Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > El cantante (2006)
El cantante
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

El cantante (2006) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 70 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5)
El cantante (2006) -- The life story of Hector Lavoe who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States.
El cantante (2006) -- Clip: Migente
El cantante (2006) -- Interview: Jennifer Lopez "On the Story"
El cantante (2006) -- Clip: Puchi's birthday
El cantante (2006) -- Interview: Marc Anthony "On Playing Hector"

Overview

User Rating:
4.8/10   2,105 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Leon Ichaso
Writers (WGA):
Leon Ichaso (screenplay) and
David Darmstaeder (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for El cantante on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 August 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama | Music more
Tagline:
Based on the true story of the King of Salsa, Hector Lavoe. more
Plot:
The life story of Hector Lavoe who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Lopez 'worried about forgetting how to act'
 (From digitalspy. 4 June 2009, 7:54 AM, PDT)

Lopez Dumps Her Manager
 (From WENN. 26 September 2006)

User Comments:
It is a decent film, just not brilliant more

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Alfredo Suarez ... Salsa dancer

Vianca Mercedes ... Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny A. Abeckaser ... Sound Engineer

Douglas J. Aguirre ... Multi- Media Producer

Marc Anthony ... Hector Lavoe
Christopher Becerra ... Tito

Denise Blasor ... Voice over artist (voice)

Michael Caputo ... Salsa Dancer

Ivan Cardona ... Salsa Dancer

Federico Castelluccio ... Jerry Masucci

Marcus Collins ... Photographer
Abraham DeFunes ... Family Member

Anibal De Gracia ... Trombonist
Romi Dias ... Priscilla

Glenda Dopazo ... Carmen

Brother Eden Douglas ... Street SaxMan -1987 (as Brother Douglas)
Vaneik Echeverria ... Bartender 1
Jared Everleth ... Tito - 4 yrs.old

J. Teddy Garces ... (voice)

Melissa Gonzalez ... Fania All Star Groupie
Bernard Hernandez ... Tito

Vincent Laresca ... Ralph Mercado

Hector A. Leguillow ... Pianist for Hector Lavoe Band,1968 Band

Jennifer Lopez ... Puchi

Deirdre Lorenz ... Willie's Girl
David Marquez ... Boogaloo Line Dancer

Chiko Mendez ... Backup Singer

Jack Mulcahy ... Doctor

Andrea Navedo ... Puchi's sister

John Ortiz ... Willie Colón
Melissa Otero ... Salsa Dancer

Antone Pagan ... Papo (Puchi's Brother)

Jerry Perez ... Salsa Dancer

Manny Perez ... Eddie

Jorge Pupo ... Trombonist: Hector Lavoe Band, Willie Colón Band, Fania All Stars Orquestra
Edwin Rivera ... Marc Anthony's Best Friend
Yan Ruiz ... Voice Over (voice)
Lou Torres ... Dayplayer / Piano Player

Nelson Vasquez ... Johnny Pacheco
Richie Viruet ... Trumpet player
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Who Killed Hector Lavoe? (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for drug use, pervasive language and some sexuality.
Runtime:
USA:106 min | Canada:116 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
USA
Language:
Spanish | English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Filming Locations:
New York, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to the DVD commentary, the film was shot in only 33 days. more
Quotes:
Puchi: Hector never knew how much people loved him. And that's the thing. It's like he didn't want to know. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'El Cantante' (#14.18)" (2007) more
Soundtrack:
Aguanile more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 23 people found the following comment useful:-
It is a decent film, just not brilliant, 5 August 2007
7/10
Author: (d.y.a.fernandez@gmail.com) from Australia

I am a massive Lavoe fan. Ever since I heard the Cosa Nuestra album with Willie. From then I made it a point to look for every bit of music he ever did. So for me this was my most anticipated movie of the year.

The good news about this film is that Jennifer and Marc do a great job of acting. Marc in particular is quite brilliant as Hector. Even his singing is decent (but of course he can't touch Hector). The cinematography is good too. Love the visuals, they've given the movie a 70's look to it which I really dug, made it more authentic. Also, every time there is a stage and the band is playing is amazing. Also, the other casting is superb - Willie Colon, Ralph Mercado, Jerry Massucci were all perfectly cast.

Bad news... it is historically inaccurate, the music is all over the place, you would think it would follow some sort of chronology. There is too much Pucchi, I know the story is told through Pucchi's eyes but it takes away from the Hector story and it means that there is too much Jennifer in it. There are parts where you see Anthony performing a killer Hector track with the band and the focus should be just Hector but the director just has to show Lopez... it doesn't work and it's overkill.

But, I think the biggest problem will be a problem mainly for non salsa listening people (and that includes latinos). I've been reading a lot of reviews by non-latinos and they just don't get why Hector was big. They don't get it because they didn't grow up with salsa and they have no history behind it. The movie is very matter-of-fact that Hector is a legend and for someone who doesn't listen to 70's salsa or wasn't brought up with it they aren't going to understand that. In salsafied countries like Colombia, Peru, Puerto Rico, Panama, etc it won't matter because Hector is a legend. But in Australia, Britain, Europe, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, China, and non-Latin US (basically any country without a history of listening to salsa) forget it. It will matter big! So I have to agree, that's what Ray did really well... explain why Ray was big and that's why it translated even in non-English countries.

Also, I think the opportunity was missed to go into a bigger story of the salsa revolution in the 70's. This music sold millions and it sold all over Latin America and even West Africa where countries were known to be fanatical about (even though they didn't understand Spanish!). To this day it's legacy is still felt, if you go to Callao in Peru, Hector's image has been painted on walls there, go to Cali in Colombia and the people worship him, etc.

I also have to agree there was way too much on the drugs, and Hector's legacy, fame, and legend were not because he took drugs, it was because the music, lyrics and his persona touched people. He was tortured but he must have been happy at times too.

My wife and I are both Hector fans (though i am the fanatic) and we both enjoyed the movie, we will actually buy the DVD when it comes out. It could've been better though.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for El cantante (2006)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Was Hector Lavoe Bi? sbowish
More Song Help jraejack63
Mark Anthony and Jennifer Lopez PLEASE READ AND RESPOND ! THANKS !!!!!!! paulsfan
Escándalo latino_heat44
Song help please! ricana_negra84
There are many other spanish actress why her boyhire21
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson I'm Not There. What's Love Got to Do with It Walk the Line Across the Universe
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Biography section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.