Latest news with #LuisValdez
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Luis Valdez to appear at El Paso's Plaza Classic Film Festival with 2 film screenings
Legendary writer and director Luis Valdez is the first guest announced for the 2025 Plaza Classic Film Festival. This will be the 18th year for the El Paso Community Foundation's film series, which will run from July 17-27 in and around the Plaza Theatre. Valdez will appear for on-stage interviews before two of his classic movies — 1987's "La Bamba", about Mexican American rocker Ritchie Valens, at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, and "Zoot Suit" (1981), considered the first major Chicano feature film, at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19. Both events will take place at the Plaza Theatre. Tickets for each program will be $10 and will go on sale with the rest of the Plaza Classic Film Festival schedule, starting Tuesday, June 10, at the Plaza Theatre box office (no service fees) and (with service fees). Valdez is one of the most important American playwrights and filmmakers living today. He has been successful in theater, television and film. He wrote "Zoot Suit," which explored Los Angeles' racially motivated Sleepy Lagoon murder trial of 1942 and 'Zoot Suit Riots' of 1943, debuted in Los Angeles in 1978 and became the first Chicano play on Broadway a year later. La Bamba was written for the screen and starred Lou Diamond Phillips. Both films are preserved in the National Film Registry. Valdez founded the Obie Award-winning theater company El Teatro Campesino in 1965 in California's Central Valley, joining César Chávez in his United Farm Workers' rights movement. It is the longest-running Chicano theater in the United States, according to a news release. The prolific 84-year-old debuted his latest play, "Adiós Mamá Carlota," on May 10 at El Teatro Campesino Playhouse. Valdez's honors include the Presidential Medal of Arts, Mexico's Aguila Azteca Award, and the Peabody Award for his 1987 PBS documentary, Corridos: Tales of Passion and Revolution. The 18th Annual Plaza Classic Film Festival will take place from July 17 to 27. This year's Plaza Classic Film Festival will feature 100 movies over 11 days, including "Cabaret," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "The Godfather Part II", "Notting Hill", "Saving Private Ryan", "Toy Story", "Schindler's List", "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", and many more. Festival passes are on sale for $200 now and include access to almost all ticketed festival movies, reservations for Philanthropy Theatre movies, special events, and discounts at nearby eateries. Festival tickets go on sale June 10 at the Plaza Theatre box office and Ticketmaster. More: Free summer concert series in El Paso: Your guide to outdoor music María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@ @ on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 'La Bamba' director Luis Valdez joins Plaza Classic Film fest lineup
Edinburgh Live
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Heartbreaking life of music superstar in 'greatest' film fans have just days to watch
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The brief yet influential life of American Chicano rock and roll musician Ritchie Valens has been poignantly portrayed in the 1987 biopic La Bamba. Penned and directed by Luis Valdez, La Bamba chronicles the life and fleeting musical career of Valens - renowned as a trailblazer of rock and roll and a progenitor of the Chicano rock movement. Lou Diamond Phillips takes on the role of Ritchie Valens, sharing the screen with Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck and Joe Pantoliano. The film also explores the impact of Valens' short-lived career on his girlfriend Donna Ludwig, his half-brother Bob Morales, and his family. Named after a traditional Mexican folk song, La Bamba features a cameo from Ritchie Valens' real mother - Connie Valenzuela. The Valenzuela family were reportedly heavily involved in all aspects of the biographical film's production. The stirring biopic is available to watch on Netflix until 31 May, reports the Daily Record. Raking in $52.7 million in the United States over a 12-week release period, La Bamba garnered generally favourable reviews from critics and audiences alike. One critic hailed Luis Valdez's creation as a "rousing foot-tapper", writing: "This rousing foot-tapper from the pioneering American film-maker Luis Valdez is the definitive Eighties music biopic. Another review described La Bamba as: "Sweet and serious, a fine little movie that accomplishes just what it sets out to do." One viewer was profoundly moved by the film, saying: "More than a week after seeing the film, I cannot shake La Bamba's people, its vitality, the freshness of its vision, and the profoundly honest way it views the milieu of its characters and the larger American canvas surrounding them." A different review praised the movie's tone, adding: "Sweet and serious, a fine little movie that accomplishes just what it sets out to do." The film was deemed the "greatest biopic ever made" by an enthusiast who said: "The greatest Bio Movie ever made! ! Lou Diamond Phillips and the cast give amazing performances." An in-depth user review applauds the film's merits, stating: "You know for a movie that's in the Library of Congress, nobody really talks about La Bamba all that much. How come? This was a really good biography about a singer who was tragically gone too soon with spot-on casting, classic music and a lot of heart." Further adding to the praise: "It's a decidedly unpretentious rags-to-riches biopic and even with the ending being a foregone conclusion for anyone who knows even the vaguest thing about Richie Valens, it doesn't stop it from being any less shocking and poignant. La Bamba is a criminally underrated movie and if you love biographies, then you should definitely check this one out." Amid various reactions, one person said, "I wont lie, I did cry," while another expressed sheer admiration, claiming: "It's the best performance I've ever seen. Great story, great actors." Another viewer chimed in with their take on the film, added: "Solid music biopic. Hits all the typical beats, but does so with a strong cast and performances that are endearing. Such a tragic tale, but an engaging one."
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix fans have just days to watch 'greatest biopic ever made'
Featuring a cameo by the musician's real mother, the 1987 film has been hailed by many as "the greatest biopic ever made" The short yet impactful life of American Chicano rock and roll musician Ritchie Valens has been beautifully encapsulated in the 1987 biopic La Bamba. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, La Bamba follows the life and short-lived musical career of Valens — famously known as a rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens, the actor is joined on screen by Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck and Joe Pantoliano. La Bamba also delves into the impact and effect that Valens' brief career had on the lives of his girlfriend Donna Ludwig, his half-brother Bob Morales, and the rest of his family. Titled after a traditional Mexican folk song of the same name, La Bamba featured a cameo by Ritchie Valens' real mother — Connie Valenzuela. The Valenzuela family was also said to have been extremely involved in all aspects of the making of the biographical film. Viewers can catch the rousing biopic on Netflix till May 31. Grossing $52.7 million in the United States over a release period of 12 weeks, La Bamba received generally positive reviews from critics, as well as audiences. Calling Luis Valdez's offering a 'rousing foot-tapper', one critic wrote: 'This rousing foot-tapper from the pioneering American film-maker Luis Valdez is the definitive Eighties music biopic. Another review called La Bamba: 'Sweet and serious, a fine little movie that accomplishes just what it sets out to do.' One critic was left exceedingly impacted by the biopic and shared: 'More than a week after seeing the film, I cannot shake La Bamba's people, its vitality, the freshness of its vision, and the profoundly honest way it views the milieu of its characters and the larger American canvas surrounding them.' Another review for the film says: 'Sweet and serious, a fine little movie that accomplishes just what it sets out to do.' One viewer concluded it was the 'greatest biopic ever made' and wrote: 'The greatest Bio Movie ever made!! Lou Diamond Phillips and the cast give amazing performances.' A detailed audience review raving about the movie says: 'You know for a movie that's in the Library of Congress, nobody really talks about La Bamba all that much. How come? This was a really good biography about a singer who was tragically gone too soon with spot-on casting, classic music and a lot of heart. 'It's a decidedly unpretentious rags-to-riches biopic and even with the ending being a foregone conclusion for anyone who knows even the vaguest thing about Richie Valens, it doesn't stop it from being any less shocking and poignant. La Bamba is a criminally underrated movie and if you love biographies, then you should definitely check this one out.' While one viewer admitted, 'I wont lie, I did cry,' another said: 'It's the best performance I've ever seen. Great story, great actors.' Yet another viewer wrote: 'Solid music biopic. Hits all the typical beats, but does so with a strong cast and performances that are endearing. Such a tragic tale, but an engaging one.'
