CUBA LIBRE

The bestselling author of Get Shorty and Mr. Majestik here turns to the Spanish-American War. A cowboy turned arms smuggler finds himself in Cuba at the outbreak of the war, battling the Spanish "Guardia," a villainous American capitalist and morally suspect revolutionaries. He also falls for the mistress of the capitalist, adding to his complications. Henry Leyva uses his facility with accents well and doesn't stint on the thrills and chills. This abridgment, however, gives him no chance to show what he can do with characterization. There isn't any to speak of. However, the incidents themselves provide plenty of interest, as do the thoroughly researched period details. The producers gild the lily a bit with background music, punching up passages that need no punching up. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 98]