‘Monsters’ Star Javier Bardem on Not Wanting to Meet the Menendez Brothers and Insisting He Doesn’t Know If He’s in ‘Dune 3’

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of cinematic masterpieces for decades, I can confidently say that Javier Bardem‘s journey in the world of cinema is nothing short of captivating. His latest project, “Spellbound,” a beautifully crafted animated musical, showcases his versatility as an actor and his unwavering dedication to his craft. The film, with its thought-provoking narrative and poignant messages about love and family, left me with a sense of profound admiration for Bardem’s choice of roles.


Javier Bardem recently exited a cinema in Madrid after previewing his latest project, the animated musical film “Spellbound,” with his children Leo (13) and Luna (11), along with 15 of their friends. In our phone conversation, he shared that they were thrilled with the movie. However, they had grown tired of his continuous rehearsals at home as he practiced singing throughout the day to ensure he could hit a vowel correctly. They pleaded with him to stop: “Dad, enough! Stop it!” But upon watching the animation, their fascination was rekindled.

In this film, titled “Spellbound,” the renowned Oscar-winning actor, Javier Bardem, makes his debut in an animated production. Directed by Vicky Jenson with music composed by Alan Menken, Bardem is joined by Nicole Kidman and Rachel Zegler in the cast. The story revolves around a teenage princess on a quest to lift a curse that has turned her parents into animals. Although I won’t give away the plot details, it’s worth noting that this movie delves into deeper themes seldom explored in children’s movies. “It’s incredibly insightful and potent,” Bardem comments. “The message is about love. It illustrates that as long as there is love within a family, any family can function. This is a film I wish I could have seen when I was 10 years old.

As a movie aficionado, I found “Spellbound” to be a gripping tale that showcases Javier Bardem’s chilling portrayal of José Menendez, the brothers’ abusive father, in the HBO film “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”. In 1989, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch), currently serving life sentences for their parents’ murder, depict the tragic story of a family torn apart by unspeakable acts. Chloë Sevigny portrays Kitty, their mother, who also fell victim to José’s cruelty.

Bardem emphasized the need to keep Chavez and Koch grounded throughout the project to prevent it from overshadowing their personal lives. He told them, “At the start of our journey, I suggested we should remind ourselves…and strive to remember that we are loved, that our families genuinely care for us, respect us, love us, and we eagerly look forward to returning to them because we love them too.” “Let’s perform according to the story’s demands as actors,” he continued. “But let’s never forget that it’s a performance. It’s fictional. I won’t allow any part of myself to be involved, and if I do or say something unexpected because it’s written, or if there are times when it isn’t written or addressed in notes, please don’t take it personally. This is José, Kitty, Erik, and Lyle.

Javier Bardem and his fellow actors chose not to contact Erik and Lyle or their families during the filming process. According to Bardem, “I didn’t feel the need to.” Initially, he wasn’t familiar with the story as it wasn’t widely known in Spain where he resides. Once he began delving into it, he realized the material was extremely sensitive and personal. He attempted to find resources that could provide him with a deeper understanding of Erik and Lyle, but found none. Instead, he trusted the research conducted by series co-creator Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. All the necessary information was presented in the script, leading Bardem to conclude, “I didn’t need to talk to anyone.” Additionally, he never felt it would be appropriate or possible to speak directly with the murderers.

At present, the brothers are anticipating whether the newly appointed Los Angeles District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, will re-examine their case due to recently discovered evidence that defense lawyers claim proves José allegedly abused Erik and Lyle for several years. Previously ousted DA George Gascon had announced this in October. Koch has been supporting the brothers’ release, even visiting them in prison with Kim Kardashian. As Bardem puts it, “It’s so intricate… What I believe and what I feel is that it’s about time for their voices to be heard again if they are presenting new evidence, as I have been told. If that is the case, I think it’s only fair to listen to them once more and do so with fresh perspectives.

‘Monsters’ Star Javier Bardem on Not Wanting to Meet the Menendez Brothers and Insisting He Doesn’t Know If He’s in ‘Dune 3’

Approximately a week prior to discussing the topic, Denis Villeneuve announced in an interview with Deadline that he’s currently writing “Dune: Messiah,” the upcoming third installment of the sci-fi series. Javier Bardem, who portrayed Stilgar in the first two films, isn’t sure if he’ll reprise his role. “I’m in the book, so I should be in the script. If I’m not, I will definitely let him know and might even travel to Canada,” Bardem states. “In all seriousness, I deeply respect and admire him. Whatever he decides is perfectly fine for me. He’s a unique individual. He’s an extraordinary human being, compassionate, fun, incredibly funny, and dedicated to his work.

Bardem’s son expressed interest in seeing his father in “Dune 3” after watching “Dune 2”. When he saw the movie, he exclaimed in the theater, “That’s my dad!”, but later mentioned, “But you didn’t do any sword fighting.” Now, Bardem has added a request for director Denis Villeneuve, should there be a ‘Dune: Messiah’, to include some brief sword fighting scenes so that he can share it with his child.

‘Monsters’ Star Javier Bardem on Not Wanting to Meet the Menendez Brothers and Insisting He Doesn’t Know If He’s in ‘Dune 3’

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2024-11-22 06:26