The Mambo Kings

R

Released Feb 28, 1992

1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

Musical

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79%

29 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Audience Member

After reading the book, watching this movie was a little disappointing. Within 5 minutes, I could tell the lead actor was not a Cuban guy. After a quick google search, I saw that he is an Italian American, and it comes through clearly in the movie. His mannerisms are very New York-Italian, and it misses the mark on who Cesar Castillo is in the book. In general, the casting was not very good. Antonio Banderas played a character who is supposed to be sad and melancholic. Banderas’ charisma is a mismatch for this role, and again Banderas is not Cuban either lol. The book was so good. I just wish the movie was more true to the book and portrayed real Cuban culture.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Based on the novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos and starring Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas, Cathy Moriarty, Talisa Soto In the 1950's siblings Caesar and Nestor Castillo leave Cuba for New York They hope to change the landscape of Latin music forever The opening shows one of Nestor's romances gone wrong, Maria a woman who married another man to save his life and Caesar ended up getting beaten Maria then urges him to take his brother to America Once they achieve their stardom in mambo music Caesar revels in the face and fortune while Nestor falls in love with a woman named Dolores but also missing him homeland Both of them go back and forth how to handle their band to their personal happiness The music in us keeps us alive and going Two fine leads in a spirited evocation of the mambo craze which swept post-war America with some lovely music

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

steve d

Good performances unsatisfying story.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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william s

Good.glitzy and somewhat melodramatic story of brothers in the hey day of mamba.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It is definitely high energy! It has so many great actors and artists I smiled through the entire movie. The music was live and fun as well. It's a classic; two thumbs up.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought the book was bad and at least the FIN translation was crass and closing to a bad porn. more than 10 years has past and the film is not any better. The only thing that was enjoyable was the music. For the rest... what a waste of space. At least the film was more .... clean. :)

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Arne Glimcher

Director

Armand Assante

Cesar Castillo

Antonio Banderas

Nestor Castillo

Cathy Moriarty

Lanna Lake

Maruschka Detmers

Delores Fuentes

Desi Arnaz Jr.

Desi Arnaz Sr.

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The Mambo Kings: Trailer 1

1:49

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

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

Mar 31, 2008

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

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

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The ingredients are good, but the film is dangerous and treacherous. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 4, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a just-good-enough bit of old-fashioned moviemaking.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 8, 2020

Full Review

Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

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

Jul 25, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Arne Glimcher
Executive Producer: Steven Reuther
Screenwriter: Cynthia Cidre
Production Co: Warner Bros., Alcor Films, New Regency Productions, Canal+
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 28, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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