ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

prestonjohnson I found this film to be highly entertaining and interesting. The director weaves a complex and engaging plot and the cast does a phenomenal job. I really enjoyed the music, but that is up to personal taste. Overall, I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.Cuba is like no other place on earth, having been frozen in time to some degree. As the movie was filmed on location, this makes it very visual interesting and the way in which it was shot enhances this even further. There are a number of visually stunning scenes in this film that help to draw the viewer in, and also almost feel the emotion and culture of Cuba. Of course the music aided significantly in this as well.To me this film is really about opposing ideas, and is political without being overtly so. Perhaps to Cubans it would be much more evident, but it may be difficult to see for us living outside. The characters express criticism for the government in Cuba, but also harbor a strong nationalistic pride. They want to make pure art, but struggle with selling out in order to afford themselves better lives. Almost all of the characters want to get out of Cuba, but again struggle with the idea that they may never be let back in. In the end, I feel that the film is about choice. That you can't truly live unless you make decisions for yourself. As the tag line for the film states, "Vivir es Elegir." To live is to choose.

HashRouge I saw this film as part of the 'Viva! Spanish and Latin American film festival', and can only grade it as superb. In fact, it is certainly one of the greatest films I have ever seen; for the music as well as the acting. The story focuses on two young, Cuban musicians, Ruy and Tito, and their struggle for success. When a famous Spanish music producer arrives in Cuba, searching for young talent, it seems like the two friends will finally have a chance to make their dreams come true. However, they soon learn of the terrible price they will have to pay for this chance, and are faced with a decision that will test their friendship to its limits. 'Habana Blues', though, is more than just a story of friendship. It is also a film that explores the importance of family and the loyalty of many Cubans to their birthplace. Set against a fantastic backdrop of Cuban music, it is a heart-wrenching film of loss, love and the price of choices. It moved me beyond tears. Simply exquisite.

elcubanomambi I've just seen this film at the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival and this is truly an Oscar worthy piece of art. The music was great, the story, sad to say, timeless. This film shows the hardships one goes thru in Cuba to make it big and leave the island. The sacrifices and tough choices one must make in order to live the life they feel is best for themselves.This film has great dialog, and a great cast. After traveling to Cuba for the past four years, it shows the way Cubans live and struggle with certain topics such as honest, cheating, and what friendships are all about.Not a dry eye in the house after the screening. Honestly, the best film I've seen all year. A must see!

fifo_lira a good one, worth to see a couple of times .. the characters all well defined and performed, the music is new but still reflects its old Cuban influence, the script full of messages ( live up to your decisions, friendship may hurt, Cuba is not exactly good or bad, etc), photography is great ... Does anybody knows who sponsored this movie ? I'm not sure how to read (and filter) the political messages here ... was it filmed with the approval of local government authorities ? more likely not as they show a family successfully escaping the island but still one of the messages is that Cubans are not seduced by capitalism ways and are willing to do whatever it takes to escape from the island