The music itself is the most reliable star of all Knowles does knock it out of the park a couple times, particularly on James’ signature song, and Mos Def is insanely charismatic as Berry, though he doesn’t appear in the film nearly as much as the ads would lead you to believe and when he’s gone you want him to come back. No amount of wigs and padding can transform her. She also shows us the racism of the time – which Chess earnestly, persistently tries to break through by bringing blues and R&B to a mass audience – with facile platitudes and hand-holding voiceover provided by Cedric the Entertainer.Īs songwriter Willie Dixon, Cedric tells us things that are already obvious, things we’re already seeing for ourselves: that these performers were hooked on music, women and cars (namely Cadillacs, hence the title), on the flashy lifestyle talent and stardom afforded them.Ĭolumbus Short gets some amusing moments as volatile harmonica player Little Walter, but Gabrielle Union gets too little to do as Waters’ initially supportive but ultimately put-upon wife (yet another cliche in this type of movie, for those of you keeping score at home).Īnd Beyonce Knowles doesn’t seem to have splurged on acting lessons since her wooden turn in “Dreamgirls.” From the second she enters the film as the tempestuous James, you want to see her sing “At Last,” then get out. Certainly there must be a better, fresher way to tell this familiar tale.ĭespite the glimmers of potential for typically strong work from Jeffrey Wright as Waters, Mos Def as Berry and Adrien Brody as the label’s founder, Polish emigre Leonard Chess, Martin too often gives them too little of substance with which to work.
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