list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around La Bamba on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/La_Bamba/19357/default.aspx Title: La Bamba
Year: 1987
Director: Luis Valdez
Plot: 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, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 11
Number of Lists: 5
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:07:36 GMTLa Bamba1987Luis Valdez<a href="/players/P___106383/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Lou Diamond Phillips</a> 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 (<a href="/players/P____50420/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Esai Morales</a>) 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 (<a href="/players/P____54919/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joe Pantoliano</a>). 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 (<a href="/players/P___121641/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Danielle von Zerneck</a>) 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 <a href=/films/4682/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Buddy Holly Story</a>. 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, All Movie Guide11Tag Target (>10)523http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t02397divmx.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/La_Bamba/19357/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/7/22/32892.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/22/2008 12:00:34 PM
Body: If there’s one thing I relate to on the big screen, it’s the depiction of fraternal relationships. I’m the middle of three brothers (excluding the half-brother I only knew as a toddler and the former stepbrother I only knew briefly as an adult), and at different points in my life I’ve either hated them or considered them my best friends. So, yeah, I can’t wait to see Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as new siblings who go from being enemies to BFFs when forced to live together. Choosing a handful of favorite movies about brotherhood is really tough. After all, tales of brothers go all the way back to almost the beginning, with the story of Cain and Abel. And a number of favorites can’t exactly be discussed, because the revelation of brothers, especially twin brothers, is often the surprise twist in films. So, before you start naming a thousand other films about brothers that I’ve forgotten (such as The Brothers McMullen and Legends of the Fall), keep in mind that I’ve actually left out a whole pile of brother films, and this is more of a personal favorites list. Coupe de Ville – If there’s one movie that seemed to define my brothers and I growing up, it’s this underrated road movie about three estranged siblings (played by Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross and Daniel Stern) delivering the titular automobile to their father (Alan Arkin). As kids, my brothers and I couldn’t have been any more different, just like the guys in the movie. For at least half a decade, until he seemed to disappear after he left the sitcom Ellen, Gross was like my cinematic alter ego, just because I felt a kinship with his middle-brother character in Coupe de Ville so much. Twins – While I’m on the subject of identification, here’s another movie I was able to relate to, as my older brother was (in my young, confused mind) like Schwarzenegger and I was a fat kid. Now that we’re in our 30s, we’re fortunately more physically balanced (or is it just that my perception has matured?). The Godfather Part II – At one time or another, to one degree or another, most of us with brothers have unfortunately had fratricidal thoughts. Again, murdering one’s brother is a plot that goes back to The Book of Genesis, and the theme shows up in some of the greatest of stories, from Shakespeare’s Richard III to the Shakespearean animated film The Lion King. But as I never wanted to murder either of my brothers for gain of power, I’m including this film instead. Oh, wait, I guess I never actually struggled with the idea of whether or not to kill my brother because he’s a liability and an embarrassment, either. The Public Enemy – In fraternal stories, if brothers aren’t trying to kill each other, they’re at least following separate paths, morally and occupationally. Typically, one is a criminal and the other is a cop, politician or priest. This particular gangster film doesn’t portray the divergence as clearly as subsequent films, such as Johnny Dangerously, We Own the Night or any number of Bollywood films, including the classics Deewaar. But it’s the scene in which the brothers argue about their differences and, ultimately, their similarities, that makes the film that much more interesting. Amar Akbar Anthony – Like Deewaar, this film stars Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan and is also about brothers. This time, though, there’s three of them, and each one allegorically represents a different prominent religious group of post-colonial India. Bachchan plays the Catholic one, and the film is worth checking out just for his musical number involving a giant Easter egg. The Best of Youth – Another film about brothers that also represents its nation’s history, this six-hour saga is even longer than the mere three hour Amar Akbar Anthony. If you’re ever in a fraternal mood, you can fill up a whole day of loosely learning about India and Italy via these movies. Or you can simply enjoy two great movies about brothers. American History X – After fratricide and divergence, another common plot involving brothers is the one found here: elder brother tries to keep younger from following in his footsteps. Interestingly enough, Edward Furlong plays the younger in both this film and in Little Odessa. Adaptation – My younger brother and I are differently creative, and in the past we’ve been mistaken for being twins (unlike me and my older brother being like Twins). So, of course, I had to be a sad sack and identify with the protagonist of the story, while viewing the character’s more popular, more successful brother as my own brother. I guess that would put the third act into a sort of wish fulfillment of fratricide. Maybe I need to stop this list before it upsets my currently great relationships with both my brothers. Big Night – Though differently creative, my younger brother and I have at times worked really well together. As many brothers in history have. Though we never attempted to operate a business together, we were in a band together. I guess for that reason I could have used The Blues Brothers here instead, but I like Big Night a whole hell of a lot more. The Darjeeling Limited – Return of the brotherly trio on a trip. Only this time the father has died (good ol’ Oedipal patricide is almost as popular as fratricide – not that any of the brothers killed Dad; I’m merely talking about wish fulfillment for the audience again) and the brothers are even more different (who would ever believe Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody as actual siblings?). I wonder if Wes Anderson ever saw Coupe de Ville. Or Amar Akbar Anthony. And here’s 10 more favorite brother films: Simple Men; Rain Man; La Bamba; Undertow; The Brothers Grimm; The City of Lost Children; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Thirteen Days; The Funeral; The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:00:34 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/22/2008 12:00:34 PM If there’s one thing I relate to on the big screen, it’s the depiction of fraternal relationships. I’m the middle of three brothers (excluding the half-brother I only knew as a toddler and the former stepbrother I only knew briefly as an adult), and at different points in my life I’ve either hated them or considered them my best friends. So, yeah, I can’t wait to see Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as new siblings who go from being enemies to BFFs when forced to live together. Choosing a handful of favorite movies about brotherhood is really tough. After all, tales of brothers go all the way back to almost the beginning, with the story of Cain and Abel. And a number of favorites can’t exactly be discussed, because the revelation of brothers, especially twin brothers, is often the surprise twist in films. So, before you start naming a thousand other films about brothers that I’ve forgotten (such as The Brothers McMullen and Legends of the Fall), keep in mind that I’ve actually left out a whole pile of brother films, and this is more of a personal favorites list. Coupe de Ville – If there’s one movie that seemed to define my brothers and I growing up, it’s this underrated road movie about three estranged siblings (played by Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross and Daniel Stern) delivering the titular automobile to their father (Alan Arkin). As kids, my brothers and I couldn’t have been any more different, just like the guys in the movie. For at least half a decade, until he seemed to disappear after he left the sitcom Ellen, Gross was like my cinematic alter ego, just because I felt a kinship with his middle-brother character in Coupe de Ville so much. Twins – While I’m on the subject of identification, here’s another movie I was able to relate to, as my older brother was (in my young, confused mind) like Schwarzenegger and I was a fat kid. Now that we’re in our 30s, we’re fortunately more physically balanced (or is it just that my perception has matured?). The Godfather Part II – At one time or another, to one degree or another, most of us with brothers have unfortunately had fratricidal thoughts. Again, murdering one’s brother is a plot that goes back to The Book of Genesis, and the theme shows up in some of the greatest of stories, from Shakespeare’s Richard III to the Shakespearean animated film The Lion King. But as I never wanted to murder either of my brothers for gain of power, I’m including this film instead. Oh, wait, I guess I never actually struggled with the idea of whether or not to kill my brother because he’s a liability and an embarrassment, either. The Public Enemy – In fraternal stories, if brothers aren’t trying to kill each other, they’re at least following separate paths, morally and occupationally. Typically, one is a criminal and the other is a cop, politician or priest. This particular gangster film doesn’t portray the divergence as clearly as subsequent films, such as Johnny Dangerously, We Own the Night or any number of Bollywood films, including the classics Deewaar. But it’s the scene in which the brothers argue about their differences and, ultimately, their similarities, that makes the film that much more interesting. Amar Akbar Anthony – Like Deewaar, this film stars Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan and is also about brothers. This time, though, there’s three of them, and each one allegorically represents a different prominent religious group of post-colonial India. Bachchan plays the Catholic one, and the film is worth checking out just for his musical number involving a giant Easter egg. The Best of Youth – Another film about brothers that also represents its nation’s history, this six-hour saga is even longer than the mere three hour Amar Akbar Anthony. If you’re ever in a fraternal mood, you can fill up a whole day of loosely learning about India and Italy via these movies. Or you can simply enjoy two great movies about brothers. American History X – After fratricide and divergence, another common plot involving brothers is the one found here: elder brother tries to keep younger from following in his footsteps. Interestingly enough, Edward Furlong plays the younger in both this film and in Little Odessa. Adaptation – My younger brother and I are differently creative, and in the past we’ve been mistaken for being twins (unlike me and my older brother being like Twins). So, of course, I had to be a sad sack and identify with the protagonist of the story, while viewing the character’s more popular, more successful brother as my own brother. I guess that would put the third act into a sort of wish fulfillment of fratricide. Maybe I need to stop this list before it upsets my currently great relationships with both my brothers. Big Night – Though differently creative, my younger brother and I have at times worked really well together. As many brothers in history have. Though we never attempted to operate a business together, we were in a band together. I guess for that reason I could have used The Blues Brothers here instead, but I like Big Night a whole hell of a lot more. The Darjeeling Limited – Return of the brotherly trio on a trip. Only this time the father has died (good ol’ Oedipal patricide is almost as popular as fratricide – not that any of the brothers killed Dad; I’m merely talking about wish fulfillment for the audience again) and the brothers are even more different (who would ever believe Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody as actual siblings?). I wonder if Wes Anderson ever saw Coupe de Ville. Or Amar Akbar Anthony. And here’s 10 more favorite brother films: Simple Men; Rain Man; La Bamba; Undertow; The Brothers Grimm; The City of Lost Children; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Thirteen Days; The Funeral; The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/cinemarian/archive/2008/5/12/28710.aspx Post By: CinemaRian
Post To: CinemaRian Blog
Post Date: 5/12/2008 9:45:20 PM
Body: Ritchie Valens' career as a professional musician lasted only eight months, but in that time he recorded one of the most recognized songs of the 20th century. Recorded almost as an afterthought, "La Bamba" is one of those songs that almost everyone has heard regardless of their preferred style of music, and nearly as many like. Although the song was a traditional Mexican folk tune, it is Valens' version that everyone knows. He was also a talented guitarist and songwriter-many forget that "La Bamba" was actually the B-side of his self-penned hit, "Donna". Aside from his artistic talent, his place in rock and roll mythology was assured when he perished with the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly on "the day the music died", in early 1959. At the time of his death, he was only seventeen and had only released two singles. A film version of Valens life would seem to be one unbearable sadness- he was apparently an likeable and good natured person who deserved more than to be cut down in the prime of life. But Luis Valdez's movie manages to avoid much of the Don McLlean pretentiousness and is mostly fun. It is not a perfect film and as Edwin D. Oslan pointed out, is in plot slightly above a TV movie in terms of content, but far greater in terms of entertainment. In only focusing on the last year of Valens's life, Valdez manages to make the film essentially a slice of life drama as opposed to a typical rock and roll biography. A first generation American of Mexican descent, Valens was born into poverty in Southern California. The film begins shortly after a move to slightly better conditions outside a Las Angeles suburb. The film relates of out the teenager (played by Lou Diamond Phillips in his movie debut) as he strikes a relationship with a white teenager named Donna (Danielle von Zerneck) and forms a band that comes to the attention of a talent scout (Joe Panteliano). On the home front, his edgier older brother (Esai Morales) causes problems for his family, abusing his pregnant wife and often embarrassing the family. Although parts of the film are melodramatic and rather cheesy (such as the ludicrously underwritten character of Donna's racist father), this doesn't really hurt the enjoyment factor the movie, and it's gratifying to watch nice guy Ritchie form a pleasantly chaste relationship with Donna. It's also nice to see that in the film at least, Valens family was supportive of his musical career (his mother acted as his manager before he went pro), and the family may quarrel, but always stays essentially close. Director Valdez, however, does make many mistakes- the subplot involving Ritchie's brother sometimes slows down the film, and he doesn't fully exploit the sense of dread that the final concert should bring (although an inferior film, The Buddy Holly Story was better in this aspect). I did like how Valdez conveys the sadness and cruel randomness of his death while not allowing the tragedy to outwait the achievements of the rock star's life or his personality. And that's for the best- Ritchie Valenz will be remembered through his music, which will be around as long as people have parties. La Bamba (1987)
]]>Tue, 13 May 2008 01:45:20 GMTCinemaRianCinemaRian Blog5/12/2008 9:45:20 PMRitchie Valens' career as a professional musician lasted only eight months, but in that time he recorded one of the most recognized songs of the 20th century. Recorded almost as an afterthought, "La Bamba" is one of those songs that almost everyone has heard regardless of their preferred style of music, and nearly as many like. Although the song was a traditional Mexican folk tune, it is Valens' version that everyone knows. He was also a talented guitarist and songwriter-many forget that "La Bamba" was actually the B-side of his self-penned hit, "Donna". Aside from his artistic talent, his place in rock and roll mythology was assured when he perished with the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly on "the day the music died", in early 1959. At the time of his death, he was only seventeen and had only released two singles. A film version of Valens life would seem to be one unbearable sadness- he was apparently an likeable and good natured person who deserved more than to be cut down in the prime of life. But Luis Valdez's movie manages to avoid much of the Don McLlean pretentiousness and is mostly fun. It is not a perfect film and as Edwin D. Oslan pointed out, is in plot slightly above a TV movie in terms of content, but far greater in terms of entertainment. In only focusing on the last year of Valens's life, Valdez manages to make the film essentially a slice of life drama as opposed to a typical rock and roll biography. A first generation American of Mexican descent, Valens was born into poverty in Southern California. The film begins shortly after a move to slightly better conditions outside a Las Angeles suburb. The film relates of out the teenager (played by Lou Diamond Phillips in his movie debut) as he strikes a relationship with a white teenager named Donna (Danielle von Zerneck) and forms a band that comes to the attention of a talent scout (Joe Panteliano). On the home front, his edgier older brother (Esai Morales) causes problems for his family, abusing his pregnant wife and often embarrassing the family. Although parts of the film are melodramatic and rather cheesy (such as the ludicrously underwritten character of Donna's racist father), this doesn't really hurt the enjoyment factor the movie, and it's gratifying to watch nice guy Ritchie form a pleasantly chaste relationship with Donna. It's also nice to see that in the film at least, Valens family was supportive of his musical career (his mother acted as his manager before he went pro), and the family may quarrel, but always stays essentially close. Director Valdez, however, does make many mistakes- the subplot involving Ritchie's brother sometimes slows down the film, and he doesn't fully exploit the sense of dread that the final concert should bring (although an inferior film, The Buddy Holly Story was better in this aspect). I did like how Valdez conveys the sadness and cruel randomness of his death while not allowing the tragedy to outwait the achievements of the rock star's life or his personality. And that's for the best- Ritchie Valenz will be remembered through his music, which will be around as long as people have parties. La Bamba (1987) http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/family/MemberTagFilms.aspxfamily
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