La Bamba 09/30/23

Out of the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll ‘fifties comes another story that ends on The Day the Music Died. Luis Valdez’s account of the rise and sudden silencing of the great Richie Valens avoids exaggeration to instead celebrate the young man’s positive potential. This is the show that put Lou Diamond Phillips on the map, and gave a solid boost as well to Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto and the much-missed Elizabeth Peña. The extras illuminate the enthusiasm with which the picture was made; it’s a cinematic high point for the theatrical talent Valdez. On Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection .
09/30/23