La Bamba

  • Rated PG 13
  • 1hr 48m
  •  (3)
  • 65

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Luis Valdez

Producer:

Stuart Benjamin, Bill Borden, Taylor Hackford

Release Date:

Jul 24, 1987

Runtime:

1hr 48m

Synopsis

Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper.

Cast

  • Lou Diamond Phillips
  • Esai Morales
  • Rosanna DeSoto
  • Elizabeth Peña
  • Danielle von Zerneck
  • Joe Pantoliano
  • Rick Dees
  • Marshall Crenshaw
  • Brian Setzer
  • Howard Huntsberry

Atom User Reviews

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Metacritic

65
metacritic
Based on 12 Critics
7.7

USER SCORE (16)

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Reviews
75

This is a good small movie, sweet and sentimental, about a kid who never really got a chance to show his stuff. The best things in it are the most unexpected things: the portraits of everyday life, of a loving mother, of a brother who loves and resents him, of a kid growing up and tasting fame and leaving everyone standing around at his funeral shocked that his life ended just as it seemed to be beginning.

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Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
60

A dedicatory, sometimes sombre recreation of the career of 50s teen-throb Richie Valens, which feels like a personal project by director Luis Valdez.

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Metacritic review by William Thomas
William Thomas
Empire
70

A film like this is quite naturally a showcase for its star, and as Valens, Lou Diamond Phillips has a sweetness and sincerity that in no way diminish the toughness of his onstage persona.

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Metacritic review by Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
The New York Times
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