The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Flamin’ Hot
Overview:
The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.
Cast:
- Richard Montañez: Jesse Garcia
- Judy Montañez: Annie Gonzalez
- Vacho Montañez: Emilio Rivera
- Concha Montañez: Vanessa Martinez
- Clarence C. Baker: Dennis Haysbert
- Roger Enrico: Tony Shalhoub
- Abuelito: Pepe Serna
- Tony Romero: Bobby Soto
- Hector Morales: Jimmy Gonzales
- Lonny Mason: Matt Walsh
- Young Richard: Carlos S. Sanchez
- Lucky Montañez: Hunter Jones
- Young Lucky Montañez: Carlos Solórzano
- Steven Montañez: Brice Gonzalez
- Young Judy: Jayde Martinez
- Pablito: Fabian Alomar
- Diego: Scar
- Nacho: Eric Marq
- Alejandro: Alejandro Montoya Marin
- Al Carey: Howard Ferguson Jr.
- James Finley: Peter Diseth
- Enrico’s Secretary Patti: Lora Martinez-Cunningham
- Wade Carson: Zach Rose
- Courthouse Judge: Stephen Zamora
- Pastor Marco: J.D. Garfield
- Post Office Clerk: Jacob Browne
- Post Office Customer: Jackamoe Buzzell
- Frito Lay Personnel Secretary: Stephanie Jones
- Frito Lay Plant Director: Stephen Fuller Austin
- Frito Lay VP of Operations: Brent Black
- Scientist: Landall Goolsby
- Young Mary Lou: Gianna Gallegos
- 1966 Quickie Mart Manager: Hank Rogerson
- Quickie Mart Police Officer: Vic Browder
- Quickie Mart Manager: Kevin Chambers
- Quickie Mart Customer: Ericka Zepeda
- Cafeteria Kid: Eli Bickel
- Cafeteria Kid: Beckett Bauer
- Cafeteria Kid: Brady Bauer
- Landscaper: Rafael Herrera
- Grocery Store Manager: Jack O’Donnell
- Supermarket Woman: D’Nette Wood
- Social Worker: Mickey Bond
- Angry Husband: Greg Lutz
- Janitor: Gerald Cordova
- Waiter: George Strada
- Bus Boy: Margarito Chairez
- Secretary (uncredited): Eva Longoria
Crew:
- Screenplay: Linda Yvette Chavez
- Casting Associate: Byron Beane
- Hairstylist: Christi Moraga
- Unit Production Manager: David Kern
- Executive Producer: Samuel Rodriguez
- Director of Photography: Federico Cantini
- Editor: Kayla Emter
- Editor: Liza D. Espinas
- Original Music Composer: Marcelo Zarvos
- Production Design: Brandon Mendez
- Production Design: Cabot McMullen
- Songs: Diane Warren
- Art Direction: Billy W. Ray
- Set Decoration: David Hack
- Costume Design: Elaine Montalvo
- Set Dresser: Colt Allen
- Set Decoration Buyer: Kelly D. Miller
- Supervising Sound Editor: Katie Halliday
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tateum Kohut
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Greg Orloff
- Set Costumer: Laura Estelle Connolly
- Set Costumer: Colleen Fox
- Costume Supervisor: Kim Trujillo
- Casting: Carla Hool
- Assistant Makeup Artist: Sierra Barton
- Hair Department Head: Teressa Hill
- Key Makeup Artist: Madeline McCue
- Hairstylist: Jolynn Nieto
- Production Supervisor: Kierke Panisnick
- Post Production Supervisor: Lisa Rodgers
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Alison Grossman
- Production Assistant: Cole Henken-Siefken
- First Assistant Director: TK Shom
- Art Department Coordinator: Giovanna Anderson
- Art Department Assistant: Alejandro Marmolejo
- ADR Recordist: Nicole Auringer
- Production Sound Mixer: Phillip Bladh
- Foley Artist: Shane Bruce
- Foley Artist: Zane D. Bruce
- Assistant Sound Editor: Smokey Cloud
- ADR Mixer: Mark DeSimone
- Foley Artist: Lindsay Pepper
- ADR Recordist: Danny Reeves
- Boom Operator: Kirbie Seis
- Dialogue Editor: Frank Smathers
- Foley Mixer: Antony Zeller
- Special Effects Technician: Luke Hussack
- Special Effects Technician: Andrew La Pointe
- Digital Compositor: Sebastian Hasbun
- Visual Effects Coordinator: Eric Jacobo
- Digital Compositor: Álvaro Moreno
- Digital Compositor: Takashi Takeoka
- VFX Editor: Jonathan Thornhill
- Stunts: Leah Hopkins
- Stunts: Conrad R. Padilla
- Still Photographer: Emily Aragones
- Script Supervisor: Chelsea Hooper
- Costumer: Susan Parras
- Key Costumer: Ursula Rose Rochester
- Assistant Costume Designer: Lindsay Zgonina
- Location Manager: Shani Orona
- Assistant Location Manager: Thomas Milsom
- Assistant Location Manager: Ben Roe
- First Assistant Editor: Selinda Zhou
- Colorist: Walter Volpatto
- First Assistant Editor: Jack Keough
- Music Supervisor: Vanessa Jorge Perry
- Music Editor: Richard Ziegler
- Casting Assistant: Marisa Freeman
- Extras Casting: Shayne Hartigan
- ADR Voice Casting: Wolfie Trausch
- Book: Richard Montañez
- Book: Judy Montañez
- Casting Assistant: Linda Moulton
- ADR Recordist: Jennie Shea
- Casting Associate: Nicholas A. Mudd
- Screenplay: Lewis Colick
- Stunt Coordinator: Derick Pritchard
- Second Assistant Director: John Bonaccorse
- Set Designer: Marisa Frantz
- Set Designer: Dylan Kelling
- Set Designer: Donavin Merritt
- Camera Operator: Dennis Noyes
- Camera Operator: Daniel Zollinger
- Assistant Editor: Olivia Hasse
- Supervising Music Editor: Erica Weis
- Gaffer: Neil Solberg
- Best Boy Electric: Paul Broadhead
- Key Grip: Rudy Covarrubias
- Makeup Department Head: Taylor Roberts
- Hair Department Head: Carol Mitchell
- Property Master: Joshua R. Aragon
- Special Effects Coordinator: Eric Thelander
- Production Coordinator: Deidre Hannah
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Ricardo Camacho Paramo
- Visual Effects Coordinator: Carlos Oyarzun
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Jose Marra
- Visual Effects Producer: Merrin Marra
- Visual Effects Producer: Hetal Jain
- Visual Effects Producer: Sweta Madhapuri
- Sound Effects Editor: Audrey Gu
- Director: Eva Longoria
- Producer: DeVon Franklin
Catogories:
Drama,History
I adore ingredients, because they are clever!
The flavor you know. The story you don’t.
Language:
English,Español
Production:
United States of America
Company:
Franklin Entertainment,Searchlight Pictures
Popularity:
114.851
Date:
2023-03-11
Year:
2023
- Louisa Moore – Screen Zealots: Eva Longoria makes her feature film directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” a breezy biopic about Richard Montanez, the man who invented the super spicy (and well known) flavor of Cheetos. This underdog story of a hardworking Mexican immigrant who found success despite all of the boxes society tried to put him in is one that’s inspiring, satisfying, and universal.
As a teenager, Montanez (Jesse Garcia) was in and out of trouble. As he puts it, “when society treats you like a criminal, you become one.” He was on the fast track to a permanent life of crime until his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) became pregnant with their first son. Searching for a better life for his new family, Richard relied on his street smarts and entrepreneurial attitude to go out and make his own success story. A go-getter from the start, he ended up working at Frito Lay and, after “thinking like a CEO,” came up with the idea to create a flavor that would appeal to the large Hispanic market and save the snack food industry.
It’s a terrific story that captures the Mexican-American experience that’s not often seen in mainstream films. Linda Yvette Chávez’s script feels deeply personal, and she takes Richard’s inspiring, complex story and gives us an intimate picture of the man behind the Cheetos. The result is a very human film about discrimination, determination, and the ability to get a leg up on life by pulling yourself out of a bad situation.
The story (which is actually controversial because there is a debate as to who really invented the snack flavor) is full of humor and heart. It’s a love story between Richard and Judy, his supporting, loving wife. She isn’t just a background character waiting in the shadows, but is presented as a very strong, tenacious woman who dominates every seen she’s in.
As is the case with most biopics, there’s obvious embellishment and exaggeration, and there’s no shortage of emotional fluffery that is designed to tug on your heartstrings. There’s plenty of discussion about having faith and living the American dream, which does feel as corny as it sounds.
There’s a lot of talk about representation in front of the camera, but it’s important behind the camera, too. Longoria put her money where her mouth is and hired a diverse crew for her film because who tells these stories also matters. The final product is something that radiates an authentic tone and feeling that is rare, especially for a biopic.
Longoria’s directorial style is polished and well-matched to the script, with a clear vision and voice. The cast is just as easy to love. Charismatic and sympathetic, I was rooting for Richard and Judy the minute they were introduced onscreen. Casting is so important in a film like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect.
Despite a predictable outcome and a few obvious exaggerations of the truth, “Flamin’ Hot” is an irresistible underdog story about a disruptor who shook up the snack food industry. It’s a funny, sweet, and delightful film that’s as crowd-pleasing as it gets.
By: Louisa Moore