Andy Garcia an actor of Cuban descent has crafted an interesting film,I wish it were a better movie however.
This is the story of a middle class family who runs a night club in Havana Cuba. We start towards the end of Batistas'reign & go thru the start of Castro's long reign, seen through the eyes of a middle class family that runs a night club.
The plot & Story we have seen many times before, Loving,,fighting brothers who are on different sides.A beautiful woman, marries to one brother & seeks the comfort of another brother when she is widowed.
Thankfully there are many night club scenes with excellent dancing & music. Many scenes however are quite violent, BUT also thankfully not excessive.
One other point in its favour, lack of nudity & or needless sex scenes.
NOW why did I wish it were a better movie then. ONE SIMPLE REASON its too darn long. 2 hours 23 minutes is about 25 minutes too long.
THe acting is good throughout, This was filmed in the Dominican Republic & the scenery is beautiful.
Dustin Hoffman has 2 short scenes as Meyer Lansky & is properly slinky slimy,as Lansky was. Bill Murray has another one of his undefined roles (as an unnamed writer) his lines are more or less the comic relief. Besides these 2 & Andy Garcia in the lead role, The only other person of note is Steven Bauer,A TV actor of 20 years back.
The movie had a short run in only about 50 or so theatres in 2006.
My rating is thumbs up,mainly cause of the musical numbers.
Ratings: *** (out of 4) 82 points (out of 100) IMDb 7 (out of 10)
This is the story of a middle class family who runs a night club in Havana Cuba. We start towards the end of Batistas'reign & go thru the start of Castro's long reign, seen through the eyes of a middle class family that runs a night club.
The plot & Story we have seen many times before, Loving,,fighting brothers who are on different sides.A beautiful woman, marries to one brother & seeks the comfort of another brother when she is widowed.
Thankfully there are many night club scenes with excellent dancing & music. Many scenes however are quite violent, BUT also thankfully not excessive.
One other point in its favour, lack of nudity & or needless sex scenes.
NOW why did I wish it were a better movie then. ONE SIMPLE REASON its too darn long. 2 hours 23 minutes is about 25 minutes too long.
THe acting is good throughout, This was filmed in the Dominican Republic & the scenery is beautiful.
Dustin Hoffman has 2 short scenes as Meyer Lansky & is properly slinky slimy,as Lansky was. Bill Murray has another one of his undefined roles (as an unnamed writer) his lines are more or less the comic relief. Besides these 2 & Andy Garcia in the lead role, The only other person of note is Steven Bauer,A TV actor of 20 years back.
The movie had a short run in only about 50 or so theatres in 2006.
My rating is thumbs up,mainly cause of the musical numbers.
Ratings: *** (out of 4) 82 points (out of 100) IMDb 7 (out of 10)