Movie Review: El Cantante
I never listen to critics, unless of course, you can tell that a movie is bad from the cast and the trailers and even then I'll rent it to see if I was right. Often times though, I have found that the majority of critics are so far off base when they critique a movie, I never listen to them. This, to me, seems to be the case with, "El Cantante".
I can't believe so many critics didn't even get the movie's concept. The movie is told from the perspective of Lavoe's longtime partner and wife, "Puchi". This is the plot synopsis from IMDB.com:
"Salsa great Hector Lavoe is the subject of this biopic starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. Spanning three decades in the Puerto Rican singer's life -- from his 1963 New York arrival to his 1993 death from AIDS -- the film tells Lavoe's (Anthony) story in flashback from the perspective of his Bronx-born wife (Lopez). Chronicling both the good (the music) and the bad (the drugs), the film provides a riveting portrait of a passionate artist."
So you get it from that synopsis right? The movie is loosely based on interviews with "Puchi" about Lavoe and their life together. "Puchi", or Nilda Rosado, was filmed during a series of interviews for the purpose of a documentary in 2002 just before she died in an accident. If people have an issue with the movie because there is, "too much Lopez", then that's on them. If you know going into the movie that the movie is based on interviews with her about their life TOGETHER, then I don't get what the issue is. Usually when one actor overshadows another in a movie, critics don't bash the person doing the overshadowing, as they are to Lopez. She did a better job than Anthony, so they bash her? I don't get it.
As for the movie itself, it starts out with an older looking "Puchi" being interviewed in one of Lavoe's recording studios. She's a tough, at times repentant, woman in her 50's who looks pained and angry at times. At one point she curses out the director for questioning whether or not she wanted Lavoe to change his ways as a partier and drug addict. And, this line may have been meant for the critics, another time yells, "Of course that's my version of the story, do you see anybody else here? I don't." I think we all understand how the movie industry works, most time it doesn't matter how good a movie is, you need some drawing power from your stars. Lopez is that. La India is currently producing her own Lavoe movie called, "The Singer". This movie sounds like it will be the real, fact driven biography that some seem to be asking for, including myself.
I thought Leon Ichaso did a great job depicting the era(s). The 70's felt like the 70's, as did the 80's. One of Ichaso's earlier works was, "Pinero". another sad, destructive story of Latino poet-playwright-actor, Miguel Pinero. After seeing this film, you can tell that he finds flawed, sometimes destructive, life stories more interesting than nice, cookie-cutter stories and he's not the first director to be intrigued by this.
Marc Anthony, known much better as a singer, does a credible job as Lavoe. This is the first film that I have seen where he plays a central role towards the success of a movie and while he doesn't blow you away as Jamie Fox or Joaquin Phoenix did in their roles as singing icons, he didn't embarrass himself. As far as the music for the movie, he sang the vocals himself and blew you away with his renditions of the Lavoe classics. In this regard, I'm a bit biased since I am a Marc Anthony fan (only with his salsa though) and an even bigger fan of Lavoe's. Anthony did a good job portraying Lavoe as a kind of innocent young guy from Puerto Rico whose life spirals down the all too deep pool of sex, drugs, alcohol and fame.
I have two criticisms about Cantante: One, Marc Anthony should have gained a little weight. He's a buck 20. The other criticism is that I think that the director could have done a better job with make-up to show them aging better over the course of the 20 years that the film covers. Although my friend Joe pointed out that maybe that was done on purpose because one of "Puchi's" lines in the movie was that she, "wanted to remember Hector the way I always remembered him". As in young and full of life. I wouldn't consider myself a fan of Lopez', but I can give her props when she deserves it and she does with, "El Cantante".
Go see the film for yourself. Don't go by what the critics are telling you, not even me. In the big picture, we have to go support movie's like this that will tell stories about other stars of color. I won't deny that was one of my motivations for paying to see this film: to support. I hope you do too. Then, let us know what you thought of the movie. Just be prepared, it's not a happy ending, holding hands and walking off into the sunset film. It's real.
25 comments:
I'm a fan of all 3 stars...lopez, anthony and lavoe. ....Love the movie..
And I agree with Luis M, you must see the movie and judge for yourself.
Well after reading this post, I don't think that I want to see. I beleive in supporting the cause and all, but you have to give me a good product. Black and Latino film makers don't get my green backs just cause we share a skin color. You have to give me some thing good to support. That being said. I will check this out, but I'm not crazy that its told from Lavoe wive's POV (aka J-Lo). I understand the thinking behind putting stars in a movie, but Ray did well with mostly talented group of veteran actors. Jamie Fox was great in Ray but before that movie he wasn't in the Tom Cruise or Hanks category. More than stars a movie needs talented people in it. I'm hoping this movie has that if not I'm gonna be pissed that someone stole my $10.
Ed, it was a good product. I didn't think I wrote it wasn't. If my review was misleading like that, thats my bad, but it was good.
I understand what you're saying about not liking that its from Puchi's POV. I don't think that they had the budget that Ray did. I might be talking out of the wrong orifice, but im pretty sure about that. Like I said, Lopez was really good in this. Anthony was good too. Not as good as Lopez, but good and the supporting cast was pretty good too. Overall, a 3.5 out of 5 tostones. Or platanos.
Jamie Foxx got to hang out with Ray Charles for several months to learn him. Unfortunately, Marc Anthony didn't have that opportunity. Also, little archive footage exists of Lavoe outside the concerts (Fania, etc.).
I believe this to be an homage more than a documentary-style bio pic. Much in the same way Selena did not explore countless angles, mostly just J-Lo's lack of angles, it is made to keep a Puerto Rican legend alive at a time when generations are changing and a piece of New York Puerto Rican history is being lost in our collective memory.
I saw the movie yesterday and although i think there were way too many close up's of JLo's face I thought the music made up for that and since JLo looked great it wasnt too too annoying either. I saw the play el cantante a couple of years ago and it was much like the movie; not too much detail about who Lavoe really was. I am puerto rican so I liked the movie and I GOT it on every level. I think you do kind of have to be hispanic to appreciate this movie fully or atleast really dig latin music...i really went to hear marc anthony sing the great lavoe classics and nothing more.
This movie brought me back...It madr me very sad and depressed for him as a preson because I felt as though I new him since I always had him singing in my living room. I would have liked to see a more positive side of him and not so much the down side as much. Great Music!
Everyone, celebrities included, has demons of their own to bear. Its just the way life is. Somehow though, artists are able to turn those demons into art. What separated Lavoe from other singers was his ability to truly emote those feelings of pain into his singing. The other thing is that the whole world gets to see his dirty laundry and it makes him more like the rest of the world. More human. I already knew about his problems with drugs before the movie, but, as Poochie said in the movie, I want to remember him as the great performer that he was. Long live, "The Voice".
I am watching the movie right now, and I think its great. I just wish I knew how pouchi died it said an accident I just wonder what kind.
The problem with this movie is that they tried to present it as a genuine portrayal of Hector Lavoe. This movie is garbage. It was told from Rosado's point of view ONLY and made Lavoe look bad. This joke of a movie portrayed Lavoe as nothing more than a pitiful junkie. Yes, Lavoe was an addict but what they fail to mention or show is that Rosado was the one who got him hooked in the first place and was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. She singlehandedly destroyed his life and career. Instead of focusing on Rosado's demented perspective they should have done the right thing and focused on who Lavoe really was. They should have focused on his life and music and what really drove him and led to his eventual downfall.
Thanks for leaving your opinion on the movie. What you wrote makes perfect sense about this being told from Rosado's (or "Poochie's") point of view. The movie was based on interviews with her before her death, so of course it will told from her POV. It sounds like you were a fan of Lavoe's music - which I am myself - so you will probably enjoy the movie that should be coming out shortly on Lavoe's life. This version will be more of a biopic along the lines of Ray, it's produced by La India.
Bonjorno, jointhecypher.blogspot.com!
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