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Selena is a 1997 biopic about the life and career of Tejana singer Selena Quintanilla Perez (1971-1995). Selena was a Grammy Award-winning recording artist who was well known in the United States Mexican-American and other Latino communities, and Mexico. Music industry executives believed Selena was ready to cross-over into mainstream popularity on the U.S. pop charts when she was murdered on March 31, 1995 by the president of her fan club.
The film was executive produced by Abraham Quintanilla Jr.
PlotSpoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The film begins at the Houston's Astrodome for her unknowing final concert, and Selena's fans are cheering and going wild. The film flashes back in time to 1961 when Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., first began the "Los Dinos" (the boys) doo-wop band. At age ten, Selena begins her singing career with the band "Selena y Los Dinos." The band is formed with her siblings as a follow up to her father's band.
Image:Selenapic.jpg Jennifer Lopez as Selena signs autographs at a Los Angeles mall. Although she was well known in the American Latino community, not many knew her very well and this is explained when she and her friend shop at a Los Angeles mall for a dress. As Selena and her friend look for a dress they are ignored by the white sales clerk while at the same time Latino workers recognize her and draws a huge crowd. Selena is thrilled and gladly begins signing autographs for her many fans. The saleswoman, however, who seemingly snubbed Selena earlier, is dumbstruck at the attention Selena receives. Selena then elopes with her boyfriend Chris Perez (Jon Seda), which is a huge problem because her father does not want men to interfere with her blossoming career. When they return as a newlywed couple, Abraham accepts the fact that they are in love and married. Selena opens her boutique business ("Selena Etc.") and credits her husband and Yolanda, her fan club manager (who would later be her murderer), for helping her. The family later realizes that Yolanda is stealing money from the fan club. Selena is told and is very upset and decides to confront Yolanda. The film details Selena's relationship with her family, her musical performances, and her romance with her boyfriend and later husband Chris Perez. It briefly deals with her murder, which is shown in a flashback scene when a white rose is thrown onto the stage while she sings, "Dreaming Of You." Spoilers end here.
BackgroundSelena was produced with the participation of the Quintanilla family. In fact, her father Abraham is the executive producer of the film, and one scene featuring the character of Chris Perez playing guitar for the family at home uses closeup footage of Perez's hands for the guitar licks, filmed specifically for the movie.[2] Some of Selena's recordings were used on the soundtrack. The movie used approximately 35,000 extras, many of whom were fans of Selena, in a noted stadium scene where Selena once performed, arguably the film's centerpiece. Filming took place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, rather than the actual concert location: the Astrodome in Houston.[3] ControversiesDuring pre-production Mexican-American activists were highly critical that Jennifer Lopez, a New York City native born to Puerto Rican parents, was selected to play Selena. They wanted the part to be portrayed by a Mexican-American actress.[4][5] ExhibitionTagline: The story of a girl who had the spirit to believe in a dream and the courage to make it come true. The film opened in wide release on March 21, 1997 (1,850 theatres) and sales the opening weekend were $11,615,722. Selena ran for 15 weeks domestically (101 days) and eventually grossed $35,422,828 in the United States. The film sales worldwide were considerably more. At its widest release the film was shown in 1,873 screens. The production budget of the film was 20,000,000.[6][7] Critical receptionThe film was generally well received by critics. Film critic Lisa Kropiewnicki said, "Jennifer Lopez delivers a breakout performance...[and] Nava's engaging script wisely mines his subject's life for humor and conflict, embracing Selena Quintanilla's passion for music."[8] Film critic James Berardinelli also liked the film and said "[i]t would have been easy to trivialize Selena's story, turning it into a sudsy, made-for-TV type motion picture." He also believed the acting was top notch. About Lopez's performance he said, "Jennifer Lopez is radiant as the title character, conveying the boundless energy and enthusiasm that exemplified Selena, while effectively copying not only her look, but her mannerisms. I wonder if Selena's family, upon watching this performance, felt an eerie sense of deja vu [sic]."[9] Some film criics, however, did not like how the film appears like a sanitized Selena portrait. Critic Walter Addiego considers Nava's work a worshipful biography of her. Addiego, writing for the San Francisco Examiner, did have a few enjoyable moments viewing the film but wrote, "You can't help cheering for Selena, but the good feeling is diminished by the sense that her story's been simplified and sanitized.[10] Currently, the film has a 82% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on twenty-two reviews.[11] Cast and ratings
SoundtrackAn original motion picture Selena soundtrack was released by EMI Latin Records on March 11, 1997. The CD contains twelve tracks including Selena singing songs heard in the film. Included are rare tracks, hits, and cuts like the "Disco Medley, Part II," recorded live during Selena's 1995 concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Not all the songs are performed by Selena.[12] AwardsNominations
See also
References
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