The only review that matters - must read material.
Saw this on a guitar website, I couldnt have said it better myself.
The downfall of this movie is the writer (a woman, strangely enough) who took too many liberties. For example, Leonard and his brother Phil started Chess together, yet there is no mention of Phil whatsoever. Chuck Berry made the trip to Chicago to see Muddy play, and stuck around after the show to strike up a conversation with him. Muddy asked to hear his tunes, saw the merit in Chuck and his music, and took him to meet the Chess brothers. Leonard did not produce most of the records, he was more the business man. Also, the Etta James thing... first off, she was never THat big of a star, she had 2 hits that I know of and they werent that big of a deal. In fact, in all the history of Chess Records, she rarely merits a footnote. Second, she did not save the company, third, there has never been any mention of or even hearsay that she had an affair with Chess or that Minnesota Fats was her father. Im sure it was all written as a vehicle for current media whore Beyonce Knowles to shine in, which she did.
Actually, her part could easily be called "Dreamgirls 2" except the music is better and we dont have to put up with Eddie Murphy doing a weak Marvin Gaye. She was OK, but the guy that plays Muddy, he's the real star of the movie. Great job, on par with Foxx's take on Ray Charles. The Little Walter character works well, and I was shocked at the rapper doing Chuck Berry - I figured a rapper, a life choice I consider one step above child molesting, would never understand the impact or importance of the architect of all things rock-n-roll - but he does nail Chuck's mannerisms and personality. If you have never seen the bio/documentary of Chuck from '87 called "Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll" - get to it. the behind the scene's DVDs' are priceless.... he's a real *beep* but who can blame him considering some of things done to him over his career.
Like most music movies, the timeline is off kilter. I felt like this movie did justice to Muddy and Little Walter, and should have stayed focused on Muddy till the end of his life. Howlin Wolf and Hubert Sumlin and the dynamic between Wolf and Muddy was just hinted at, unfortunately. What I did not appreciate though, is the lack of focus on Willie Dixon - the true genius behind Chess Records. Dixon was a phenomenal songwriter, able to write for other people in their style and personality. He was also a great producer and knew how to arrange for the times, musicians and studio he had to work with. Chuck Berry.... maybe someday they will make a movie that tells the true stories of Charles Berryn (his real name) - it's the big bang of rock'n'roll - part bluesman at the crossroads, part mann act, part witchhunt and part god complex on nitro, mixed with the musical and lyrical genius only rivaled by Hank Williams and John Fogerty.
Muddy, Wolf, Dixon and Berry - all could be the subject of and deserve a movie unto themselves. Cadillac Records is to them what Van Helsing was to monster movies - you get a taste of all of them, but not enough of satisfy. (and god knows we need a LOT more Kate Beckinsale in gypsy clothes... mama mia..)