Cadillac Records
by Admin on Nov.20, 2009, under Latest Celebrity Gossip
Description
Cadillac Records chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess’ (Adrien Brody) Chess Records and its recording artists including Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Willie Dixon (Cedric The Entertainer) and the great Etta James (Beyonce Knowles). In this tale of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s, the film follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s greatest musical legends.Amaz… More >>
November 20th, 2009 on 4:31 pm
I’m a Stone’s fan. And i’ve heard that Muddy Waters had a profound impact on their origination and style, even to this day. Drugs, alcohol and money continue to destroy regardless of race, religion or goal. One has to admire a hard working young man going from picking crops in the field to making music. However, paranoia and the desire for more is so destructive. This reminded me of the recent “Walk the Line” movie. And for years i’ve heard about the struggles of Chuck Berry. I’d love to see a sequel that goes from this era of R&B and shows Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” generation. So many of the musicians and singers are still around, and this would tie together a wonderful story of a beginning, a middle and maybe a 3rd movie that takes us to Jimmy Buffett, Greatful Dead as well as breakups of groups such as the Beatles, Beach Boys and others. Each generation needed something and got it, but at what price to the consumer and the artist. someone always wants to be bigger, better, richer. In the end it is destruction, death, hostility and hate, with some great music along the path.
Rating: 2 / 5
November 20th, 2009 on 6:10 pm
This product was received in excellent condition – “new”. Exceptional delivery time – very pleased. Enjoyed movie to the fullest!
Rating: 5 / 5
November 20th, 2009 on 6:14 pm
dvd.delivery was swift and i enjoyed the film. was’nt to keen of all the swearing in it but thats today’s films.
Rating: 3 / 5
November 20th, 2009 on 8:09 pm
Cadillac Records tells the story of Chess Records, a recording company founded by the two Chess brothers. Chess Record helped make Etta James, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf and so many more artists famous or even living legends; and that’s wonderful. The plot moves along at a good pace although this is not the way things happened in real life and that’s a shame. For example, there were two Chess brothers but in this film we only see one of them, Leonard Chess. The plot is also a bit complicated since there are several principle actors in this film. Nevertheless, Cadillac Records is a story about music and race relations; it provides a great deal of insight into just how well good music brought about positive change in American society. The cinematography is excellent and the choreography for the crowded fight scenes really shines. The acting is outstanding.
The movie itself begins with a brief shot of Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer) who narrates at times to tell the entire story as a flashback. We quickly meet Leonard Chess (Adrian Brody), an ambitious young man who wants to get ahead in this world. Leonard first opens a club in Chicago; but just about the time he meets a few budding artists including Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter (Columbus Short) and Jimmy Rogers (Kevin Mambo), Leonard’s nightclub mysteriously burns down. Leonard takes the insurance money and buys space for a recording studio–and after a few bribes to some disc jockeys he gets his first recordings from these artists onto the airwaves. Their careers take off like soaring jets and Chess Records clearly will be around to stay. Leonard also starts a tradition that if a singer makes a hit record he will reward them with a Cadillac. Over time other budding artists including Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles) become part of the “family” that is Chess Records.
It’s fascinating to watch the movie; we see how fatherly Leonard Chess is to his team. For example, Chess always makes sure that Muddy Waters has some money to get by long after Muddy’s records have stopped selling. Unfortunately, however, we also see Leonard begin to cheat on his wife Revetta (Emmanuelle Chriqui) with Etta James; and Muddy Waters and other musicians sometimes accuse Leonard of taking advantage of them. In addition, these musicians carry enough weapons on them to make me think this is some kind of gangster movie cloaked in the guise of a musical! There’s much more action in this movie, too.
But the plot is really not the true message of this film. It’s particularly important to tell this story because so few people remember who Muddy Waters was; they may not own any of his albums and I myself had never heard of Howlin’ Wolf or Willie Dixon. I enjoyed some incredible acting as the movie shows the creative and interpersonal tensions between them that must have built up over years of working together so closely.
The DVD has a couple of featurettes about the film and how they made it happen. There are deleted scenes and we get an optional commentary with writer/director Darnell Martin.
Cadillac Records may not be the most truthful take on the history of Chess Records; but it packs a punch and it’s quite enjoyable. You’ll learn a lot about some great musicians, all of whom broke ground in their day. I highly recommend this for music aficionados and musicals in general.
Rating: 4 / 5
November 20th, 2009 on 8:46 pm
I’d seen Beyonce in “Carmen,” whatever that movie was with Cuba Gooding Jr., and “Dreamgirls,” and I was not impressed with her performance in any of the films, so seeing her in this one didn’t make me want to run out and see it. Instead I rushed to the theater as soon as I found out that Mos Def and Columbus Short were in the film, plus I enjoyed seeing the guy who plays Muddy Waters on the CNN Show with D.L. Hughley.
Mos Def, as usual, played his part to a tea. It always amazes me to find out he wanted to be an actor first instead of a hip hop lyricist, but he’s excellent at both. I hope he never quits either, and I loved his role as Chuck Berry, specifically when he performed. Columbus Short as Walter was crazy. Once again, (like in “Stomp the Yard) he played a character with a hair-trigger temper, and he did it well. I LOVED his hair in this film. He was definitely “pretty,” and Walter’s antics had everybody in the theater laughing or gasping. The actor who played Muddy Waters did a phenomenal job, as he does in other movies I’ve seen him in (although I can’t think of any offhand). But what threw me was that I thoroughly enjoyed Beyonce’s performance. I just about covered my ears every time she cursed because it sounded so crazy coming out of her mouth, but she was cursing like an episode of “Def Comedy Jam.” She reached deep down into a diva aura for this one and did great!
I also liked the performance of the Jewish guy who was the manager of Chess Records, specifically his romantic scenes. I was impressed. Actually every single person in the film played their role nicely. I couldn’t think of anybody I’d rather see play their parts than them.
Basically the movie is about different African American firsts and greats in the R&B and Rock n’ Roll market who are trying to make a career in music, rise above segregation, deal with music being stolen from them from other artists (I hope all Elvis Presley fans and Beach Boys fans watch this movie, but I doubt they will), but these folks aren’t perfect. They all have at least one weakness holding them back and are very human.
The only con I have for the film isn’t really a con because the film seems to be based on a true story all the way through. Minus Short’s character, everybody was unfaithful. It was almost like the music industry and monogamy were polar opposites, which made me a little sad watching the film. However, I loved it from beginning to end.
Rating: 5 / 5