I won’t make any excuses for this movie. A low budget maudlin trip down memory lane? Possibly. Will it win any awards? Doubt it. Yet for all intents and purposes, it is a really good movie and I find that so seldom anymore.
Written by Robert Held & Jeffrey Goldenberg, Looking For An Echo was directed by Martin Davidson. It stars Armand Assante in the wholly unbelievable part of lead singer, Vinnie, of Vinnie & The Dreamers, a successful group circa 1960’s. I say unbelievable because at no time did I believe HE was actually doing the singing in the movie. My apologies if Mr. Assante can actually sing, but I never felt he was doing any of the singing in this release. Of course, Kenny Vance and The Planotones did the actual singing, but more on them later.
Vinnie Pirelli was a man in his middle years, approaching his 50th birthday. As a teen & young man he had been showered in the glory of the successful R&R star, with young ladies swooning at his feet, concerts packed to the gills. He walked away from all this, mainly to be with his beautiful wife and 3 wonderful children.
When we join his life we discover his wife had died some years back, leaving Vinnie a single parent with two grown sons and a daughter suffering from cancer, I assume leukemia although it was never fully divulged. His oldest son is a fire breathing policeman, youngest son a dreaming musician much like his father. To say that there is conflict in this family would be an understatement. But there is also love.
Through the constant hospital visits to his daughter, we, and Vinnie, meet nurse Joanne Delgado, played by Diane Venora, a beautiful & sensual creature. That she loves his daughter completely is immediately known, her love for, and from, Vinnie takes a bit more time.
The movie title Looking For An Echo takes on several meanings throughout this movie. It is the echo of the life all these former ‘stars’ lead, it is loves lost and loves found, it is a wonderful song penned by Vinnie’s headstrong son, Anthony, played by Edoardo Ballerini.
This movie is full of sentimental gush, wonderful old music, and constant family values. It shows a strong family that on occasion butts heads but never truly separates. It is neither a great movie nor bad one but at all times it was enjoyable.
Armand Assante has managed to retain his incredible sexual allure, still appearing to have those lost little boys eyes. Diane Venora is both young and vibrant as well as an accomplished actress. Edoardo Ballerini has the purest voice I’ve ever heard. Bless his high notes.
Vocals were all performed by Kenny Vance & The Planotones and included this list of wonderful songs:
1 Bridge Prelude 2 This I Swear 3 I'm So Happy 4 Your Way 5 I Want To 6 Life Is But A Dream 7 Doo-wop Medley 8 This Magic Moment 9 Hushabye 10 Sh-boom 11 Please Say You Want Me 12 It's Alright 13 Wisdom Of A Fool 14 Looking For An Echo 15 Hard To Say Goodbye
Kenny Vance formed the successful group "Jay and The Americans". They went on to record fifteen albums, tour extensively and open for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for each of their first U.S. performances. Vance was producer & musical scorer for "American Hot Wax" and formed The Planotones for the film, giving them their first on-screen performance. In addition, Vance was musical director for Saturday Night Live and music supervisor for "Animal House", "Eddie and The Cruisers" and "Looking For An Echo". As an actor Kenny has appeared in "Hurly Burly", "Billy Bathgate", "American Hot Wax", "Eddie and The Cruisers".
There were wonderful biographies on this DVD as well as the movie trailer. In the end, I wanted a little bit more. I’ll probably watch it one more time because it brought such satisfaction. I might even buy it. It does carry an R rating, for language.
Thirty years have taken its toll on Vince Pirelli, the teenage heartthrob lead singer of Vinnie and the Dreamers. Now he must face the faded glory of ...More at HotMovieSale.com
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