Review of Selena (1997) by Samuel L — 28 Mar 2010

"Selena" is a beautiful tribute to the life of Selena Perez. From humble beginnings, the audience has the opportunity to see a family who started with nothing but managed to succeed by sticking together and encouraging each other.

Jennifer Lopez earned her Golden Globe through her touching performance. Though Selena's father sometimes seemed like an oppressive stage parent, I loved his inspirational speeches to his children.

Olmos did an incredible job portraying Abraham's very deep character with many layers, allowing the audience to constantly see his love for his family beneath his tough exterior. This movie was just as much about him as it was about Selena.

The movie is filled with dynamic characters and a perfect cast to bring those characters to life. Constance Marie has a great performance as Selena's mother and Jon Seda was excellent as Chris. Even the casting of young Selena was brilliant.

I like that this film feels like a celebration of Selena's life and success instead of a long eulogy, mourning the tragedy. Realistic acting, great music, and an inspirational story make this a wonderful film to enjoy, despite a tear-jerking ending.