El Cantante (15)

Film

migrate.30425.jpg

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>2/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5
Rate this  

Time Out says

Tue Sep 2 2008

Produced by and co-starring Jennifer Lopez, this messy, maudlin portrait of the decline and decline of Puerto Rico-born salsa star Héctor Lavoe wavers uncertainly between cable channel biopic and socially concerned drug movie. From the ’60s on, singer Lavoe was one of the premier Latin musical alchemists fusing jazz, samba and merengue into the ‘gumbo sauce’ of salsa. J Lo’s husband Marc Anthony makes for a sympathetic and touchingly innocent falling angel, but Lopez’s booty-shakin’ Bronx bitch of a wife, who introduces him to the weed, seriously over-eggs her performance.

The musical performances – including three elaborate, big-band set-pieces – should provide some compensation, but even these are chopped and chequered by director Leon Ichaso’s over-fondness for annoying cut-aways, wipe-pans and flash edits. The movie as a whole never flows – broken up as it is with MTV credits and black-and-white flashbacks – and therefore never delivers either insight or any proper emotional engagement. Shame.

Author: Wally Hammond

8

Comments

Add +

Release details

Rated:

15

UK release:

Fri Sep 5, 2008

Duration:

118 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Leon Ichaso

Screenwriter:

Leon Ichaso, David Darmstaedter, Todd Bello

Cast:

Mark Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Romi Dias

Cinematography:

Claudio Chea

Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields

Comments & ratings

Rated as: 4/5 (2 ratings)

  • I rented this video from my local video store. I wasn't sure about it because; being an African-American female I'm not heavily into salsa music. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the music. Mr. Lavoe life was very tragic and I'm glad Marc Anthony was able to tell his story. I'm glad I kept an open mind when I rented this movie. We have to get to know other cultures and music...and stop passing judgement on each other. Another thing, I think this is the best acting I've seen from Jennifer Lopez.

    Tracy Wed Jan 16 2008
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • good movie, great acting, and very enjoyable especially if you have some salsa-music background. I say "especially" because you will focus on the historical value rather than on its cinematographical flaws.

    Alex Mon Oct 8 2007
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • the guy that did the cinematography is my grand father i love him with all my heart.....

    nicole alvarez Tue Aug 28 2007
    Report

  • I give it 5 stars!!!

    mimi Mon Aug 6 2007
    Report

  • honestly, I went to see the movie and in my opinion it was a great movie, not only was the acting great but the music made you want to dance. I grew up around hector lavoe and the story was well told. I'd go see it again and recommend it.....

    mimi Mon Aug 6 2007
    Report

  • the best.i give them all a 10

    cristina medina Sun Aug 5 2007
    Report

  • that was a beautiful movie.he was the best.now marc and jenny were excellent they deserve a award.

    cristina medina Sun Aug 5 2007
    Report

  • Great movie - geat acting!!!!!!!!!! Pretty sad they are not showing it in more theatres.

    Jen Sun Aug 5 2007
    Report
  • Hotwise
  • Cool brands
  • Star