What is more typical of the cartel?
The last quarter of the 21st century was fraught with drug-abuse. Hysteria didn’t help. The number of people behind bars for drug-related offenses skyrocketed in the years pervading the new millennium.
Now: United States — 1980s. In the midst of a moral and ethical recession, Reagan’s economy is under siege as our underworld adversaries exhibit stark addictions to senseless murder and addictive stimulants. In The Infiltrator, we’re introduced to the covert escapades of U.S. Customs Service special agent Robert Mazur, depicted by actor Bryan Cranston. Based on the real-world maneuvers of Operation C-Chase, Infiltrator depicts Mazur at the height of his undertaking.
The film is based on Mazur’s own autobiography: “The Infiltrator: My Secret Life Inside The Dirty Banks Behind Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel”. Saturated with Mazur’s first-hand experience, of which involved money-laundering and clashes with drug-trafficking under the guise of seemingly normal businesses and organizations, The Infiltrator works with these themes to create a sensible piece of art.
Operation C-Chase was conducted in the course of five years. It soon became known as one of the most successful undercover operations in U.S. history. The antagonists of this lovely excursion included: 85 individuals, all of which were indicted. These numbers involved individuals hailing from the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), and contemporaries of drug lord Pablo Escobar, who died later in 1993 to Colombian officials.
The Infiltrator is rather gruesome in some respects; it holds nothing back in favor of presenting the real-world horror of the drug-cartel to the audience. In this multi-billion dollar industry, there exists a sort-of caste system: it holds the fabric of the entire organization together. As you can expect, drug-deals do go wrong; people in the lower echelons of this tier-list are killed and immediately replaced. People reduced to nothing more than a superfluous burden.
The film depicts just how dispensable human beings can truly be. That’s one of it’s true — and harrowing — success stories. Infiltrator creates an environment that, with totality, immerses the viewer in this world of contracts gone wrong.
Lastly, Infiltrator makes one feel terrible for the practitioners of these illegal transgressions — as odd as that sounds, the terror that accompanies swimming in it’s throes, and just how fatalistic it manages to be. It’s divisive climax is tantamount to just that.
In this reality of illicit pharmaceuticals, unlawfulness and corruption, your life means nothing.
As a native from Queens, NY, he’s taken to film, comedy, producing, and other outlets and mediums to further his career in the public eye – and it’s worked. Leguzamo has found great success everywhere he’s gone. And with his latest project, the bar just keeps on increasing.
John Leguzamo has been through it all. Previously, Leguzamo discussed his new film, “The Infiltrator” with The Knockturnal. In addition, we’ve scored an exclusive red carpet interview with the movie star – which goes into more detail concerning the film, and more involving his career and future prospects.
Legazumo had spoken of his favorite scene in the film.
Legazumo described the scene with he and Bryan in front of the house while his character, ‘Emir Abreu’ was on-scene fixing his car. He and Bryan just winged it and didn’t go by the script. He said that Brad, the director, loved it – the fact that the scene was so electric and they had so much fun filming it.
Can you speak about collaborating with Brad and what you admire about him as a film-maker?
Legazumo: Oh, my god – Brad is a genius, man. I mean, when you work with somebody who loves what they do and wants to do it the best – the writing, the acting, the directing, the cinematography; you know, you don’t get directors that care that much. You get a few; Spike Lee, Brain de Palma, Baz Luhrmann – you get a few.
He spoke of his past, in Queens.
According to Legazumo, when he was a kid and lived in Queens, there were people living in the apartment two doors down from his own who got shot at because their father was involved with the mob. He stated that the mob usually shoots down your family first; it happens until they pay their dues, turn yourself in or whatever they owe the mob.
And what most surprised you of this story?
Legazumo: Just how greed can really mess even institutions up. I mean, it’s the biggest bank-bust in American history because all these American banks are money-laundering and they knew they were doing illegal things but the money was so huge, they didn’t care.
Legazumo’s thoughts on Brad Furman’s take of the film.
According to Legazumo, Brad wants the scenes to have real emotions and feel natural on screen. For instance, there was a scene, with his character, Emir and the others in the house as another actor in the scene was about to get shot. Legazumo described his pumping adrenaline and the intensity while filming the scene.
Speak of watching Bryan transform for this?
Legazumo: Aw, it was great man. I loved that he changes from this California guy and he becomes this Italian, you know, cop – it was great man – it was great to see it.
What was the hardest part of playing your character?
Legazumo: Well, you know, I wanted to get some of his mannerisms, but I didn’t want to do an imitation. But they were on set with us, so that really helped. So I would ask them constantly how would I do this scene; how would I do this interrogation; how would I convince these people that I’m not a cop – so they were there constantly, saying that I was always able to to draw on them.
What is the secret to your success?
Legazumo: Yeah, you gotta stay fresh and you gotta love what you do. I think the love of what you do is gonna keep you fresh always, man. And I have a huge passion for great writing; great acting; great directors and I work with the best – and they make you the best. Working with Bryan was incredible, he’s such a talented guy. He wants to do his writing good and I think that’s what makes people stay young and hip.
The Infiltrator premieres in theaters on July 13th.
