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Features Acotrs:Cedric The Entertainer,Jeffrey Wright,Eamonn Walker, Columbus Short,Beyonce Knowles,Adrien Brody. Running Time:108 Min. Rating:R Cadillac Records chronicles the birth of Chicago blues and the subsequent impetus to the breakout popular recorded music in the 1950s. And, a concurrent racial and musical cross-pollination that was rock 'n roll. Darnell gets the sounds just right, miraculously from actors making their own music. But the storytelling is another matter, a distracting weakness not helped by doing on screen explanatory damage control via voiceovers by Cedric The Entertainer, as barely realized blues musician and songwriter Willie Dixon. And as key dramatic sequences are more often than not described rather than enacted, or conveyed as over the top whining rather than emotionally compelling, the weaker, shrill narrative rhythms of the story fail to harmonize and pale in comparison to the music. Adrien Brody is Leonard Chess in Cadillac Records, a Jewish immigrant and Chicago nightclub owner turned music promoter who was a key figure in integrating what was once known shamefully as 'race music.' A shrewd wheeler dealer businessman, Chess is unaware when he recruits struggling, uprooted Mississippi sharecropper street musician Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), that his proposed financial arrangement with this genius guitarist would be historic. As the Chess music business expands from recording to radio and the experimental explosive sounds evolve with the addition of Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Little Walter (Columbus Short) and Etta James (Beyonce Knowles), the nation is taken by musical storm. And racial barriers seem to come tumbling down with segregated mental mindsets and government decrees lagging far behind, though not without terror and tragedy in its wake. Hope this helps you decide.Thanks for reading! :)Read full review
I love all of the music in the movie and most of the performances. I think that they did the best they could in trying to tie together all the story lines of a huge cast of characters. It can also be a little too simplistic with the summaries of events. For example, I don't think that Chuck Berry's concerts and records directly resulted in instant integration of the races. Also, there is not enough age progression shown on behalf of most of the characters. Muddy Waters looks no older from when he arrived in Chicago than from at the end of the movie which should be about 15-20 years later, the same goes for Adrien Brody, Gabrielle Union, and Cedric the Entertainer. My only other problem is the long and boring parts of the movie featuring the subtle love interest between Beyonce's Etta James and Adrian Brody's Leonard Chess. Not only is it extremely unlikely but it drags the movie on a different path for far too long. Leaving us waiting for more scenes with Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Chuck Berry. I think that this is a good movie for the music fans, but people with little patience for poor Beyonce performances will grow tired of it at times.Read full review
This was one of the great movies about an important history of Blues, which was the birth of Rock and Roll. Without the great Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Howling Wolf, and little Walter there would be no Beatles, Elvis Presley or the Rolling stones or the seemingly, song stealing Beach Boys, who apparently stole all of Chuck Berry hit songs. Chess Records was the one record label which promoted Blues and Rock and Roll. The Cadillac cars use to mean you were rich, but sadly the hot women, cars, drugs, alcohol and racism destroyed the wealth of Muddy Waters, Etta James, and the career of Chuck Berry and Little Walter. In this movie Beyonce should have won an Oscar because her performance as the great Etta James brings tears to your eyes. Howling Wolf and Willie Dixon were also a great presence in this great 5 star movie. You can't beat the price and quality, and delivery speed that his company provides to bring you the great Cadillac Records DVD.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Rock and Roll was formed from race music. Its success ended music being separated by race. This historic change was born at Chess Records. The performers deliver genuine early rock and roll sounds. As the movie progresses, Legendary characters are added up to the discovery of Etta James portrayed wonderfully by Beyonce'. I didn't know who she was. I keep wanting to hear her sing 'At Last' over again. She is sensational! The obscenities which I dislike greatly are rough and flow freely. I usually avoid it and don't use it. However, the movie takes place when I was a teenager and is so well done that I watch it repeatedly. The language is what I heard back then. It is a case of 'Take the good with the bad." I will for this movie.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The dvd came earlier than expected! I’ve watched this movie a few times and I have to say it is very informative and engaging and gets even better after watching it the first time. All the performers are great, but I have to say the standout performances would have to be Columbus Short and Beyoncé. Her voice soars when she sings! Definitely a must -see!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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