Carlos Aguilar
@carlosfilm
Film critic/journalist. Mexican 🇲🇽 DACA. Bylines LA Times, New York Times, IndieWire, RogerEbert, Backstage
THE ODYSSEY in colorful animated form via Disney’s ‘90s HERCULES series.
For IndieWire, I interviewed the legendary Luis Valdez and filmmaker David Alvarado about the documentary on Valdez’s life and work AMERICAN PACHUCO (in theaters Friday). It was a pleasure to hear about their individual journeys as Mexican American storytellers. Link below 🇲🇽🇺🇸
The artist know as Stillz, who’s directed multiple Bad Bunny videos, has now made his feature debut with the period, found footage trip BARRIO TRISTE set in Medellín. For LA Times (De Los), I interviewed the extremely private creator about his nightmarish vision. Link below 🇨🇴
I was ready for Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY because LOS CABALLEROS DEL ZODIACO (SAINT SEIYA) raised me.
X-MEN ‘97 is back! For LA Times, I interviewed Rogue and Wolverine, or more accurately, the actors who have voiced the mutants since 1992 for the original animated series: Lenore Zann and Cal Dodd, about their history with these characters and returning to them now: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
I’m really loving the recent crop of films where directors are using the medium to create what I think are “revisionist memories.” They mine autobiographical elements to create fictions that often allow them to share space with loved ones no longer alive via their characters.
So wonderful to see Wes Anderson speak at the Academy Museum for the 30th anniversary of BOTTLE ROCKET. A rare L.A. appearance. I had never seen him in person before, and we was as delightfully peculiar as expected chatting with Luke Wilson and the legendary James L. Brooks.
I have a new fútbol movies piece for NYT. This one is about inspiring soccer documentaries that show the sport offers community and hope to people from all walks of life, from Syrian refugees, Somali athletes, or Latin American housekeepers in Italy. Gift link below.
Latino stories are an indelible part of this country’s history. Today seems like a good day to reshare this list of films about U.S. Latinos that I did for NYT a few years ago. Read at this gift link: www.nytimes.com/article/lati...
Watch the soccer movie from Cape Verde, DRIBBLING FATE. One of the fútbol movies I put on my NYT list. It’s a fiction film from 1998 about a retired Cape Verdeans soccer player who tries to inspire a young boy to commit to the sport. It’s streaming on Kanopy #WorldCup #CapeVerde
“Hollywood Hijinks” reads the print headline for my piece on MINIONS & MONSTERS and creator Pierre Coffin. The best Minions movie so far is an ode to classic cinema and moviemaking in general. Read here: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Tomorrow night, 7/2, I’ll be moderating a Q&A after the 7:00pm screening of the Bolivian CIELO with director Alberto Sciamma at the Laemmle Royal. Come for a striking magical realist film and stay for the conversation.
The new #Minions movie is packed with references to classic Hollywood, a George Lucas cameo, and love for the early days of cinema. For LA Times, I talked to the creator and voice of the Minions, Pierre Coffin, who directed their latest, and best adventure so far. Link below.
Several U.S. Latino artists and filmmakers who tells stories about Latinos in this country also got into the Academy, including: Isabel Castro (SELENA Y LOS DINOS), Miguel Angel Caballero (THE BALLAD OF TITA AND THE MACHINES), Juan Arredondo (ARMED ONLY WITH A CAMERA) 🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇴
3 of the most important Mexican artists working today are now Academy members: the incredible Fernanda Valadez, the director of the masterpiece IDENTIFYING FEATURES; another of my favorites, director Alonso Ruizpalacios (GÜEROS), and powerhouse actor Raúl Briones (LA COCINA) 🇲🇽
So happy to see my piece on I AM FRANKELDA and directors Roy and Arturo Ambriz in print today in the LA Times Sunday edition. If you haven’t seen this striking film, Mexico’s first stop-motion animation feature, it’s on Netflix now. Read here: www.latimes.com/california/s...
For the New York Times, I wrote about several fútbol (soccer) movies from around the world that showcase the global passion for the sport. There are some familiar ones, and many worthy of being discovered. 🇧🇷🇻🇪🇨🇻🇨🇭🇰🇷🏴 🇵🇹 Read at this gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/m...
4th Match: Uzbekistan: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH 🇺🇿 vs. Colombia: MANOS SUCIAS 🇨🇴
2nd Match of the day: England: ETHEL & ERNEST 🏴 vs. Croatia: FINE DEAD GIRLS 🇭🇷
First pair of film recommendations inspired by today’s #WorldCup matches are two acclaimed stunners. Portugal: THE ORNITHOLOGIST 🇵🇹 vs. DR Congo: FÉLICITÉ 🇨🇩
4th Match: Austria: IN THE BASEMENT 🇦🇹 vs. Jordan: CAPTAIN ABU RAED 🇯🇴
3rd Match: Argentina: END OF THE CENTURY 🇦🇷 vs. Algeria: PAPICHA 🇩🇿
2nd Match: Iraq: KILOMETRE ZERO 🇮🇶 vs. Norway: KING OF DEVIL’S ISLAND 🇳🇴
New film recommendations for today’s World Cup matches. All of these films are available to stream or rent online in the U.S. 1st Match: France: THE MEASURE OF A MAN 🇫🇷 vs. Senegal: TEY 🇸🇳
For LA Times (De Los), I interviewed the directors of I AM FRANKELDA, brothers Roy and Arturo Ambriz about making Mexico’s first stop-motion feature film, and how Guillermo del Toro has mentored them over the years. Love the photos LA Times took of them. Link below 🇲🇽