Based on the pulitzer prizewinning novel ¨The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love¨ by Oscar Hijuelos, in which two brothers with a suitcase full of song and hearts filled with passion, come to America in search of a dream. Cesar (Armand Assante) and Nestor (Antonio Banderas) are two musicians in Cuba who have a certain success. But when they make enemies of the wrong people, they are forced to leave Cuba for New York City, and the moody Nestor leaving behind his true love (Talisa Soto). They arrive in N. Y. to find love, greed and ultimately, fame. But Cesar not being able to forget his true love in Cuba, now married to a gangster. They work as meat-cutters by day as Cesar tries to organize a band and make inroads into the lively New York music scene. As ¨The Mambo Kings¨, they soon get club bookings and Cesar falls in love with sharp-tongued cigarette girl Lanna Lake (Cathy Moriarty), and Nestor falls for the beautiful Delores Fuentes (Maruschka Detmers). Complications are provided when Assante falling heavily for the girl his brother to marry on the rebound and a nasty villain (Rosco Lee Browne) gets the brothers banned from his clubs .
Apart from sex scenes, this is an old-fashioned movie that reflects the Fifties in which it is set and catches well the cultural flavour of its central roles, two brothers whose main purport is to become the mambo kings of the USA. Screenwriter Cynthia Cidre tones down some of the book's flamboyance and machismo, emphasising the eroticism of a past love -Talisa Soto- and a sudden passion - Maruschka Detmers- and a repressed desire. The film delivering a sensitive drama about two different brothers and there's a sure feel for period in both technique and tone. Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas provide chemistry enough as Cesar and Nestor Castillo respectively, playing two popular musicians on Havana's club circuit who flee for New York City with dreams of hitting Mambo music. Desi Aznar Jr gets to play his own dad Desi Arnaz Sr in a funny and enjoyable scene that leads to a climatic confrontration between the brothers. Starring duo are frankly good, Assante as the older brother is top-notch, this is probably the best acting of his career to date, while Banderas in his first Hollywood performance is very good as well. They're stunningly accompanied by a fine support cast, such as: Cathy Moriarty, Maruschka Detmers , Desi Arnaz Jr., Roscoe Lee Browne, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Talisa Soto, and two of the greatest Cuban musicians: Tito Puente and Celia Cruz testing his singing skills in Cuban music. .
Marvellous musical score by Carlos Franzetti and Robert Kraft , including catching sons; the film's key song, though lovely, is repeated rather too many times. As well as a colorful and evocative cinematography by cameraman Michael Ballhaus. First-time director Glimcher establishes a a restless pace, from the opening violence through to the energetic, swirling musical sequences. Arne Glincher is a good writer/producer and director who has made a few films, such as: ¨Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies¨ (2008), ¨White River Kid¨ (1999), ¨Just cause¨ (1995) and ¨The Mambo Kings¨(1992). Good cast and great music make this one worthwhile. Better than average, well worth seeing.
Apart from sex scenes, this is an old-fashioned movie that reflects the Fifties in which it is set and catches well the cultural flavour of its central roles, two brothers whose main purport is to become the mambo kings of the USA. Screenwriter Cynthia Cidre tones down some of the book's flamboyance and machismo, emphasising the eroticism of a past love -Talisa Soto- and a sudden passion - Maruschka Detmers- and a repressed desire. The film delivering a sensitive drama about two different brothers and there's a sure feel for period in both technique and tone. Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas provide chemistry enough as Cesar and Nestor Castillo respectively, playing two popular musicians on Havana's club circuit who flee for New York City with dreams of hitting Mambo music. Desi Aznar Jr gets to play his own dad Desi Arnaz Sr in a funny and enjoyable scene that leads to a climatic confrontration between the brothers. Starring duo are frankly good, Assante as the older brother is top-notch, this is probably the best acting of his career to date, while Banderas in his first Hollywood performance is very good as well. They're stunningly accompanied by a fine support cast, such as: Cathy Moriarty, Maruschka Detmers , Desi Arnaz Jr., Roscoe Lee Browne, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Talisa Soto, and two of the greatest Cuban musicians: Tito Puente and Celia Cruz testing his singing skills in Cuban music. .
Marvellous musical score by Carlos Franzetti and Robert Kraft , including catching sons; the film's key song, though lovely, is repeated rather too many times. As well as a colorful and evocative cinematography by cameraman Michael Ballhaus. First-time director Glimcher establishes a a restless pace, from the opening violence through to the energetic, swirling musical sequences. Arne Glincher is a good writer/producer and director who has made a few films, such as: ¨Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies¨ (2008), ¨White River Kid¨ (1999), ¨Just cause¨ (1995) and ¨The Mambo Kings¨(1992). Good cast and great music make this one worthwhile. Better than average, well worth seeing.