![]() In fact, Phil, who was also left out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame proceedings upon Leonard's introduction as a pioneer in 1987, is never mentioned at all. The movie is certainly being marketed as a Chess tell-all the soundtrack, due December 5, counts among its offerings Chess standards recut by the film's actors, including Jeffrey Wright's woefully slight version of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" Mos Def's coy, sly take on Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place to Go" and three tracks by Beyoncé Knowles, whose purr never comes close to approximating Etta James' growl.īut in this version of the tale-told in flashback, with overwrought narration provided by Cedric the Entertainer as Chess producer, session musician and house songwriter Willie Dixon-there is no Phil Chess, only Leonard, played by an actor, Adrien Brody, who, with his anachronistically tousled hair and Forever Fonzie wardrobe, looks as much like Leonard Chess as he does, well, Howlin' Wolf. For all that, "Cadillac Records" is fun and it makes you want to learn more about an important cultural moment in American history.First, a key spoiler: Cadillac Records is not the story of Chess Records, the blues label started in Chicago in 1950 by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess that featured among its stable of artists Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Etta James, plus many others who birthed rock 'n' roll. Some accused him of paternalism curious viewers are advised to pick up Nadine Cohodas' book "Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records." Also, "Cadillac Records" can't avoid the clichés inherent in music biopics: the innocent character is introduced to drugs for the first time, and is ruined by them the self destructiveness of brilliant people, the exhilarating, brutal, rags-to-riches-to-obscurity trajectory of show biz careers. There is the story that Chess put Muddy Waters to work painting his ceiling. So much more could and should have been said about Chess the man and his motivations, and the complex relationship he had with his singers. Perhaps much backstory was cut out? A shame, because Adrien Brody, a brilliant and compelling actor, is not given enough to do. "Cadillac Records" feels a bit rushed, and not as deep and probing as it could have been. Beyonce Knowles is very beautiful and pays worthy tribute to Etta James, the singer she plays. ![]() Walker electrifies the screen with his every morsel of screen time I wish that after they'd finished "Cadillac Records," they had just kept the sets up and kept the cameras running and began a biography of Howlin' Wolf with Walker in the lead. Eamonn Walker is terrific, and appropriately intimidating, as Howlin' Wolf. Mos Def is a charming Chuck Berry he really communicates the charisma that Berry exuded to his adoring female fans. Jeffrey Wright is quietly compelling as Muddy Waters. Flashy glimpses into the glamorous styles of the 1950s and 60s include loving looks at the many Cadillacs Chess gives as gifts to his star performers. Their music is great and is played all but non-stop on the soundtrack, which is a very good thing. These artists' work had huge impact on popular music the Rolling Stones are shown on a pilgrimage to Chess Studio. In the 1950s, Leonard Chess, a Polish-born Jew in Chicago, along with his brother Phil (not seen in this film) produced "race" records by African American blues and rock and roll legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Etta James. "Cadillac Records" is a fun, fast, flashy introduction to the world of Chess Records.
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