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September 2006
First Look: El Cantante


First Look: EL CANTANTE (The Singer)

Release Date: August 1, 2007 (limited)
Director: Leon Ichaso
Producer: Julio Caro, Simon Fields, Jennifer Lopez, David Maldonado
Screenplay: Leon Ichaso and David Darmstaedter & Todd Anthony Bello
Cinematographer: Claudio Chea
Editor: David Tedeschi
Production Designer: Sharon Lomofsky
Sound: Jeff Pullman
Music: Andres Levin
Cast: Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, John Ortiz, Vincent Laresca, Manny Perez

Website: http://www.elcantante.net/index_beta.html

Trailer:

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Synopsis:

Bring on the Nuyorican soul. This biography of Hector Lavoe, salsa music's celebrated vocalist, luxuriates in vibrant musical numbers, heart-wrenching drama and the palpable chemistry between chart-topping superstars - and real-life husband and wife - Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony.

Hector (Anthony) is a humble Puerto Rican singer who feels the pull of stardom leading him to the United States in the early sixties. Once in New York, he quickly captures the attention of the local musicians - impressed by his emotive singing style - and Puchi (Lopez), a tough-talking beauty who becomes Hector's advisor as well as his one true love. She gives him the confidence he needs to partner with his long-time collaborator, trombonist Willie Colón ( John Ortiz), and their label, Fania Records - and to pioneer a sound combining Puerto Rican and American influences: salsa.

His natural charisma and arresting voice means he rides high on sold-out concerts, dozens of hits and best-selling albums, but Hector can't escape the allure of drugs and the pain of his father's rejection. Even Puchi ultimately throws up her hands at his unwavering self-sabotage. As she says: "Love is never perfect when it's real love."

As the couple move from the glory days of the seventies to the bleak realities of the eighties, their relationship flames out in wrenching scenes of personal tragedy. El Cantante purges its difficult emotions with a touching final tribute, as director Leon Ichaso incorporates footage of the real-life Lavoe's funeral in 1993, for which thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to pay their respects.

Script Review provided by Latino Review - Click here http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=139

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