Friday, September 29, 2023

[New post] Meat and Potatoes

Meat and Potatoes

Remington Rosewood

Sep 29

Here's a new one, 5280 geek has finally embraced the digital age, because we're gonna review a fantastic film that did NOT have a theatrical release. The new Amazon biopic "A Million Miles Away" tells the story of American Astronaut Jose Hernandez and his journey from eight year old Mexican migrant worker to NASA Astronaut.

There's a lot to love about this film from its beautifully crafted cinematography to its masterful score. But the real gem is comedian Michael Pena's dramatic performance as the titular character. I have always been a fan of Peña's spot on comic relief most recently observed in the Marvel franchise, but this film is a revelation for Peña as a dramatic lead. 20 years ago, before the saturation of media brought to pass by the streaming boom, this film would have easily had a top 5 release at the box office. It's almost shameful that it must be relegated to streaming given the current atmosphere of media. Peña give a performance worthy of the same accolades and recognition given to his Caucasian contemporaries for films such as "Air" and "Tetris." The difference is that the actors in those films have had leading roles in dramatic films before and for Peña he has exceeded expectations as a leading man.

His supporting cast seems to have been meticulously curated to accentuate his performance and in doing so created a well-rounded, engaging experience that the viewer has no trouble relating to. The convalescence of these factors can undoubtedly be attributed to director Alejandra Márquez Abella and her vision to bring this story off the page in such vibrant and culturally accurate fashion; in a way that so succinctly encapsulates the struggle between assimilation and cultural heritage that so many migrants feel. This story proves that the American dream is attainable with tenacity and skill. Anyone with Amazon Prime and two hours to kill, would be foolish to miss such a well-made Biopic.