FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Cadillac Records [DVD] [2008]

Cadillac Records [DVD] [2008]
enlarge	Director: Darnell Martin Actors: Beyonce Knowles, Columbus Short, Eamonn Walker, Gabrielle Union, Mos Def Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£15.99~~ Buy New: £4.70 as of 21/11/2009 03:19 GMT details You Save: £11.29 (71%) New (13) Used (2) from £3.50 Seller: films-on-line Rating: 5 reviews Sales Rank: 1843 Format: PAL Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 104 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5035822033139 ASIN: B00283PUPM Theatrical Release Date: 2008 Release Date: July 20, 2009 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review An energised and passionate, if selective, telling of the story of Chess Records, emCadillac Records/em is a worthy entry in the niche genre of movies about rock and roll roots. Adrien Brody plays Leonard Chess, who started Chess Records in Chicago in 1947 and turned the label into an important force for blues, rhythm and blues, gospel and, in time, early rock and roll. emCadillac Records/em focuses on Chess' relationship with his first significant artist, Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), and the label's rise and expansion with the addition of such talents as Little Walter (Columbus Short), Willie Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and Etta James (Beyonce Knowles). pWritten and directed by Darnell Martin, emCadillac Records/em captures the scrappy beginnings of an enterprise, and a sound, inventing itself as it goes along. Particularly fun are scenes set in clubs or at Chess' recording facility, where electrified blues never stop pushing the envelope of creative possibility. All the while, danger lurks in shadows or in rivalries between artists; also in the self-destructive streaks of Walter and James, and the sexual fetishes of Berry. But the drama largely centres on the potent connections between all these people, who don't always know where their contribution to a cultural phenomenon is going. One of the film's delights is the way Chess and Waters don't really see rock coming until Berry steps through the door, fusing country music with blues. pThe film skips over a lot of facts: there's no sign of Leonard Chess' brother, Phil, who co-owned the company, nor is there much hint of Chess' expansion into a lot of other areas of music. None of that is any big deal. But what emCadillac Records/em is missing is more of a unifying point of view. The story is told as a recollection by Willie Dixon, but in a scattershot way that doesn't tell us who Leonard Chess or Waters really are. Aside from that, the film is well worth seeing. em--Tom Keogh/em

Customer Reviews: An Excellent Film!! September 12, 2009 Reviewer 0 out of 2 found this review helpful This was an excellent film, with a superb cast and fantastic music.If you like 50's music, like I do, then you'll love this one.10/10 Thanks br / Spinning blues into gold... July 28, 2009 G. E. Harrison (Cheltenham) 7 out of 7 found this review helpful This DVD tells the story of Leonard Chess and Chess Records (his brother Phil somehow disappeared) and some of the acts that the label discovered and recorded, including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Little Walter. I've already reviewed the soundtrack CD, which I found a bit up and down, and after that and some of the other reviews of the film I approached this DVD with a certain amount of uneasiness. However, I have to report that I did enjoy it! br / br /There are lots of historical inaccuracies and I agree that this is very annoying - for example the film suggests that Muddy first travelled to Britain in 1967, when in fact his first trip was nearly 10 years earlier in 1958. However, despite these inaccuracies I think that the performances were very good, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters was excellent and with Adrian Brody, who plays Leonard Chess, they form the heart of the film. Eamon Walker is also marvelous as Howlin' Wolf and when she appears late on in the film Beyonce Knowles as Etta James is also surprisingly good. I wasn't quite as convinced by Columbus Short as Little Walter and Mos Def as Chuck Berry but Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon was excellent, although despite his central role in the record company he is hardly featured in the film. Also, in the context of the film the music works a lot better than on the CD and seems very authentic. br / br /The film does look great with some authentic looking locations, some great 50s fashions and some wonderful cars. Someone had also gone to a lot of trouble to get the right guitars and amplifiers for the performers and it's a pity that the same level of accuracy couldn't have been lavished on the script but if you want an accurate account of Chess records then read "Spinning Blues into Gold" by Nadine Cohodas. br / Inaccurate but good August 18, 2009 Anthony (Wales) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful First of all, the downside! If you're a fan of Chess records, you'll get cheesed off with MANY historical inaccuracies - why they made all these, I don't know because the story would still hold up. Secondly, the guy who plays Chuck Berry is poor. br / br /Having said all this, I really enjoyed the film. Leonard Chess, along with Sam Phillips must be one of the most influential guys in music history. Beyonce shows what a great voice she has and it was good to hear her sing the great Etta James's songs. Howlin' Wolf (also a SUN artist) was good, as was Muddy Waters and Little Walter. I would love to have seen Bo Diddley but I'll have to wait until I see "Who Do You Love" disappointing October 21, 2009 Mr. T. F. Clemson (England) An entertaining movie, but bears little relation to fact. Chronologically incorrect. Having said that it's atmospheric of the historic period, but I enjoyed seeing what Chicago was like in the late 40's , early 50's. br / br /A good cast. Poorly researched story line. br / br /The guy playing Howling Wolf was amazingly true to life, as were most of the major players. br / br /Worth seeing if taken with a large pinch of salt ! If you want a factual account of Chess records, and it's Artists maybe this isn't for you. It both entertained, and annoyed me. Why can't film makers get their facts right ?? Poor Story September 23, 2009 R Lukins 2 out of 3 found this review helpful I am surprised by the very positive reviews already listed for this film. It may be that this film is more appealing if you have a sound knowledge of the characters and the history, but i found the storyline unclear and the character performances average. The film tries to cram too much in and this makes everything hard to follow. Unfortunately, did not live up to what it could have been. br /

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