Bow Before Your New Indie Queen: Melonie Diaz

For several years the queen of independent film was Parker Posey, whose sharp comedy skills and perky cuteness enlivened more than a dozen low-budget indies in the late '90s and early 2000s. And we still love her -- heck, Waiting for Guffman alone earns her a place in our hearts forever. But her appearances at the Sundance Film Festival have waned in recent years, and now she has been replaced. Ladies and gentlemen, the new indie queen: Melonie Diaz.

Melonie Diaz has appeared in 12 feature films since 2001, and seven of them premiered at Sundance. She had four films at Sundance this year alone, an almost unprecedented feat that led to many festival-goers saying, "Who is this adorable, fresh-faced girl who looks like the new and improved version of America Ferrera?" Sometimes Diaz is a lead; sometimes she's a supporting character. But she's always there, in films like Lords of Dogtown, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and Be Kind Rewind. The girl's a workhorse!

But there's more to being an indie queen than mere quantity. You have to be good, too. People have to like you. And Diaz, with her wide eyes, warm smile, and girl-next-door beauty, is as likable as a chocolate chip cookie. Her charm is impossible to resist! Her performances are not flashy or hammy. She appears down-to-earth and normal. The fact that she's 23 and has already been in a dozen films (with at least two more on the way) suggests an admirable work ethic.

In short, what's not to like?

The downside is that so far, nothing she's been in has gone on to achieve huge success. Lords of Dogtown and Feel the Noise are the only wide-release pictures she's done; everything else has been smaller in scale. But we think she's about to break out. Her performance in American Son -- where she plays the girlfriend of a Marine about to ship off to Iraq -- is fantastic, and the movie is solid. She adds flavor to Hamlet 2 and Assassination of a High School President, two very funny comedies that could be hits if they're promoted properly.

So keep an eye on Melonie Diaz. Soon she'll be found not just on the snowy streets of Park City but in multiplexes across America. Almost every film she's made has been good (we're going to pretend Feel the Noise didn't happen), and we can't wait to see her get the mainstream attention she deserves. In the meantime, she can be our indie queen. All hail Melonie Diaz!

* * * * *
Eric D. Snider (website) would seriously have a hard time telling Melonie Diaz and America Ferrera apart in a lineup. But that's OK.

Recommend (0) |

Comments (0) |

Email  |

Share

Share  Facebook Digg del.icio.us