Cadillac Records (2008)

Overrated

Lack of good storyline.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I enjoyed the early part of the film, but then, after about halfway through, things about it started to annoy me. First, even though it may be historically correct, everybody smokes all the time. Second, the cars never seem to be from the decade from which they're supposed to be. Fifties cars during the forties, etc. If a studio has to rent cars for period pictures, why not get the correct ones? Lastly, some of the characters, such as Howling wolf, who just glares at everyone all the time, did not ring true. The character who takes off the doors of his '58 Caddy (it was probably 1955 in the story), then sasses the police is way over the top. I turned it off when Leonard Chess is dealing with some woman who appears to be having a meltdown, apparently over nothing. Probably the best thing about the film is the music.

People seem upset that this doesn't convey all the facts as correctly as a documentary. But the same could be said for McFarland. I was not a Beyonce fan till this flick and discovered how good she is as an actor. Adrian Brody gives his typical solid performance. Jeffrey Wright plays his role with emotion and feeling and you get a real sense of the pain he feels and conveys it wonderfully with his acting. The movie is moving, emotional, and compelling, I have never seen anything to suggest it was a documentary but rather great actors telling a story about the start of something big in an era of racism and a man that helped to make it happen. Enjoy the movie for what it is-a movie about a difficult subject that might be historically flawed, that isn't the fault of actors which give a wonderful performance.

Little Walter is my mother's cousin, making him my cousin. I am not so sure about the whole family-tree thing. He is her first cousin, so he's my this cousin, x-removed, blah, blah... Anyway, he used to hand her a copy of every new release. They grew up together. Sadly, when she married my dad and moved north, she left all of that memorabilia behind. I just saw the movie last night. My wife brought it to my attention. I had heard the title before, but didn't have much interest in the film. I have seen so many films in this genre... I had no idea it portrayed Little Walter. Of course, I have to ask my mom to watch it. I want to know what is plausible and what is over the top. I don't ever remember hearing about Walter shooting a man in cold blood and driving off as if nothing had happened. For those who are interested, my wife found a book about Little Walter a few years back. I gave it to my mother as a present (not sure if listing another product is against the rules, so I won't do it). Many of her family members are on those pages. Her maiden name appears throughout... It was pretty cool to be able to sit and ask her questions about people I never knew, that I was related to... Anyway. I've never posted a review before. But I came across this blog and thought I would chime in...

Probably no type of music is more American than the blues. Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Etta James are some of the most famous names in the genre. Less well known is the story behind their recordings. Darnell Martin's "Cadillac Records" is the story. The movie casts Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess, who established a record company in Chicago to record some of these artists. Every step of the way it was a risky business: racism was still the law in much of the country, and the artists were often at each other's throats. But in the end, they made some of the greatest songs in history.As can be expected, the best part is the music. Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles) contribute some masterful tunes, as do Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer) and Little Walter (Columbus Short). It's a great time every step of the way. Definitely worth seeing.