Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 28

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Friday, July 24, 1987 MOVIE REVIEW Earnest look at rock 'n' roll fame Tuc Summer Sizzles 9 I offers a convincing portrait of Hispanic life in California, from the poverty of the farms to the prejudice of the middle-class neighborhoods. When we first meet him, Ritchie has a guitar, a mother (portrayed with rare authenticity by Rosanna DeSoto) and a girlfriend Rosie (a fine performance by Elisabeth Pena). His half-brother Bob has just been released from jail, and is clearly in imminent danger of returning. Hot-tempered, impatient, aggressive, Bob is played with real magnetism by Esai Morales. But it is Lou Diamond Phillips' sympathetic performance as Ritchie that makes "La Bamba" work so well.

We really care about him, and as his appointment with destiny draws nearer, the movie has the sort of nervous inevitability we remem- By George Anderson Magazine Editor, Post-Gazette a Bamba" opens with a I I dreamy, slow-motion, color-I i drained basketball game in a I. in! playground. Overhead we notice two planes flying at low altitudes. As we are lured into the quiet, graceful spell of the children at play, the planes suddenly collide in a noisy explosion that jolts us into alarm. It is a stunning beginning for a movie, the sort of coup de cinema that heightens our expectations.

As it turns out, "La Bamba" never has another moment quite that startling, but it never disappoints us either. This little-heralded movie from a relatively inexperienced director and featuring an unknown cast is one of the summer's sleepers. A welcome, human-scaled story about early rock singer Ritchie Va-lens, "La Bamba" is far above the conventions of the rock-movie genre. It concentrates on its characters more than its music, making them all real, understandable individuals, colliding and collaborating as they push a teen-ager into the first rank of pop stardom. It is hardly a secret that Valens, 1 7, was one of the passengers on the tragic flight that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, so the movie's eventual outcome is no surprise.

But writer-director Luis Valdez does such a warm, appealing, touching job of getting to the conclusion that "La Bamba" engrosses us in its story every step of the way. "La Bamba," taking its title from one of Valens' best-known hits, 4 in VNi Lou Diamond Phillips ber from other movie bios about dead musicians. We know what the characters don't, and this lends tension and CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 COUNTRY UNDER THE STARS EARL THOMAS CONLEY TAMMY WYNETTE AND RYAN MAC-NEAL Latrobe Memorial Stadium Latrobe, Pa. Wednesday, August 12 8:00 P.M. All tickets are $15.00 Make check payable to: LeeMar Productions and mail with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: P.O.

Box 294, Latrobe, PA 15650. Tickets also available at all Kaufmann's Ticket Outlets, as well as Mosso's Pharmacy in downtown Latrobe. Phone 537-2217 for ticket information, Tickets limited. A LeeMar Production through Kendra Enterprises Attention Singles you're invited to attend "Celebration of the Arts" an evening of cultural networking where you can meet representatives from Pittsburgh's performing arts organizations to learn what activities they have planned especailly for singles. Sunday, July 26, 6 pm One Altoona Place (Off Cochran Rd.) Mt.

Lebanon Tickets: $1 5 per person, includes buffet dinner Reservations: 364-4988 Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Singles' Council TIX. the center of advanced ticket sales, is introducing the season's hottest entertainment. Much of it at half price when you buy ticketsin cash, the day of the show. What's more, starting July 6th, you can enjoy our summer hours. Which means you can stop by any day of the week.

From 11 to 6. Monday through Saturday. And 11 :30 to 2 on Sunday. So come on over to TIX Downtown at Oliver Plaza on Wood Street. Or at the Giant Eagle in Monroeville.

The season's never been hotter. Benedum Center Grand Opening Weekend Purely Pittsburgh September 25 Pilobolus September 26 Lionel Hampton and Rosemary Clooney September 27 George Benson September 28 Carnegie Mellon Theatre Company Gershwin's Oh, Kay! now thru August 1 Civic Light Opera 1776 now thru July 26 Kismet July 28-August 2 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas August 4-9 Song Dance August 1 1-16 Market Square Theatre Annie now thru August 22 A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum August 27-0ctober 3 Theatre at Hartwood Be Back Before Midnight July 29-August 22 Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival Richard III now thru August 15 For more information, 24 hours a day, call 642-ARTS (2787). AMERICAN HERITAGE DAYS Saturday July 25, 10 I 5 VH Sunday July 26, 1 6 PM to the Sheraton at Station Square (S) 'it FEATURING Re-created 18th and 19th century military encampments Mock skirmishes throughout the village Authentically costumed troops Demonstrations at troop camp sites Home-cooked dinners served in The Country Kitchen-Pknic baskets pe mulled Horse-drawn wagon carriage rides in the country: Adults S3 Children $1 VILLAGE HOURS: Wed-Sat 10-5 ADMISSIONS: Adults V4.0U hildren 6-16 $2.00 DIRECTIONS FROM PITTSBURGH lake the Parkway West lo I-79S to the Bridgeville Exit. Follow Rt. SOW lo Avella A follow the signs.

FROM WASHINGTON lake Rl. I8N lo Rl. SOW to Avella, follow signs. FROM WHEELING lake Rl. 2 to Rl.

27E lo Independence, PA, then follow the signs. For Information: 412-587-3412 to see the 'Stars 8t Stripes' of America's Cup Winning Fame July 25th thru August 9th in the Gateway Clipper Fleet Parking Lot. A aunaays i-o Closed Mon Tiies YBathl Special 'Stars fir Stripes' menu and commemorative cocktails available in the Waterfall Terrace. Winning Cup on display in the Sheraton Hotel lobby, Aug. 6-9.

ilh AVENUE Ann i 1 i I The Sheraton Hotel (412) at Station Square 261-2000 TIX is a project of the Pittsburgh Trust lor Cultural Resources VILLAGE.