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La Bamba

La Bamba

Drama · Music · 1987

Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.

Movie details

La Bamba

“Born into poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American dream.”

1987 Drama · Music 1h 48m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over La Bamba?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Luis Valdez

Written by

Luis Valdez

Lou Diamond Phillips

Lou Diamond Phillips

Ritchie Valens

Danielle von Zerneck

Danielle von Zerneck

Donna Ludwig

Elizabeth Peña

Elizabeth Peña

Rosie Morales

Rosanna DeSoto

Rosanna DeSoto

Connie Valenzuela

Esai Morales

Esai Morales

Bob Morales

Joe Pantoliano

Joe Pantoliano

Bob Keane

M

Marshall Crenshaw

Buddy Holly

Court is in session

Put La Bamba on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.