MOVIE - CALLE 54 - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10)
RELEASED ORIGINALLY ON MAY 11TH, 2001
A FILM BY FERNANDO TRUEBA
FEATURING TITO PUENTE, GATO BARBIERI, MICHEL CAMILO, CHANO DOMINGUEZ, PAQUITO D'RIVERA, ELIANE ELIAS, JERRY GONZALES AND FORT APACHE, ISRAEL "CACHAO" LOPEZ, CHICO O'FARRILL, ORLANDO "PUNTILLA" RIOS, BEBE VALDES, CARLOS "POTATO" VALDES, & CHUCHO VALDEZ
This film is a tribute to great Latino jazz musicians. Due to a local jazz festival, this film is getting a brief showing at the cineplex, despite the fact that its video release date was in November, 2001. That is by way of explanation because I'm very grateful that the local jazz festival was able to get it shown, here, on a big screen with dolby surround sound.
I know very little about jazz. I only knew of one of the performers, Tito Puente, because of his guest spots on the Simpsons. None of that stopped me from immensely enjoying this film.
The movie is essentially vignettes featuring the artists listed above. There is a brief biography of each musician before each performs for the cameras. The biographies are starkly shot. From the mean streets of New York, New Jersey, etc., the Latino influence rises up to produce both vibrant and haunting melodies.
The music is the focus of the movie. It is so grand that this 105 minute film flies by. In the 80's, there was an article in Newsweek bemoaning the onslaught of music videos. The point being made was that radio allowed each of us to develop our own impressions and memories associated with a song. Music videos, however, greatly increased the likelihood that we would all share the same overproduced memory of Michael Jackson dancing on the musical sidewalk in Billie Jean. Interestingly, almost all the performance in Calle 54 are shot against solid, unadorned backgrounds. No special effects or valley girls are necessary nor welcome. This is a celebration of great music which by definition doesn't require ornamentation.
The film states that Latino jazz has its roots in African music. I couldn't help but think, after being immersed in melody, how gangster rap and disco could be referred to as music in the same breath as Latino jazz.
Calle 54 is worth looking for at your local video store.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Calle54-1104108/
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMoviesReviewsC/calle54_braun-sun.html
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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2003
David Schwartz.
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