Who payed the critics

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I was so much looking forward to see this film, yet had to flip channels after 15 minutes of watching. Tried it a second time and the same happened. Unfortunately Marc Anthony and J Lo cant assume their roles as Hector and Pucci, they maintain themselves estranged from their mission on hand. The story line is bland, lacks precision as to the true life of "El Cantante". Also lacks resolve as to why Lavoe chose a path of self absorption. The Fania All Stars is close to non existent in the story, and Willie Colon just a pawn to lean on. Lavoe's grandeur is also absent from the story line. The mad genius is missed, and as to his musicality, Marc Anthony lacks authenticity to reveal why Lavoe made it in the big city.

For me I find this the best film that I have seen Jenifer Lopez perform in. Brilliant acting and very unusual role for Lopez. Great Story, great music, great film!!! Also her Husband Marc Anthony plays his role a lot better than one would imagine from a singer who does not also act in films normally. Particullarly if you are a fan of salsa, and or South American Music in general, it is a film that is great and based on 100% true facts regarding the wave that hit the united states with S.A. Music. Even small parts were casted in a perfect way that really let you dive into the lifestyle of New York city and its Hispanic music scene of the 80s and 90s. This movie proves once again that certain actors have to produce a lot of films until one really gets the best role out of them. It is a pity that its box-office performance did not pay its duty for the performance of Lopez in particular. In my opinion definitely a must see.

In 1963, Hector Perez was already a promising young singer in his native Puerto Rico when, at the age of seventeen, he moved to New York City to try and make a name for himself as a performer there. In no time flat, he was playing in clubs, had signed a lucrative recording contract with the Latin-flavored Fania Records, and had changed his name to the far more exotic-sounding Hector Lavoe. From the mid-1960s to his death from AIDS in 1993, Lavoe was an international sensation who helped to popularize the musical style known as "Salsa." But, as with most artists, he lived a life of self-destructive self-indulgence, marked by serial philandering and hardcore drug abuse. He also had a volatile relationship with "Puchi," the Bronx girl who became his wife and who narrates "El Cantante," the glossy movie about his life.Despite the novelty of the milieu and an undeniable sincerity on the part of everyone involved in its production, "El Cantante" remains doggedly conventional, lackluster and superficial in its treatment of the kind of material with which we are all too familiar from previous biopics that have chronicled the rise and fall of artists of all categories and stripes. Marc Antony brings a certain ferocity and depth to his portrayal of the struggling celebrity, but real-life wife Jennifer Lopez is all fluttery overacting as the woman who stood by her man through good times and bad (mostly bad). The music is enjoyable, but I'm afraid we've all been down this road so many times before that "El Cantante" fails to stir either our passions or our sympathy for the sadly benighted couple and all that they're going through. You'd be better off buying the albums instead.

I understand many of the folks comments. We must all keep in mind that the movie was based on the interview conducted with Puchi his wife. She was bitter and and upset at him for the drug use, the deceit and the sickness that they both shared. She should had kept in mind that she in some aspect did introduce him to the drug scene. The movie did shine a certain negative spotlight on Hector. The people that never heard of him or knew about him will portray him as being a loser. This movie does nothing for those that never knew about him or heard of him. However the true fans and the ones that do respect and love his music it was a joyous reminiscence. I grew up loving his music and displayed his albums with pride. He was my stepping stone for the love that I have for the Salsa music today. He was the pioneer and one of the major factors in putting Salsa on the map. i would've preferred to sit down and watch a more positive movie on his life. However It takes nothing away on the joy and excitement that i felt to hear his music on the big screen. May he rest in peace and his memories will remain bright through his fans and admirers such as myself.