The film received mostly positive reviews . Peter Travers of '' Rolling Stone '' wrote that the film " runs on pure emotion " , and " celebrates the mysterious power of a music that can make you feel like dancing and bring you to your knees . " Roger Ebert of the '' Chicago Sun-Times '' wrote that the film 's " story is as old as the movies , but '' The Mambo Kings '' is so filled with energy , passion and heedless vitality that it seems new , anyway . " Ebert and his colleague , Gene Siskel , gave the film a " Two Thumbs Up " rating on their syndicated television program , '' Siskel and Ebert and the Movies '' . Rita Kempley of '' The Washington Post '' praised the film 's director , writing that " Glimcher shows an epicure 's taste in his choice of both cast and crew . The look of " The Mambo Kings " is doubtless richer than the text , which is , however , strengthened by Glimcher 's nostalgia for the teenage , eager America of the 1950s . " Owen Gleiberman of '' Entertainment Weekly '' wrote , " '' The Mambo Kings '' is most fun when it practically dares you to swoon . It 's a movie you do n't have to believe to enjoy . " Betty Goodwin of the '' Los Angeles Times '' praised the film 's visual style : " The innocence of the pre-MTV '50s mambo scene is expressed through meticulously real details and honest styling . " Desson Howe of '' The Washington Post '' wrote a mixed review , writing that the film is " beautifully filmed and flashily edited " , but that it " has nothing to offer . " Vincent Canby of '' The New York Times '' , gave the film a negative review , writing , " There are times when the director does n't even seem to know where to put the camera . Scenes unravel without dramatic point . No amount of breathless editing and fancy graphics can disguise the amateur nature of the enterprise . " In '' The Philadelphia Inquirer '' , Roger E. Hernandez criticized the film for its portrayal of Cubans . Hernandez wrote , " The main problem here was the accents . The characters were supposed to be Cuban , but , with the exception of salsa star Celia Cruz , none sounded it . " Kenneth Turan of the '' Los Angeles Times '' criticized Glimcher 's direction , writing in his review , " ... when it comes to directing dramatic sequences , he is on his own and lacking in resources to make what drama there is come to a coherent or meaningful point . " Desi Arnaz Jr. voiced his support of the film , stating that he and his sister Lucie Arnaz , " loved the story being told in this movie . " Arnaz , Jr. said , " It is an amazing saga of people in search of the American dream . It is my father ` s story . It is the story of many people who came to this country with hopes and dreams . " Tito Puente praised the film prior to its theatrical release , stating , " I 've seen the movie twice , and I loved it the second time . The first time I could n't get into it . I was watching for too many details , I guess . But now I 've seen it a second time , and I think it 's great . " The song " Beautiful Maria of My Soul " received a Best Original Song nomination at the 65th Academy Awards . It was also nominated at the 50th Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song , and at the 35th Grammy Awards for " Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television " category . The film received a second Grammy nomination for " Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television " for the song " Mambo Caliente " which was composed by Arturo Sandoval
50th Golden Globe Awards
50th Golden Globe Awards
The Mambo Kings