‘Nacho Libre’ a victory for Hess, audiences
“There’s great directors who treat actors like cattle, but I hated it, and I knew if I ever had a choice, I didn’t want to work with those guys. Who said that thing about actors and cattle? Hitchcock? Yeah, I don’t want to work with that dude.” -Jack Black
‘Nacho Libre’ is based on the true story of Fray Tormenta, a.k.a. Father Sergio Gutierrez Benitez. A Catholic Father, Benitez founded a Mexican orphanage, and funded it for over 20 years by wrestling in the Lucha Libre world. Paunchy showman Jack Black plays Father Benitez in the film, though his name is simply “Nacho.”
Nacho has been raised in a Mexican monastery, and is now a priest whose main duty is to cook. Yet he’s conflicted because of an innate desire to wrestle; to be a glamorous luchador. As wrestling is looked down upon by Nacho’s priestly peers, he secretly moonlights as Nacho Libre, along with partner Esqueleto (Hector Jimenez), a wiry vagabond. Yet Nacho’s indulgence is tested as the beautiful new arrival to the monestary, Sister Encarnacion (Ana de la Reguera), confronts his motives.
Jared Hess directed and co-wrote ‘Nacho Libre’ and his wife, Jerusha, also co-wrote (as they did with the infamous geek-chic comedy ‘Napolean Dynamite’). I went to film school with both of them. I’ve been in awe and a fan of their work from the get go (one film about a man being attacked by a squirrel was genius), and am once again blown away with ‘Nacho Libre.’ Like ‘Dynamite,’ ‘Libre’ affectionatey jabs at cultural idiosyncrasies with retro style.
The Hess’s, recruited by Jack Black and ‘School of Rock’ writer Mike White (both the founders of Black and White Productions) teamed up with White to create a well structured story tailored to Jack Black’s flamboyant strengths. And it is immense fun to watch Black’s fiercely energy merge with Hess’s minimalist direction. The result is more eyebrow movement than I’ve ever seen in a movie.
Though I feared during the second act that Black’s routines might be overkill, the quality of the story matched Black’s antics. Underneath all of the surreal slapstick and childlike peculiarities, ‘Nacho Libre’ has an intelligent, dramatic core. This story could have easily been told straight and been successful. Yet the combination of bold quirkiness and good storytelling entertained and inspired.
In addition, just about every other filmmaking element was executed with originality, and managed with skill by Jared Hess. The cinematography was meaty, production design eccentric, the music catchy (original music by Danny Elfman), and the wrestling staging exciting.
I read that Jared Hess had the idea to make a movie based on Fray Tormenta. It was a smart move – not that it seemed like a calculated one. I think Jared is simply an extremely gifted and affectionate filmmaker who stays true to his instincts. ‘Nacho Libre’ is spicy proof, and solidifies the Hess duo as bona fide players.
Grade: A
Chris Blakesley is a film critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to ‘cblakes@cc.usu.edu’