La Bamba

Not only is this a really great biopic with the real family of Richard Valenzuela being on set making sure everything was accurate and portrayed realistically (the good and bad) but it's just a great film even if you don't know who Ritchie Valens is. It's a story about a teenager who has a deep passion for playing music wanting to chase that American dream, it's a story about a family just trying to make it with their struggles and a complicated relationship between two brothers, and it's a love story with Ritchie and Donna. It is genuinely just such a great film. Definitely one I can watch over and over. The actors do such a great job. Lou Diamond Phillips puts his whole heart and soul into this role and watching the behind the scenes and audio commentary just really impressed me with how much pressure was on him and really wanting to honor this great musician. Esai Morales does a great job as well. Despite his character being a major asshole and alcoholic, you can still feel the pain and jealousy that's inside Bob that he tries to hide until it eventually builds up and all comes out. He did such a great job acting that out. The whole cast did a great job and I can write paragraphs about each character and actor. Like Rosanna Desoto does a great job playing the mom and without spoilers there's a scene in here that's just so heartbreaking to watch her act out. Just such a great biopic and one of the best music films. My mom has a very personal connection with this film from when she was young and watching it with her family and how her dad showed her Ritchie Valens music. Then as of recently she introduced the film and his music to me and I've become a big fan. Hopefully one day I can pass this great film and Ritchie's great music onto someone else.