'El Cantante' makes people frown. And it's not because they're intrigued!
By Elena Gorgan, Entertainment News Editor
7th of August 2007, 09:37 GMT
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'El Cantante', the movie Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony worked on for quite some time now has finally reached US screens. It was in a limited release (including a little over 500 theaters), it's true, but the critics are not willing to give the power couple a break. Even more, even the very persons who were on the movie's payroll, consultants and actors, are set to turn the latest biopic into a debacle: what Jennifer, Marc and director Leon Ichaso did, they say, was nothing short of cultural murder of one of the most popular and influential salsa singers ever.
The plot of 'El Cantante' focuses on the story of Hector Lavoe and his rise to (and subsequent fall from) fame. His destiny is closely entwined with that of Puchi, the woman who becomes his wife at one point in the movie. But, strangely, the critics do not pick on the performance of Jennifer Lopez (although initial reports had it that she made a scene of everything and tried to put herself first, despite the fact that the biopic was not about her character), but rather on what the movie does for audiences - which is nothing!
Instead of presenting a tragic story about a man whose love for music and art in general led him on the verge of a precipice from where he later fell, both director and main stars did nothing but to make this a story about canonized 'junkies', without even bothering to offer an explanation for Lavoe's/Anthony's drug abuse or for his final act of desperation. Also unexploited at all is the way the Puerto Rican singer communicated with the public, which is basically the main thing that made him famous. 'El Cantante' is supposed to be about a 'revolution' and singing 'for the people', yet it does nothing of the kind. Instead, it focuses on Jennifer shaking her toosh for her man, on too many drug scenes and on a relationship that - say those who were close to Lavoe - was completely overrated.
One of those who were involved in the project but who are not OK with the final result is a man who worked with the famed salsa singer for 20 years, his band leader and producer, Willie Colon. He says that he always kept in touch with Lopez while the movie was still in pre-production as a consultant but, apparently, she decided to ditch all he had to say and went instead for the commercial version of a tragic life. 'The real story was about Hector fighting the obstacles of a nonsupportive industry that took advantage of entertainers with his charisma and talent. Instead they did another movie about two Puerto Rican junkies... It's difficult to comprehend how two individuals who are in the music business like Marc and Jennifer are not aware of the damage and the consequences of promoting only the negative side of our Latin music culture.', Colon adds.
Another point that he makes is that, although Marc and Jennifer claim that the movie is 'the truth', it is far from that. It is a piece of fiction (and a very poor one) that claims to present a real story, a thing that only makes it less and less interesting. 'I believe that Puchi actually caused Hector's downfall. I never understood why he put up with such a negative, homely, vulgar person. The biggest crime is the canonization of Puchi so that Jennifer can play her.', Colon explains to the 'LA Times'.
We all now that what we see in movies is not the truth, so going into the cinema with that kind of expectations would make us either very naïve or completely out of this world. However, unlike other musical biopics ('Ray' and 'Walk the Line' simply pop into mind!), 'El Cantante' fails to offer an explanation for its very existence. Instead, it comes off as a poor excuse for Marc and Jennifer to share the spotlight and to do, you know, the 'couple thing'. Naturally, all those who knew Lavoe, his dedication and his artistic aspirations are upset.
So, you might want to think twice before going to see it... unless you're a fan of either of the two, of course. Below is the trailer, just to get an idea of what you're to expect.
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