MovieChat Forums > La Bamba (1987) Discussion > Valens-Phillips...zer o resemblence

Valens-Phillips...zer o resemblence

posted 17 years ago by raidergrey
20 replies | jump to latest

When these biopics of famous singers hit the big screen, I know that casting directors and producers do their best to find an actor that physically resembles the actual performer.
In some instances they do such a good job that the resemblance is uncanny...Ray, the Doors, the Buddy Holly Story
In other instances they do an OK job...Walk the Line, Great Balls of Fire
In the instance of La Bamba...THE MOVIE RITCHIE VALENS BEARS ABSOLUTELY NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE REAL RITCHIE VALENS!!!
I thought Phillips' casting was a poor choice. While the movie was entertaining, Phillips looked nothing like Valens and unlike Phoenix and Quaid in Walk the Line and Great Balls of Fire, he didn't even have the mannerisms down.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

It does not bother me that Lou Diamond Phillips did not resemble Ritchie Valens. It was a MOVIE, not a documentary.

[–] michelleflynn2003 12 years ago

I liked watching and hearing movie version of Ritchie better than the real one...maybe I don't really like Ritchie Valens :/

[–] bpmct 11 years ago

I thought Lou did a great job, and I'm a HUGE Ritchie Valens fan. For playing a guy who had an 8 month career and has hardly any movie footage except for home movies, and lip syncing in Go Johnny Go, Lou did a great job.

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[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 8 years ago

I don't care I thought LDP was fantastic in this!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

They wanted somebody who was more attractive as a lead in a fictionalized story, rather than striving for strict authenticity.