Cadillac Records Bilingual [Blu-ray]

 

 

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Cadillac Records is a kind of ensemble biopic that focuses on the story of Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records, and the iconic musicians that entered into recording contracts with him. Chess Records was one of the first labels to give black musicians an opportunity to have careers, and became one of the premier blues labels of the 1950's and 1960's. The list of blues players that belonged to the Chess family is a who's-who of blues icons: Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Willie Dixon (Cedric The Entertainer), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), and Etta James (Beyonce Knowles). The actors are phenomenal, playing these larger-than-life characters with both creativity, and an eye to the factual details. Adrian Brody was also excellent in the role of Leonard Chess.

Beyonce Knowles is the film's executive producer, and her passion for the music is evident. The performance sequences are plentiful, and extremely authentic. There is a mixture of original recordings being mimed by actors using lip-sync, and songs that are performed by the actor-singers themselves (I dare anyone not to get choked up during Knowles' performance of "I'd Rather Go Blind"). I give credit to the film for being unafraid to portray the musicians without glossing over their personal faults. Muddy Waters was a womanizer; Little Walter was a mean drunk and violent at times; Chuck Berry had an affinity for young women; and Etta James was an emotionally damaged heroin addict. Director Darnell Martin makes no attempt to gloss over these facts, and this lends the movie a real sense of credibility.

If there is one flaw with the film, it's that it seems to lack an emotional core. Since the film weaves such a large tapestry of stories in a limited amount of running time, it can become difficult to attach yourself to the characters. At the end, I found myself wishing that I knew more of the background details to their lives. Overall, though, it was both an informative and entertaining movie. Fans of the early blues are going to be in heaven, soaking up even the smallest background details (like men playing cards and drinking beer right in the recording studio). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it at all.

Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):

1. SASS biopic of Leonard Chess, co-founder of Chess Records, played by Adrian Brody
2. Quick look at Chicago in the time of segregation
3. Stirring portrayal of Muddy Waters by Jeffrey Wright
4. Short history of Little Walter, played by Columbus Short
5. Quick peek at Chuck Berry, portrayed by Mos Def
6. Quick leer at Etta James, portrayed by Beyonce
7. Passing glimpses of Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer)

The problem with this movie is that it doesn't go deep enough into anything, skimming the historical and background stuff to focus instead on cars, cigarettes, alcohol and assorted misbehavior. The main thing you'll learn here is not what made these legends tick, but that they really, really liked Cadillacs.

A good cast, great music and a story that could have been a lot better than this. The stories of these Rock and Roll Hall of Famers deserve more than this superficial skim.

Amanda Richards

The story of Chess Records has not been told like this, with such excellent music and colour. Its an amazing story, and although it would take much more time to tell it properly, this movie does a good job in the time allowed. Blues fans will love it! Just don't expect it to go too deeply in the artists lives, though. For example, I was hoping for more details on Etta James--didn't happen. I guess that leaves the door open for a movie about her, like they did on Ray Charles. If you like the blues, you need this movie to understand the relationships and the place of Leonard Chess in introducing these artists to the world.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Cadillac Records
Movie was in perfect condition
case was a bit beat up
but the price was great and it shipped to me within days

Published 11 months ago by LankFU

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly entertaining and historically close to accurate.
This dvd is really worth owning. I felt I was back there living the experience with the actors.

Published 23 months ago by Joanne Dwyer

2.0 out of 5 stars Histoire ou fabulettes?
Ce film a des qualités cinématographiques certaines (même si le faible budget se sent parois beaucoup, notamment dans les rares scènes d'extérieurs)... Read more

Published on April 25 2009 by jonas

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