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BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB is too much of a good thing. Based on Ry Cooder's same-titled CD, the rambling, repeating, and ostensibly overlong documentary has plenty of good Cuban music. (Afro-Cuban, actually, not that swingin' Mambo stuff.) Plus some humor, several flashes of obvious virtuosity, and all that distressing, depress- ing, and endlessly fascinating (digitally shot) footage of Havana circa 1998, though looking more like 1958. Director Wim Wenders (WINGS OF DESIRE) cuts back and forth between footage of the re- cording sessions and later reunion concerts in Amsterdam and New York. At least, that's what I *think* was presented. The film presumes a familiarity with the CD that I didn't have, so maybe I was watching footage filmed entirely after the fact. Heck if I know... Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez, Pio Leyva, Manuel "Puntillita" Licea, Eliades Ochoa, and Omara Por- tuondo star. (Rated "G"/101 min.) Grade: B Copyright 1999 by Michael J. Legeros Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros
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