Cadillac Records

Spent a couple of hours this afternoon with some buttered popcorn, a diet coke (my standard movie fare) and Cadillac Records. Which I loved, but which merits some discussion.

First off, the music was off the chart. A lot of this music was recorded and were hits before I was born, but I sure do remember hearing them, and in fact, Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightening” is on one of my favorite mix CD’s. And goodness, can I just say that the actor who plays Howlin’ Wolf, Eamonn Walker, is smoking hot and I wish that they would have shown more of him?

Anyway, I digress. Cadillac Records is the semi-true story of a 1950’s record label, Chess Records, who helped define what Blues enthusiasts called the “Chicago Blues” by recording artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, etc. Adrian Brody stars as Leonard Chess, but in reality there were two brothers who founded the label and I don’t know why the movie doesn’t mention Phil Chess.

The movie focuses on Muddy Waters and his experience coming from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago to find fame and fortune with his craft. He finds a beautiful woman early (the lovely Gabrielle Union, but good grief, can’t the girl get a dialect coach? Her standard Valley-Girl talk somehow doesn’t fit in a movie about black immigrants from the South in the 1950’s) but is never faithful, and in fact becomes notorious for his womanizing, one of his hits being “Hoochie Coochie Man.” He also befriends a 17-year old harmonica player named “Little Walter” who becomes pivotal to the film as we watch him peak and then deconstruct as he discovers the magic of booze and smack.

Beyonce becomes a major player in the film, about halfway though, in her portrayal as Etta James. Beyonce is, of course, as beautiful as she always is; even with the extra weight she put on for the movie she’s stunning in her blonde wig. I just felt uncomfortable with her scenes when she wasn’t singing, though, and I don’t know why. I’m wondering if perhaps that’s the vibe she was putting out - discomfort.

Mos Def as Chuck Berry is adorable. Before I saw this movie I didn’t know that Chuck Berry had successfully sued the Beach Boys for “Surfin’ USA,” because they had copied “Sweet Sixteen.” I also didn’t know that he had served time in prison for messing with “Young” (read white) women. Chuck Berry goes on to create a “new sound” that becomes what we know today as Rock and Roll.

Anyway, the movie has some flaws in it’s truthfulness, but what “true story” doesn’t? Bottom line is that the movie is good, and if you are a music fan you should enjoy it.