"Not my Ritchie!"
That's a mournful line I've known for many years (even if it's taken me til today to finally watch the movie) and it's no spoiler that Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. Everyone knows what happened on that fateful night and it's a tragic ending that "La Bamba" all but telegraphs from its very opening shot. I just thought that was kind of an odd way to tell his story.
But the movie's not going for surprise endings so much as just being an enjoyable biopic; and I enjoyed it, so mission accomplished. Valens was defined to rock the stage, and this is a star-making performance by Lou Diamond Phillips. It's a story that celebrates his optimism alongside the bright and happy California of the fifties ('80s movies always seemed to do a great job at creating that image); and also doesn't shy away from the ugly aspects (his horrendous brother) and the abhorrent racism.
Overall a solid movie with good casting and an excellent soundtrack. Well worth anyone's time.
That's a mournful line I've known for many years (even if it's taken me til today to finally watch the movie) and it's no spoiler that Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. Everyone knows what happened on that fateful night and it's a tragic ending that "La Bamba" all but telegraphs from its very opening shot. I just thought that was kind of an odd way to tell his story.
But the movie's not going for surprise endings so much as just being an enjoyable biopic; and I enjoyed it, so mission accomplished. Valens was defined to rock the stage, and this is a star-making performance by Lou Diamond Phillips. It's a story that celebrates his optimism alongside the bright and happy California of the fifties ('80s movies always seemed to do a great job at creating that image); and also doesn't shy away from the ugly aspects (his horrendous brother) and the abhorrent racism.
Overall a solid movie with good casting and an excellent soundtrack. Well worth anyone's time.