Now that I have seen the movie I would really like to learn something about Hector Lavoe's life. The funny thing is that I thought the movie would provide that kind of information. But I only learned this: He used a lot of drugs, he was a good singer, he didn't feel appreciated by his dad and his wife had to struggle a lot with him. What I did not learn: Who were the other people in the movie? Besides his wife and his son nobody is properly introduced. Maybe people who know a lot about him recognize the other characters. I know only two of his songs and his name. For me big parts of this movie were a mystery.
Some bearded guys were discussing how talented he is, then later on the bearded guys were discussing how broken down he is. I guess that one of them was his producer, one or two might have been songwriters or musicians. I don't know. There is a scene where Ruben Blades goes on stage and performs the song "El Cantante". A song that should become a very big hit for Lavoe. But hadn't I had seen a documentary on Latin music a few day earlier again I wouldn't have known who the question that was. The guy goes on stage like it is amateur night and he is lucky that Hector is there to listen to the song. My sister was watching the movie with me, and I had to tell her "hey that guy was huge too."
OK, I get it. This movie is showing Hector's life from the perspective of his wife. But she either didn't care much about his origins, his musical connections, the people he worked with, his influence on music or the musics influence on him, or she didn't know. If you don't know much about Hector Lavoe and you hope to learn about his life this is not the movie for you.
On the other hand: Marc Anthony does a great job in this movie. I wouldn't have expected that. But after a few minutes i forgot it was him and had to remind myself it was not actually Lavoe. Well done. J-Lo is very annoying. But maybe this woman was too. If so, well done too.
Some bearded guys were discussing how talented he is, then later on the bearded guys were discussing how broken down he is. I guess that one of them was his producer, one or two might have been songwriters or musicians. I don't know. There is a scene where Ruben Blades goes on stage and performs the song "El Cantante". A song that should become a very big hit for Lavoe. But hadn't I had seen a documentary on Latin music a few day earlier again I wouldn't have known who the question that was. The guy goes on stage like it is amateur night and he is lucky that Hector is there to listen to the song. My sister was watching the movie with me, and I had to tell her "hey that guy was huge too."
OK, I get it. This movie is showing Hector's life from the perspective of his wife. But she either didn't care much about his origins, his musical connections, the people he worked with, his influence on music or the musics influence on him, or she didn't know. If you don't know much about Hector Lavoe and you hope to learn about his life this is not the movie for you.
On the other hand: Marc Anthony does a great job in this movie. I wouldn't have expected that. But after a few minutes i forgot it was him and had to remind myself it was not actually Lavoe. Well done. J-Lo is very annoying. But maybe this woman was too. If so, well done too.