First, I am a professional drummer whose interest in this film was only ignited by with the knowledge that the genius Tito Puente makes an appearance, and even better, shares a solo with the star. That aside, the rest of the movie is a favorite of mine, especially the fantastic, contagious personality of Cesar, superbly played by Assante...you grow to love this rogue of a man almost instantly. His constant laughter is just a hint of how rascally a businessman/band leader and devoted brother he is. The music is no less contagious, and I find myself interested in Salsa and Mambo music all the more because of this entertaining film. My one complaint is that the above-mentioned solo between Puente and Assante is interrupted by gangland violence, just at the moment when everyone is getting into the spirit! Other than that, it was brilliantly casted and acted. A great look at the way of the entertainment business in the early 1950's, especially for hopeful immigrants like the Castillo Brothers. Excellent!

I tried watching this movie several times. I really did. I heard a lot of hype about it. The characters in this movie are stereotypes of cubans and other Latin Americans. This was very annoying. They seemed more like cartoons than anything else. The music was great. Great performance by Tito Puentes. Celia Cruz'performance in English seemed forced and un-natural. Armand Assante's Spanish was atrocious! It sounded no where near anything close to Spanish. The movie was also very predictable. So much hype about this movie as usual coming from Hollywood. This is why I'm not going to see the Da Vinci Code. Too much Hype.

I saw this movie for the first time in 1995 on television and it has been a favorite of mine ever since.Armand Assante was absolutely awesome! Pure male magnetism just oozed from his pores in this role and I think I became his biggest fan by the time the movie had ended.Antonio Banderas was handsome as ever and the two of them together was definitely a treat for female viewers.The the music, the dancing and the charisma of the movie was infectious and fun to be a part of, even if it was only in a visual context.I must admit, my rating is strictly biased because, to date, I still think Armand Assante is the sexiest man alive and anything that he is in, I make it my business to see, so the 10 was earned entirely on the basis of Armand Assante's presence.

Warning that because I have said I cried, I felt I should say this is a bit of a spoiler...just a bit!! I have tried to see this movie several times, but only gotten pieces of it (the trials of being a working mother who gets interrupted constantly....!). I never realized how well-made it was, how amazing Antonio Banderas was (not knowing any English at the time), and how much the ending affected me. I come from a family of musicians -we're not Latino, but still, once you've decided that is your life it is very hard to do anything else- and this is a heart-breaking story of love, loss, artistic passion, family loyalty, and the effect of the time/era (1950's) on music and immigrants to the US (I'm a Canadian, but my husband is an Irish-American musician). I, too, know what it is like to have to do the "straight" job to pay the bills when all you want is to be what you were born to be. Desi Arnaz Jr. did a great job too, and the effects with the I Love Lucy Show were better than Forrest Gump!See this movie, but get your kleenex ready... .