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Cadillac Records (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
5 December 2008 (USA) moreTagline:
If you take the ride, you must pay the price. moreAwards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(240 articles)
Armond White At It Again: Hates on Multiple Award Winner Precious (From FilmJunk. 5 November 2009, 9:44 AM, PST)
Stomp The Yard Sequel Moves Forward, Hires A Director
(From Cinema Blend. 22 October 2009, 8:07 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
GREAT Music, Flashy Nostalgia, Fascinating Cultural History more (67 total)Cast
(Credited cast) more
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for pervasive language and some sexuality.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
109 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
USA:R (certificate #44889) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:11 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MFun Stuff
Trivia:
Arranger Riley Hampton, who orchestrated all of Etta's Chess hits, including "At Last" is not mentioned anywhere in the film. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: In the film, Leonard Chess opens Chess Studios in 1954 or 1955. It actually opened in 1957. Before that, Chess recorded exclusively at Universal Recording. moreSoundtrack:
I'm a Man moreFAQ
What other legendary R&R and R&B recording artists are featured in the movie?Was Leonard Chess ripping off the artists he supported?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
more (67 total)
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"Cadillac Records" is a fun, fast, flashy introduction to the world of Chess Records. 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.
These artists' work had huge impact on popular music; the Rolling Stones are shown on a pilgrimage to Chess Studio. Their music is great and is played all but non-stop on the soundtrack, which is a very good thing. 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.
Jeffrey Wright is quietly compelling as Muddy Waters. Mos Def is a charming Chuck Berry; he really communicates the charisma that Berry exuded to his adoring female fans. Eamonn Walker is terrific, and appropriately intimidating, as Howlin' Wolf. 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. Beyonce Knowles is very beautiful and pays worthy tribute to Etta James, the singer she plays.
"Cadillac Records" feels a bit rushed, and not as deep and probing as it could have been. Perhaps much backstory was cut out? A shame, because Adrien Brody, a brilliant and compelling actor, is not given enough to do.
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. There is the story that Chess put Muddy Waters to work painting his ceiling. 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. For all that, "Cadillac Records" is fun and it makes you want to learn more about an important cultural moment in American history.