Selena
(1997)LEAD SINGER Jennifer Lopez grabs a breakthrough role as the murdered Tejana singer Selena Quintanilla Perez.
PITCH-PERFECT? Despite Lopez's later music career (inspired in part by this film), Selena's vocals are taken from recordings of the late singer herself. But the ultra-precise re-creations of Selena's stage moves and dance routines are all Lopez. Don't blame her for the sparkly costumes, though.
HUMBLE ORIGINS Selena moves from singing for bored audiences at state fairs to performing for more than 100,000 in Mexico — without even being fluent in Spanish.
HIGH NOTE Selena tears through a disco medley (including Donna Summer's ''On the Radio'') in front of a rabid hometown crowd in Houston's Astrodome.
TRAGIC ENDING The unhinged lady in charge of Selena's fan club shoots the singer just as she's on the cusp of crossover success.
