This is a very well written and acted biopic of Ritchie Valens, the 17-year-old rock n' roll star who, after a career of only eight months and three singles, was killed in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper on February 3, 1959 in what came to be known as the Day the Music Died in "American Pie".Perhaps because of the brevity of his career and the fact that his even earlier death meant that he didn't make the same impact as Holly on the musical scene, the film is more about Richard Valenzuela the person rather than Ritchie Valens the star. Lou Diamond Phillips is excellent as Ritchie. He was 25 at the time and looked it but he still played the role of an intelligent, well-meaning and extremely enthusiastic teenage boy very well.I loved the exploration of his very close relationship with his loving mother Connie, played by Rosanna DeSoto, and his more tempestuous relationship with his half-brother Bob Morales, played by Esai Morales. The real Connie Valenzuela has a brief cameo in the film and she certainly resembled her son. She died only three months after the film was released. Elizabeth Peña, who sadly died six weeks ago, is also very good as Bob's girlfriend Rosie.

"La Bamba" is a really good rags-to-almost-riches story about Ritchie Valens who was three months shy of 18 years-old the day the music died on February 3, 1959. Ritchie is played by Lou Diamond Phillips, his brother Bob by Esai Morales, his mother by Rosanna DeSoto and their friend, Rosie, by Elizabeth Peña. Other than Ritchie's unlikely quick rise to fame, the story focuses on his troubled brother, who both supports Ritchie and resents his success, as well as Ritchie's youthful infatuation with a blond gringo who inspired the hit "Donna" (Danielle von Zerneck). Donna's Dad, of course, is a bigot and doesn't want her seeing a lowly Hispanic. Ritchie needed a connection to stardom and that was smalltime record producer Bob Keane (Joe Pantoliano) who witnesses Ritchie's magic at a Saturday matinée show at a movie theater."La Bamba" is just an all-around entertaining movie. It's got a good (true) story, great music from that era, authentic California locations and quality actors. Morales stands out as Ritchie's brother who's essentially a "dark Fonz" character. I also like how Keane is shown to be a do-it-yourself visionary who's "studio" is in his basement. Keane had a make-a-way-where-there-is-no-way ethic, an eye for talent and a willingness to look for treasure in "nobodies"; and that's why he was successful and is remembered to this day. This is just one example of the gems that can be gleaned from the proceedings.The film runs 108 minutes.GRADE: B+ or A-

Before I watched this movie I had no idea who Ritchie Valens was. I had heard the song La Bamba and had heard about The Day the Music Died but didn't know that he had anything to do with them. This movie is an excellent tribute to him, his music and his tragically short life.I only watched this movie in 2012. The movie was released two years before i was born. It was released in 1987. I thought that it would be dated but I was wrong. Apart from some of the cinematic techniques and cinematography this movie is still fresh and can appeal to today's audience just as much as it did 24 years ago.It is not overly sentimental but manages to strike the right balance in order to convey the correct emotions. There are no flashy sets or a convoluted story lines. no added frills. Just good honest, straight story telling that adds to the realness of the movie and the characters. Not a single moment is contrived or pretentious.The performances where great especially Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales.Music was brilliant. Los Labos performed each track to perfection.The ending is a real tear-jerker.One of the best movies ever made. I can watch it over and over again without tiring of it and still cry at the end each time.Kudos to Luis Valdez and his entire team for making such a great piece of cinema. You have truly inspired me and shown what great cinema is about. Showing the truth.

La Bamba film tells the true story of the musician Ritchie Valens, a Mexican guitarist and singer known for being one of the pioneers of the Chicano rock movement. He unfortunately died in an airplane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper at an early stage of his successful career at the age of 17, becoming a legend of 50s rock and roll.The movie goes through the relationship of Ricardo Valenzuela with his family and his girlfriend from school Donna, for whom he wrote a song which was the a-side of his second and last single. The film focuses on the tense relationship that Ritchie Valens has with his step brother Bob and with his mother who favored him (the younger brother) over Bob.Bob, who sees the upcoming success of his brother, keeps drinking and trying to find a way in his life, which includes taking care of his wife and little baby. The film also reflects the start of Bob's future career as a cartoonist. What a talented family!! The main character is played very well by Lou Diamond Phillips, who does a really good act playing the guitar. Another highlight to his brother Bob who captures very well his frustration.One of my favorite moments in the film is when Ricardo Valenzuela goes to Del-Fi record studios with his manager Bob Keane, and sings "Come on, let's go" sixty times, until Bob Keane considers he has the perfect recordings for mixing it. Bob Keane suggested he change his name to one more commercial, turning it into Ritchie Valens.Another remarkable moment is the concert in a theater, where there are performances of Eddie Cochran, Jackie Wilson and Ritchie Valens, who in this concert plays La Bamba. Eddie Cochran is played very well by Brian Setzer, who is the front man and guitarist of the rockabilly group The Stray Cats. I think the scenes of the audience could be done better, the audience is strangely overacting when the musicians show up and play.Ritchie Valens songs were recorded for the film by Los Lobos. The soundtrack also includes other songs from the 50s.It's a very nice and enjoyable biopic!