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).

This story was shared by one of the guests of the Quinceanera and a friend of the family. She tells about her uncomfortable experience at her friends Quince celebration party. The Quinceaneras parents thought they had taken care of everything when planning their daughters special celebration. They went over budget and were concerned about that, but they felt it was going to be a beautiful party. The parents were very proud of their daughter, however they did not know their daughters friends that well.

The day of their daughter, Marias Quinceanera was filled with love, gratitude and joy. Friends and family alike shared those feelings. Marias parents were so happy until things went out of control on the dance floor.

Marias parents never realized it is normal for many teens these days to do dirty dancing or "freaking". It is something teens do at school dances.

When the friend of the family arrived at the party she said, "I was delighted to see other people from my school there. The music started, it was in Spanish and everyone was having fun on the dance floor trying to dance like the Quinceaneras aunts and uncles. It was great fun.

Later on, one of the girls requested hip-hop music. The DJ put on the music. It was still OK, until some of the girls went to get some of the guys to dance with them and they started to do freak dancing. All of a sudden, the rest of kids were dancing like that also.

The dancing got worse and more sexually explicit. Most of Marias friends wearing their formal clothes were dancing like party animals. They did not seem to care where they were and what they were doing. They showed no respect toward the adults and the young kids. The faces of the adult guests had a look of disgust and astonishment".

She went on to say..."How sad for a beautiful day to end up that way",

7 ways to prevent losing control of your Quinceanera Fiesta or any other celebration:

1. Choose a Master of Ceremonies who you can easily communicate with. Let them know the kind of music you want played.

2. Give them a list of the songs and type of music you want to be played.

3. Give them a list of the music you DO NOT want played

4. Tell the Master of Ceremonies that only you or another authorized adult can change the type of music to be played at the party.

5. Make sure the teens are not being served alcohol. It is against the law to serve minors alcohol even in some ones home. If anyone gets into an accident after your party and one of the teens is found to have been drinking at your party - you are responsible. There are big fines for this type of offense.

6. Check out your daughters guest list. Make sure you approve of everyone who is invited.

7. For safety reasons consider hiring a professional security guard to keep anyone not invited out of the party.

To take control, you need to plan ahead, communicate with your vendors what you will allow and will not allow at the party. This will ensure everyone will be happy and share in the gifts of life from your daughters Quinceanera celebration and have beautiful memories forever.

Priscilla Mills is the author of the book: Quinceanera Connection: Your Dream Celebration On Any Budget. http://www.quinceaneraconnect.com/quince/thebook.html For a limited time she offers a bonus of her 70 page Quinceanera eplanner with the purchase of her book. Priscilla Mills book is the perfect guide for todays economy when families are worried about the rising costs of gas and food. Her book gives great advice on how you can have a fabulous Quinceanera party on a budget. Check out Priscillas site: http://www.Quinceaneraconnect.com she has both quality Quince products at low prices and lots of helpful tips and content on how you can have it all. Her blog: Ask Priscilla. Is filled with stories, good advice and hints on how to have it all and still have money left over for the Quinceaneras education fund. There are also blogs written by girls planning their own Quinceanera celebration. They share their everyday life challenges as they plan their own Quinceanera. Mills offers a free 17 page eplanner when you sign up for a free website membership. Mills is a life coach and a graduate of the Harvard Business School, O.P.M. entrepreneurial program. Priscilla Mills regularly posts to her other site:Moms de la Quinceanera http://quincemom.blogspot.com

80's dance music