La Bamba (1987)

Directed by Luis Valdez. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Sam Anderson, Rick Dees. [PG-13]

The story of Richie Valenzuela (aka Ritchie Valens), a gifted Chicano youth on the speedy ascent in the world of rock n’ roll when he died at seventeen in a plane crash alongside Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper (the so-called “day the music died”). Covers less than two years of his life, but still follows the standard musician biopic course of moving from one musical performance to the next, interwoven with scenes from his personal life, tour dates, studio time, etc. Without a wealth of material to draw upon, the story is padded out with a parallel narrative involving his irresponsible, resentful (but still loving) half-brother; since those scenes are as formula-familiar as the burgeoning rock star arc, they don’t offer much for the sake of compelling plot. The performances from Morales and especially Phillips elevate the simple, sentimental material; far from a great biopic, it does make for a sincere and modestly satisfying one.

65/100