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The Mambo Kings Photos

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Movie Info

The story of Cuban brothers Cesar and Nestor Castillo, who bring their unique sounds to New York in search of fame and fortune. While Cesar revels in the fame and the adoration of the women, Nestor increasingly finds himself mourning his homeland and lost love.

Rating:

R
Genre:

drama, musical
Original Language:

English
Director:

Arne Glimcher
Writer:

Cynthia Cidre
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 14, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA):

$6.5M
Runtime:

1h 44m
Sound Mix:

Surround

Cast & Crew

Armand Assante
Cesar Castillo

Antonio Banderas
Nestor Castillo

Cathy Moriarty
Lanna Lake

Maruschka Detmers
Delores Fuentes

Desi Arnaz Jr.
Desi Arnaz Sr.

Celia Cruz
Evalina Montoya

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Critic Reviews for The Mambo Kings

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (5)

Quote not available.

September 7, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Glimcher's movie knows how to let down its hair and live for the night.

March 31, 2008 | Full Review…

David Ansen
Newsweek
A spirited evocation of the mambo craze which swept post-war America, adapted from Oscar Hijuelos' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

February 9, 2006 | Full Review…

Derek Adams
Time Out
It's as if there were a terrible telephone connection between the film's vivid sound track and its tepid romantic melodrama, to which the music is supposed to give style and substance.

August 30, 2004 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Vincent Canby
New York Times
Quote not available.

April 16, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
In some ways this story is as old as the movies, but "The Mambo Kings" is so filled with energy, passion and heedless vitality that it seems new, anyway.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
...a just-good-enough bit of old-fashioned moviemaking.

July 8, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
It is always maddening watching musical 'geniuses' in the cinema when their visibly incompetent efforts bear no relation to what you hear.

July 25, 2018 | Full Review…

Vanessa Letts
The Spectator
HOT! HOT! HOT!

August 17, 2008 | Rating: 3/5

Caffeinated Clint
Moviehole
Quote not available.

July 21, 2008 | Rating: 3/5

Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Fun, flashy musical with Banderas in early role.

February 17, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan
Terrific music and a boatload of high energy can't quite compensate for a thin plot and weak characterizations....

August 11, 2005 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis

View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for The Mambo Kings

Mar 04, 2009

I liked how serious both the musicians were about music in this film. That isn't portrayed convincingly in film very often.

Morris N Super Reviewer
Nov 27, 2007

Two ambitious Cuban brothers come to New York to make a name for themselves as musicians during the mambo craze of the 1950's. By day they work hard at manual labor, at night they are transformed; but the pressures of fame threaten to drive them apart. Academy Award Nominations: Best Song ("Beautiful Maria of My Soul").

Martin D Super Reviewer