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| Movie Review: Cadillac Records Alternate Title: In the Beginning...
Story: So does it matter if
history is fudged, scrambled and rewritten if we get to listen to some
wonderful music? As far as we were concerned - it did not matter at
all. Written and directed by Darnell Martin, this 'based
on a true story' tale attempts to portray the beginnings of rock 'n
roll, via Chicago's Chess Records. Leonard Chess (they did not
include his brother, Phil at all) scours the streets of Chicago looking
for talented black musicians and ultimately starts a record company.
We meet so many fascinating recording artists along the way that could
have their own feature length films that one's head spins. But then
there is the music. The film scratches the surface about the many
socio-economic topics of the time and then we listen to some more fabulous
music. Issues of race, infidelity, drugs, booze, guns and payola are
thrown in between the amazing music. There are small treasures throughout
the film that allowed me to overlook some lesser moments. The beginning of rock 'n roll was not pretty
- but it sure sounds good. Take a holiday break and toe tap to the music. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QJyAXfG8NM Watch the real Etta James singing 'At Last':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edGDt5izxIg Acting: Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess hits the perfect
mark. He is one fine actor. Jeffrey Wright as Muddy
Waters can do no wrong in my book. Gabrielle Union
as the long suffering wife of Muddy, Geneva Wade, can make you cry.
Columbus Short as troubled Little Walter is terrific.
Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon the narrator
looked like he had a fine time doing this role. Eamonn Walker
as Howlin’ Wolf was truly amazing. I have to look further
into this guy. Eric Bogosian as Alan Freed was a scary
look-a-like. Mos Def as Chuck Berry was wonderful and
Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James, nearly stole
the whole show.
Trivia: Adrien Brody is the only actor to win a Best
Actor Oscar when nominated alongside four previous Oscar winners. In
2003, at 29, replaced Richard Dreyfuss as the youngest actor ever to
win the Best Actor Academy Award, for his role in The Pianist (2002).
Jeffrey Wright won Broadway's 1994 Tony Award as Best Actor
(Featured Role - Play) for Tony Kushner's "Angels In America: Perestroika".
Mos Def, is a slang term that means "most definitely."
Mos Def Is a vegetarian.
Predilection: I like rock 'n roll.
Critters: Sigh - a previously alive beautiful fox
now draped as a stole. Sex Spectrum: Rock 'n roll is code for sex.
Blatant Product Placement: CADILLACS!
Soundtrack: Wonderful
Visual Art:They wonderfully reproduced 1950's Chicago
by filming in New Jersey. Who would have known?
Theater Audience: About eight other toe-tappers and
us.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: It could have been edited by about 15
minutes.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Here are a list of the recording
artists with Chess Records in the '50's. Muddy Waters, Little Walter,
Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lowell Fulson, Memphis Slim,
Jimmy Rogers, John Lee Hooker, Length: A bit under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 7.5 |