Ready for close-ups

ALLEN Evangelista

Local viewers of the recent film, “Project Almanac,” noted with interest that one of its leads, Allen Evangelista, had the name and good looks that suggested he was a Filipino-American. True enough, though Allen was born in the United States, his folks are from Manila and Pampanga.

Only 33, Allen has been acting for more than a decade in TV series like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

Cool, easy

In “Project,” he is cool and easy as the key Asian “component,” playing one of the high school seniors who assemble a time machine.

His portrayal is no different from his costars, but we do note that he holds his own as an actor (in other words, he is not dehado).

He acquits himself well enough to suggest we’ll be seeing him playing major roles in other films from here on in. How about a Filipino movie? Paging Star Cinema?

Promising Latino

Another “minority” actor who’s been given a good role in a Hollywood production is Latino Ryan Guzman, who costars with Jennifer Lopez in “The Boy Next Door.”

Before this breakout film, he was already being noticed by viewers in the popular “Step Up” film series. But, his role in his latest film as a teenager obsessed with his teacher is truly special due to the JLo connection—and because he bested 150 other actors for the plum role!

This is the sort of “dark” role that could become a star-making vehicle, so he’s given his portrayal everything he’s got!

‘Overnight’ stars

Finally, the runaway box-office success of “Fifty Shades of Grey” has made “overnight” stars of leads Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, so viewers are suddenly wanting to know much more about them.

The better-known talent, Dakota is the daughter of stars Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Given her “pedigree,” it was understood early on that Dakota was “destined” to face the camera, too. “Fifty Shades” is her biggest break to date.

Perfect fit

What made the director entrust the coveted role of Anastasia Steele to her? Dakota’s unique combination of sexiness and vulnerability was a key factor, but what really tilted the equation in her favor was her ability to further combine dark and intense drama with lightheartedness and humor.

For his part, Jamie Dornan wasn’t the first actor cast as Christian Grey. Once he stepped in, the part found the firm focus it needed,   with director Sam Taylor-Johnson enthusiastically describing his portrayal as “perfectly pitched.” An actor can’t get better directorial approval than that!