The True Story of Che Guevara (2007)

Actors: David Keane (producer), Mario Ramirez Reyes (actor), Alejandro Salomon (actor), Maria Berry (writer), Maria Berry (director), Maria Berry (producer), Dylan Berry (composer), Jay Costelo (actor), Johnny Soto (actor), Andrew Blood (actor), Carlos Pratts (actor), Beau Ryan (actor), Justin Inda (producer), Justin Inda (editor), Steven Delcastro (actor),

Genres: Documentary,

Fidel (2002)

Actors: Raúl Méndez (actor), John Altman (composer), Carmen Zapata (actress), Tony Plana (actor), Gael García Bernal (actor), Jorge Zárate (actor), Ken Jenkins (actor), Diego Luna (actor), Fernando Becerril (actor), George Lopez (actor), Roger Cudney (actor), Guillermo Díaz (actor), Hector Elizondo (actor), Denise Blasor (miscellaneous crew), Cassandra Barbour (miscellaneous crew),

Plot: Fact-based (?) drama about the rise of Fidel Castro from a respected lawyer in Cuba to rabble-rousing dissident to power-hungry ruler of his nation. One wonders about the facts in this very homogenized presentation though. The story goes something like this: Fidel meets future wife, gets married, has a child, political aspirations get in way of family, Fidel has a politically-motivated affair, gets thrown in jail, gets expelled from the country, comes back and fights out of the jungle for a few years, casts then leader Baptistsa out of power and seizes leadership. Once seizing power, he kills everyone who opposes him or disagrees with him - although once again this aspect is very watered down. The promised idea of a free election is also quickly dismissed as not in the people's best interests. Fidel's immense popularity with the people at the time of his coming into power is depicted, but the anti-Castro thought is only briefly touched upon in a discussion with a former restaurant worker with whom Castro comes in contact and in follow-up notes at the film's end. The film may have been more successful if it ended at his rise to power as there are way too many unanswered questions about the years that follow. The Cuban missile crisis is only briefly touched upon and Castro's belief that he will be able to work with President Kennedy appears totally naive.

Keywords: character-name-in-title, che-guevara, communism, cuba, cuban, fidel-castro, government, one-word-title, revolution
Genres: Biography, Drama,
Taglines: He fought for freedom. He settled for power.

Noriega: God's Favorite (2000)

Actors: Romeo Rivera (actor), Richard Masur (actor), Tony Plana (actor), Jimmy Carter (actor), Michael De Mesa (actor), Dave Mallow (actor), Dick Israel (actor), Subas Herrero (actor), Jeffrey DeMunn (actor), Rez Cortez (actor), George Bush (actor), Jaime Fabregas (actor), Bob Hoskins (actor), Tom Todoroff (actor), Michael Sorich (actor),

Plot: The story of Panamanian general Manuel Antonio 'Tony' Noriega, whose meteoric career, from utter poverty, as a soldier and CIA informant who also served as source to various other powers and even the Colombian drug mafia he claims to fight valiantly to please CIA director and later U.S. president Bush Sr., starts when he confesses to a priest, reminiscing how he has experienced such luck that he believes himself to be God's favorite- each time he takes more risks people tell him he went too far, but always seems to get away with it. In his marriage, he is constantly unfaithful to Felicidad 'Fela', notably with his mistress Vicky Amador. After public opinion, domestic and U.S., was scandalize by the brutal torture, rape and decapitation of generally respected Dr. Hugo Spadafora, he sees to it that the blame goes to President Nicky Barletta, only one year in office. When he feels forced to destroy a drug lab of the Medellin cartel he accepted payment from, even Fidel Castro tells him a Latino in power can offend anyone, even Washington to a point, but never the grimly serious Colombians. Next Noriega wants his military adviser Colonel Roberto Diaz-Herrera as the next stooge, but refuses him the ambassadorship in Japan -promised to a cousin of his mistress who teaches judo- so Roberto starts his own sect and talks about their sale of visas and favors to the Colombian drug lords. It gets worse when US Colonel Oliver North tells him Irangate has pulled the plug on the whole Nicaraguan Contra-program, and a Florida prosecutor is pressing charges against Noriega for his part in the drugs trades. After Noriega ordered Major Moises Giroldi to forge the presidential elections by force under the eyes of observer Jimmy Carter, and once in office plays the nationalist card to get the people behind him against Washington, Giroldi offers his services to the Yankee gringos, and mounts a military coup, but allows Noriega to gain time till the loyal Mountain Division turns up, and surrenders because the coup leaders's families are taken hostage by Noriega's police chief, only to be tortured and sodomized themselves. Finally Bush orders a U.S. military invasion: military resistance is impossible, so Noriega seeks sanctuary at the papal nunciature...

Keywords: attempted-coup-d'état, bare-butt, based-on-true-story, brothel, corruption, decapitation, dictator, election-fraud, general, injection
Genres: Drama,

Quotes:

Manuel Noriega: You want some friendly advice? I suggest you kill yourself.::Major Giroldi: That is against my religion.::Manuel Noriega: [smiles unpleasantly] Then give me your weapon, and place yourself in God's hands...

Major Giroldi: With God and the gringos on our side, how can we fail?

Che! (1969)

Actors: Richard Fleischer (director), Joe Gray (actor), Lalo Schifrin (composer), Omar Sharif (actor), Woody Strode (actor), Rodolfo Acosta (actor), Jesús Franco (actor), Sid Haig (actor), John F. Kennedy (actor), Robert Loggia (actor), Abraham Sofaer (actor), Paul Picerni (actor), Jack Palance (actor), Cesare Danova (actor), Sy Bartlett (writer),

Plot: Biography of Argentinian revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who helped Fidel Castro in his struggle against the corrupt Batista regime, eventually resulting in the overthrow of that government and Castro's taking over of Cuba. The film covers Guevara's life from when he first landed in Cuba in 1956 to his death in an ambush by government troops in the mountains of Bolivia in 1967.

Keywords: ambush, asthma, balcony, blood, bolivia, bolivian-army, bolivian-history, brandy, bullet-riddled-body, bullet-wound
Genres: Biography, Drama, History,
Taglines: The Most Controversial Rebel Of Our Time! With a dream of justice, he created a nightmare of violence! Separates the Man from the Myth Now 20th Century-Fox Separates The Man From The Myth Che Guevara...The Doctor Turned Fighter. The Fighter Turned Revolutionary. The Revolutionary Turned Martyr To Some, Murderer To Others.

Quotes:

[Che is falling behind on a march]::Fidel Castro: Stragglers are sure to die, don't you know that?::Che Guevara: I'm not a straggler, I'm your rear guard.::Fidel Castro: No you're not, you're the company doctor. See what you can do for the men with blistered feet. You've got ten minutes.::Che Guevara: (noticing enemy planes flying overhead) It's too late for chiropody. The buzzards are already circling.

Che Guevara: The peasant is like a wild flower in the forest, and the revolutionary like a bee. Neither can survive or propogate without the other. There is one essential difference between us and bees, however. In this hive, I will *not* tolerate drones!

[last lines]::American Reporter: Colonel, do you have any explaination to why all these people are here?::Col. Salazar: You're an American journalist...why do people in your country flock to see a dead gangster?

The Life of Juanita Castro (1965)

Actors: Andy Warhol (producer), Andy Warhol (director), Marie Menken (actress), Ultra Violet (actress), Ronald Tavel (actor), Ronald Tavel (writer), Fayette Hauser (actress), Mercedes Ospina (actress), Waldo Díaz Balart (actor), Marina Ospina (actress), Elecktrah (actor),

Genres: Comedy,