgrande · #9 05-10-2007, 03:24 PM

Well, a good movie, it depends what you consider a good movie I suppose. Some would say that Hollywood doesn't produce any good movies. But I just saw the latest Dominican production, Yuniol, and although it wasnt something to remember for the rest of your life, I enjoyed watching it. The shots were nothing artistic, more soap-opera style, but the acting wasn't too bad, and the story entertaining. Nothing new, a rich kid and a poor kid, learing about eachothers lives, different preconceptions among different social classes about how the other half lives, and in the end everything turns out wonderfull, but it is well put together. It was at least a lot better than the Dominican comedies I have seen.

something_of_the_night · #10 05-10-2007, 03:32 PM

MamIndie, baby, I'm with you 100%.

And after 10 minutes of "Perico Ripiao," I placed the DVD in the trash, along with my copy of "Andrea," which I didn't bother inserting into the player.

Later, one of my "smart" cousins was bragging about how good "Perico" was - we don't talk much, by the way... I listen a lot.