Whether Tortilla Soup proves to be a better movie than marketing effort—with the promotion covering food outlets, as well as record retail—will become clear when it hits screens next month. A remake of the Ang Lee-directed Eat Drink Man Woman, the film was written by Vera Blasi, who served cinephiles Penelope Cruz in last year’s Woman on Top. As with that film’s soundtrack, the music here is easy and seductive, mixing new and old Latin tunes, including a previously unreleased version of “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Lila Downs. But the album should not be relegated to the CD changer next to the latest Pottery Barn collection. If it were, you’d miss the hypnotic effect of Downs’ voice and the swaying rhythm of Bill Conte’s title song.—MB
