El Cantante

Though they don't look much alike, slight actor-singer Marc Anthony was born to play robust salsa sensation Héctor Lavoe. In addition to similar ancestry and vocal skills, Anthony has been building a respectable cinematic resume with roles in Big Night and Martin Scorsese's Bringing out the Dead. The title of El Cantante comes from a number Rubén Blades wrote for The Singer. Lavoe would make it his signature song. In the film, Anthony's wife, producer Jennifer Lopez, plays Puchi, the Nuyorican beauty who won Lavoe's heart. She narrates their story from the perspective of 2002 (the real-life Puchi passed away shortly afterwards). Leon Ichaso (Piñero) contrasts Lavoe's rise from Puerto Rican street singer to New York superstar with his fall from innocent immigrant to heroin-addicted ladies man. By the mid-1980s, Lavoe's popularity hit its peak, and Ichaso spends the rest of the time ticking off the tragedies of his final years: the break with trombonist Willie Colón (John Ortiz), stay in a mental ward, etc. It's a dynamic portrait, and Anthony and Lopez work well together, but despite the urban setting and Latin-flavored soundtrack, El Cantante follows virtually the same trajectory as Ray and Walk the Line (Ichaso has also directed biopics of Jimi Hendrix and Muhammad Ali). His movie looks and sounds authentic, but Lavoe's story might've been better served as nonfiction. There's a sense that there was more to the man than what appears on screen. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Review: El cantante sings!
I loved this movie and I also love JLo and Marc Anthony! I think this movie was underrated. If you are truly interested in Hector Lavoe, you will love it. If you buy it just cause you want to see JLo and Marc, you probably won't like it. They are good in the movie but the story is what made it for me. Of course, it goes without saying, Marc Anthony's voice is supberb!
Customer Review: WONDERFUL....
I rented this film recently and was surprised at how good it was. The story depicts the stormy life and tragic end to the great salsa legend Hector Lavoe. This movie hits you in the heart from the start. It makes you care about the character and his music. I now own a cd of Hector Lavoe and I never knew I could like salsa. Who knew?? His music is amazing and the tragic events of his life makes you want to know the person behind the prose of his songs. My ears know good music when it hears it and this man was a icon. Hector Lavoe.......rest in peace! I'm not much of a fan of Jennifer Lopez but she played a good role. However, another actress (a more popular one) would have made this film more marketable to the non-Hispanic population ( mass audience).

The success of a wedding reception will depend on the entertainment. You may think that I am wrong at the point. However, the truth is that, according to a survey, most couples agree with the above idea. As a result, you should understand the importance of your entertainment and you should try your best to arrange the most perfect entertainment for your wedding.

When the entertainment is concerned, most couples will try to compare the prices. However, unless you are on a very tight budget, prices should never be your main consideration. On the contrary, the first thing you need to think about is the quality of the entertainment. Of course you will also need to think about your own needs. You will need to know what kind of entertainment you will need. Are you planning to ask your guests to stand up and dance? If this is the case, you may need to consider if the entertainer can help you to heat up the atmosphere.

It is also very important for you to know whether you will need a DJ or a live band. If you are planning to make your reception like a disco and have every guest stand up and dance, you may need to hire a wedding DJ. This will help to ensure that your guests can really enjoy the night. On the other hand, if you are going to have a beach wedding, what you need may probably be a live band in Filipino style. Music in Filipino style and the beach will just be a perfect match.

In fact, you should not limit yourself to think of music only. Your wedding entertainment can be more than that. Will you hire a magician to play some magic? As a matter of fact, hiring a magician can be a good option in order to draw the attention of the guests.

If you are a good singer yourself, you may consider singing in the reception. Your guests will be impressed if you can sing yourself in the reception. You may also sing with your spouse. Your guests will certainly remember this even after years. Of course you should try to make sure that your spouse can also sing well otherwise it will only be a mess. There are also couples who may consider dancing on the stage. This can also be a good performance as well as an entertainment for your guests.

When you are searching for the entertainer for your reception, you have to take the time to interview the potential candidates. It is very important for you to sit down and talk with them. You will need to know the strength and weakness of each entertainer so that you can make your decision. It is also very important for you to know their personalities. You may not want to hire someone who is of a very bad temper.

Jerry Leung has a site on HK Wedding Vendor Directory. You may also want to check Wedding Vendors in Singapore and India Wedding Vendor Directory.

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