DVD is nu met Nederlandse ondertitels (optioneel) én regio-vrij, dus nu ook af te spelen op alle DVD spelers. (13 februari 2009)
Al heel snel na de Amerikaanse bioscoop release is er nu de USA-DVD release van El Cantante, een film over het leven van salsa legende Hector Lavoe, starring Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez. Het schijnt dat de film al op vele straathoeken illegaal te koop is in de USA met als gevolg dat daarom het bioscoop bezoek zwaar tegenvalt. (29 oktober 2007

The DVD features never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage with a revealing new making-of documentary and a director and writer audio commentary.
Based on the life of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, director Leon Ichaso's EL CANTANTE, follows the beloved Puerto Rican performer (played by Marc Anthony) as he moves to New York City, and rises through the Bronx's vibrant Latin music scene during the 1960s and '70s. Singing with popular trombonist/bandleader Willie Colon (John Ortiz), Lavoe goes on to a successful solo career, but along the way, he becomes a drug addict, sabotaging not only his music, but his relationship with Puchi (a.k.a. Nilda Roman, portrayed by Jennifer Lopez). Helmed by Ichaso (PINERO) with documentary-like realism, and carried by Anthony, who bears a striking (albeit thinner) resemblance to Lavoe, EL CANTANTE thoughtfully depicts the rise and fall of a remarkably talented vocalist unable to shake debilitating addiction. Husband and wife in real life, Anthony and Lopez reveal a convincing chemistry, and the movie bolsters the Puchi role to give J. Lo more screen time, an aesthetic decision than allows her gentle-yet-determined presence to play off of Anthony’s troubled Lavoe. While off-stage drama receives its share of attention in EL CANTANTE, the film also wisely shines the spotlight on Lavoe’s charismatic performances, which are captured with grace and gusto by Anthony, a beloved singer in his own right. For fans of Lavoe, Anthony, and Lopez, this labor-of-love project is a must-see biopic that depicts the joy of Latin music against an otherwise difficult backdrop.
"Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony both did an excellent job in their portrayals of Lavoe and the fiery Puchi and the way it was shot, the music, etc. was very good too. I wish they could've been more detailed about the deaths of Hector himself of AIDS in 1993, Hector and Puchi's son, young Hector Jr., who was killed in a gun accident in 1987, as well as Puchi's own tragic death in 2002. "
Check ook de prachtige soundtrack van Marc Anthony - El Cantante

"El cantante" Trailer definitivo