Selena

3.5/4



Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Constance Marie



Rated PG for Some Thematic Material and Mild Language\



Selena was a family act, and that is the heart of this movie. Movies have been charting the rise of the stars for as long as there have been movies, but what makes "Selena" so special is that this is the story of a family. For as much success as Selena got, her family was right there beside her experiencing it with her.



The story of Selena actually begins in the 1960s when her father tried (and failed) to get his own career going. However, it was by accident that he discovered that his daughter had a natural singing voice. So he decides to start a band (much to everyone's initial shock and displeasure). Through a lot of hard work and time, Selena (Lopez) eventually becomes one of the most influential Latin artists of all time.



But Gregory Nava, who wrote and directed the film, is less interested in her career than in who she was. We know the showbusiness clichés. Nava understands this and instead concentrates on the dynamics of the Quintanilla family. For them, the family and the band (Selena y Los Dinos if you want to get technical) are one. They have fused. It's interesting to see one filtered through the other.



The real star of the show is Jennifer Lopez in the title role, and she's sensational. Selena is tremendously talented but also a hard worker who is close with her family. She's unfailingly optimistic and energetic, but she's impulsive and prone to make mistakes when it comes to love. A role like this is tricky for an actor because the character can come off as too good to be true or insufferable. Neither is the case with Lopez, who in addition to having an uncanny resemblance to the woman she portrays, dominates the screen with sheer presence. Tabloid drama and marketing turning herself into J Lo has almost camouflaged the fact that when she really works at it, Lopez is a real actress. It's no surprise to me why this movie turned the actress into a sensation.



Lopez is surrounded by two strong supporting players: Edward James Olmos and Jon Seda. As her father, Olmos almost obsessively wants her to achieve his dreams and cautions her about the mistakes he made when he had his shot. But as a father, he is incapable of seeing her as Selena the woman and artist. To him, she's still his little girl. Both of these forces lead to some intriguing, and tense, scenes. As the bad boy with a heart, Jon Seda doesn't have the deepest or most original character, and to be quite frank, he isn't up there with Lopez and Olmos. But he's solid and the chemistry between him and his co-star is palpable enough for that aspect of the film to carry weight.



The film is not perfect. There are times when it falls into the biopic clichés that feel obligatory rather than real, and the dialogue feels artificial at times. And as captivating as Lopez is to watch when Selena is on stage, some of these concert scenes go on for too long, and one is edited like a music video (which is not a compliment).



I do applaud the way Nava handles the death of Selena. The murder takes place off screen, but he does show its aftermath. That's the correct approach. Selena was so full of life that to show her murder would almost be a betrayal of who she was. The film closes with real footage of the star in appearances that were recreated for the movie. This is manipulative, but it's done well and in good taste.



Even if you aren't a fan of pop music or have no idea who Selena was, this movie is well worth checking out.