La Bamba Summary
MPAA Rating: PG13
Director: Luis Valdez
Genres: Drama
Rating:
Lou_Diamond_Phillips plays legendary 1950s rocker Ritchie_Valens (born Ricardo_Valenzuela), in this musical biography. Before scoring radio and concert success with hits like "La Bamba", "C'mon Let's Go", and "Donna", Valens was a 15-year-old migrant worker who worked with his mother Connie (Rosana_De_Soto). Valens' half-brother Bob_Morales (Esai_Morales) is a vitriolic ex-con who roars into the migrant camp on his Harley after his release from jail. Valens' musical talents are encouraged by his family -- though later various members of his family react to his fame with varying degrees of pride and envy -- and he soon earns an audition with legendary record producer and former Artie_Shaw clarinet player Bob_Keane (Joe_Pantoliano). Valens soon appears in an Alan_Freed rock n' roll teen exploitation film, lip-synching his blistering recorded version of "Ooh, My Head". When a romance with Donna Ludwig (Danielle von Zerneck) is forbidden by her conservative father, Valens pens the famous ballad that bears her name. Tours follow his chart success until the fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of Valens, The_Big_Bopper (aka J.P. Richardson), and Buddy_Holly on February 3rd, 1959. The supporting cast is excellent with power-pop icon Marshall_Crenshaw playing Buddy_Holly singing "Crying, Waiting, Hoping". Brian_Setzer accurately portrays rocker Eddie_Cochran, and Howard_Hunstberry plays Jackie_Wilson and sings "Lonely Teardrops". Additional music is provided by Los_Lobos, a band who traces their musical roots directly to Valens and other Mexican influences. Also making cameo appearances are the real-life Mrs. Connie Valenzuela and Bob_Morales. Although not 100 historically accurate, La Bamba is much more accurate than 1978s The_Buddy_Holly_Story. The feature turned a new generation on to the influential Tex-Mex rock that was an inspiration to such later rockers as The_Bobby_Fuller_Four as well as Los_Lobos. Dan Pavlides, Rovi
Great Film Moments:
- In Theaters
- This Week
- Coming Soon
- New on DVD
Browse More Movies:
