La Bamba
La Bamba
Directed by:
Luis ValdezScreenplay:
Luis ValdezCinematography:
Adam GreenbergComposer:
Miles GoodmanCast:
Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Brian Setzer, Noble Willingham, Stephen Lee (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
The life of rock & roll legend Ritchie Valens bursts across the screen in the highly celebrated music-filled biopic La Bamba, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as the teenage sensation whose rise to fame was tragically cut short at the age of 17. Phillips gives an electrifying performance as Valens, who has to contend with racial prejudice, a jealous brother (a stunningly intense Esai Morales) and an overbearing mother, before his unique style of Latino-influenced rock & roll rockets him to fame, but sets him on the path for an unavoidable date with destiny. Featuring music from Grammy Award winning rock band Los Lobos, and also starring Elizabeth Peña, director Luis Valdez's La Bamba is an irresistibly toe-tapping depiction of the early days of American rock music, and the indelible influence one young man had upon it. (Eureka Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (2)
Who wouldn’t know the rock’n’roll hit “La Bamba?” However, who can say that they know the story of the singer who wrote it and sang it a few times on the stage? I admit, I was really curious. When you watch a good biopic, it’s an experience for the lifetime. I think La Bamba is about halfway there. It’s not a bad movie, but everything is portrayed in a somewhat understated way in order not to hurt anyone. The finale guarantees a powerful strike to the heart, where you realize that all it takes is one small incident, one stupid coincidence, to turn your whole world upside down. I have to say that in this respect I will definitely never forget La Bamba.
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The story itself is interesting and very sad. If you look at how old Valens was when he died - just seventeen years old. A rising star... Buddy Holly's the same story, just a few years older. How would the music have sounded if their lives hadn't ended? Well, we definitely wouldn't have the "American Pie" song. Although it's a strong story, the execution felt rather lackluster to me.
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