Product: Cadillac Records [Blu-ray] (2008)
Rating: 3.0
good... and not so good
After seeing this again recently on DVD after having seen it at the movies, have to say that even though the history was played with too much, the fact that it made people aware of cornerstone performers such as Muddy, Wolf, Walter, Etta, Chuck, Willie, etc., was one of its strengths. Anyone into music should understand the invaluable contributions they made to the development of rock and blues. Regarding the performances, they were all quite good. Unfortunately, as noted by others, many were too glossed over. I'd have rather seen more on Muddy and Wolf, the two who really put Chess on the map even before Chuck, and whose stories could indeed make an entire film unto their own. The one major flaw was Beyonce as Etta James. Her performance was, at least in my opinion, barely adequate. She simply cannot act. And even though she's a singer, she's clearly not even close to Etta's league and never will be. Beyonce entertains. Etta truly touches your soul, something Beyonce isn't capable of. To that end, why not use Etta's own recordings and dub them as opposed to lackluster imitations? Overall, a decent film that could've neem so much more important.