I had the opportunity to view Cadillac Records last night while in Chicago and I must say, while my expectations were low, the movie really was well acted, directed, and produced. It was also visually stunning and captured the true essence of that era. The music and the actors complimented each other beautifully, and you could tell that although everyone was trying to one-up the other one, the competition made an okay script come to life.Beyonce gave a better performance in this flick than she did in Dreamgirls, and in some scenes, she was actually believable as a young Etta James (although visual wise, Etta was a heaver girl than Bee portrayed). Jeffrey Wright hit another slam dunk with his rendition of Muddy Waters. His acting was so on point, you actually think you are watching Muddy himself. Adrien Brody played a sympathetic version of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess as well, but I had the feeling that the script lacked a true synopsis of the dimensional contradictions of the real Chess. Mos Def was oh so believable as Chuck Berry. He had the look and Chuck's voice down to a science, and I wouldn't be surprised if he garnered a few nods for best supporting actor in the Globes or Oscars. The standout, though, was Columbus Short's portrayal of Little Walter. DAMN, DAMN, DAMN. He stole the whole damn movie, IMO. If he is not nominated for some type of award, then I don't know. Cadillac Records became HIS film. He shined throughout, and I even shed a tear at his demise (won't give the movie away for those who haven't seen it). Gabrielle Union (who is not a top tier actress by any stretch of the imagination) was a force of emotion with the character of Geneva Wade, Muddy Waters' wife (or common law wife because from what I saw, the movie really didn't specify if they were indeed married or not).
What this movie showed in great and explicit detail, was not just the rise of a prolific blues label during a turbulent time in America, but the behind the aspects of the background of real life Black musicians and singers and especially what they had to deal with while on tour (racism, sex, etc, payola, money issues) and the theft of their music by white artists.
Go out and see this flick. You will not be disappointed.
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