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Zoot Suit
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by Universal Studios
Sales Rank: 18225
Price: $9.98
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This is a filmed play, rather than a stage piece reimagined for the movies, which is probably why the general audience never cozied up to this intense picture. But <I>Zoot Suit</I> has a couple of significant attractions. First, it's a landmark Latino work from the pre-indie period, directed by Luis Valdez, an important figure in Chicano theater. Valdez based his acclaimed play on the zoot-suit riots of 1940s Los Angeles, when a group of young Chicano men were railroaded into jail on a murder charge. The director later found a mainstream audience with his juicy rock & roll bio <I>La Bamba</I>, and perhaps a bigger budget might have garnered <I>Zoot Suit</I> the same kind of acceptance. Daniel Valdez, the director's brother, plays the hero and also composed the flavorful songs; but the big draw here is the sensational performance of Edward James Olmos. A brooding actor just beginning his screen career, Olmos plays a flamboyant, hectoring, all-seeing figure called El Pachuco--a Greek chorus with attitude to burn. The wild contours of the zoot suit fit Olmos as snugly as his white shirt and black tie from <I>Miami Vice.</I> <I>--Robert Horton</I>
Viewer Reviews
This is a classic film that depicts a special niche of the Mexican-American culture of Los Angeles in the 1940's. The style and dramatization of the movie is presented in a fabulous musical expression of both color and emotion. Edward Olmos's acting is powerful and captivating as he sheds light into the dark recesses of men's hearts. While this film is a classic, like all true classics, it still speaks to us today.
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Zoot Suit
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