Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Micransix Crappy film

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

jotix100 This biopic about the great Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval was probably made because of its star, Andy Garcia's interest in music from his homeland. Otherwise, this HBO film probably wouldn't have made it into a commercial vehicle. As directed by Joseph Sargent, the film is mildly pleasant to watch.Not having been an Andy Garcia fan, one must say, that he gives a convincing performance as Arturo, the man at the center of the action. His love for the gorgeous Marianela, played also with gusto by the gorgeous Mia Maestro, seems to have been what propelled him into seeking a new life in the United States.At times, the film doesn't make much political sense. Arturo Sandoval was able to tour the world under the Castro regime without taking the stand he makes at the end. Of course, everything is conveniently explained about how if he wouldn't have toed the line, he wouldn't have even played, let alone go abroad, for fear he would defect. The fear of not being able to be reunited with his wife and son is what keeps him from making a clean break, or so it seems. Of course, one realizes this is a fictionalized account of Mr. Sandoval's life made to please a wide audience.Mr. Sandoval's friendship with Dizzy Gillespie gets a lot of attention, yet, one wonders if that was the case. The incident where Mr. Sandoval takes Mr. Gillespie in his jalopy to meet the great Chano Pozo, is a figment of the film makers imagination. At the same time, no one seemed to know who Chano Pozo, perhaps one of the best Cuban musicians of all time, was! Also questionable is the fact that Mr. Sandoval's relationship with Paquito D'Rivera was what it's made to be in the film. Mr. D'Rivera shows a lot more courage by defecting at the first opportunity even though his own family would be penalized and stayed behind for many years, punished by the totalitarian regime in that unhappy island.As biopics go, this film is somewhat enjoyable, but it remains a work of fiction.

Dragonshadow0 Arturo Sandoval is one of the greatest jazz trumpeters ever, standing alongside the likes of Miles Davis, Louis Armstronmg and Arturo's great friend Dizzie Gillespie. This biopic tells of his struggles with the repressive government of his native Cuba, the internal politics of his family and of course his need to play great music.Well acted, although there are no standard movie tricks and plot twists, just straight depiction of the people of Cuba of the time (early 80s) and the paranoia of the USA with anything Cuban.The really outstanding aspect of the movie is the souindtrack - Arturo himself plays many of the songs, and is credited with scoring and producing many of the tracks used, as well as playing on them.Watch the movie, buy the soundtrack CD.

esteban1747 Who gave the information of this biography? this looked to be very doubtful, and the Cubans may easily argue that this is what they simply call a 'folleton'. The Artemisa man Sandoval is a person that, within the time living in a Cuban system, understood that it was not good for his future and life of his family, but to put him as a 'contra' when he was a young man is doubtful. I saw the first half of the film then gave up because this looked to me DOUBTFUL. If you read the book of another Cuban musician Paquito D' Rivera, 'Mi vida Saxual', you will note that Sandoval was friendly with Paquito but not to share the same political ideas during the 70s as it is shown in the film. It is also a non sense to show the people from the Ministry of Culture in Cuba not knowing the musician Chano Pozo at all, and letting Arturo take away Gillespie (without official authorization)in his 'car' once he arrived in Cuba. The only part, which looked to me real was the the talk between Arturo and the American officer at the USA Embassy in London when Arturo wanted to leave Cuba because the officer raised the right questions.

George Parker A romanticized dramatic biography, "For Love or County" tells the true story of trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval's escape from Cuba and oppression of artistic expression. A well composed and entertaining production, this film packs ideological and political conflict, a love story, and plenty of authentic Sandoval music into a two hour run. Perhaps most importantly, the film makes clear that freedom of musical expression is, to the musician, as important as freedom of speech; especially when that music is jazz.