Product: Cadillac Records [Blu-ray] (2008)
Rating: 4.0
Good But Could Have Been Great
This movie tells the story of the Chicago electric blues scene that emerged in the post-World War II era and the profound influence it had on the future of popular music, especially rock and roll. Len Chess is a Jewish immigrant from Poland who attempts to bring black music to a wider audience. The early part of the film features Muddy Waters, the man who brought the blues of the Mississippi Delta to an urban audience by plugging his guitar into an ampiflier. He is joined by the talented but self-destructive harp player, Little Walter. Later Chess brings in other major blues musicians such as Howlin' Wolf and Willie Dixon, along with rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry. The final 1/3 of the movie focuses on singer Etta James and her relationship with Chess.The music featured here is outstanding and blues fan will likely enjoy the movie for that alone. I liked the first 2/3's of the film better. But the last 1/3, focused mainly on James, begins to drag and go off course. It also feels disconnected to the rest of the film, almost like the director, Darnell Martin, was making a different movie altogether. The film is also marred by various Hollywood cliches and historical inaccuracies. This is still a movie worth seeing. But it's a shame it is only good when it could have been great.