Valli of tears

Rating: 5/10 (10 November 2014)

I had really wanted to see the original stage musical instead but welcomed the chance to see the film version although I did have my reservations, particularly over the choice of Clint Eastwood as director and the use of unknowns in the lead singing parts. I'm afraid both my qualms proved valid and I ended up not enjoying the movie as much as I expected to.
The story of the Four Seasons background rise to fame wasn't that well-known beforehand I guess, but even though it has its intrigues and tragedies, it doesn't feel strong enough on which to hang a narrative, not helped, as I said, by the rather character-less actors who get to play the individual group members. Yes, there's a bit of scandal, criminality, infidelity and even death occurring along the way, but these seem to slow down the action somewhat an never really engage the viewer's attention. I also felt that too few songs were used - where were "Let's Hang On", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "C'mon Marianne" and others?
Octogenarian Eastwood, better known as a jazz-lover struggles to impart the youthfulness and zest of the heady days of the early 60's, plus he gives little sense of the changing times socially and culturally. Indeed the direction is painfully flat at times and frequently goes on for way too long without a musical interlude. The actors fail to transcend their leaden boots and even over-the-top cameos by the likes of Christopher Walken fail to add a spark.
As for the music, the songs are great, the singing and staging of same, less so. The decision to run Valli's solo hit "My Eyes Adored You" is reluctantly forced into the plot, even though it was actually recorded several years after the main time-frame essayed here.
I do wish I had nicer things to say about the film, but the simple truth is it just doesn't fly at all. I'll still go to the theatre to see the stage-show if it ever hits my town, but I'm afraid this rather routine Hollywood bio-pic seems to me to rather fail it's subject.