Product: Cadillac Records [Blu-ray] (2008)
Rating: 3.0
History of Chess Records: Great Music, Could Be Better with a Story
Darnell Martin's "Cadillac Records" chronicles the history of Chess Records, one of the most important labels in the history of blues and rock'n'roll. This is quite an ambitious project, however; any record company - Atlantic, Sun and Motown, to name a few - has a long history and it is impossible to tell it in less than two hours. The result is a mixed bag: great music and not-so-great storytelling.In "Cadillac Records," it seems, the history is less about the people involved in the music industry than about the music itself. Adrian Brody plays Leonard Chess, the co-founder of Chess Record, but the film doesn't show what kind of person he really was. In spite of Adrian Brody's effective acting, his character remains sketchy.Some reviewers accuse the film of its historical inaccuracies. Even to a casual viewer like me, it is obvious that "Cadillac Records" is not very accurate in factual details. Chuck Berry (played by Mos Def) appears with his trademark duck walk, but Bo Diddley is nowhere to be seen.But the most disappointing thing is the rushed and unfocused story of the film. "Cadillac Records" starts as the story of Leonard Chess and Muddy Waters, then Little Walter (played by Columbus Short) and Howlin' Wolf (played by Eamonn Walker) step in. While we can't be sure whose story we should be following, Chuck Berry arrives, followed by Etta James (played by Beyoncé Knowles). The narrative is weak, barely saved by the wonderful acting from the cast, especially Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters and Mos Def as charming Chuck Berry. Still, talented players like Gabrielle Union and Cedric the Entertainer (as Willie Dixon) are not given a chance to shine.What makes "Cadillac Records" special is its soundtrack music and slightly nostalgic atmosphere of the 1950s. "Cadillac Records" is a worthy addition to films about popular music and its history, but it is also a missed opportunity.