Writer-director Darnell Martin finds New Jersey locations to recreate her version of the Chess Records story, where Polish Jews recorded South Side blues and early rock ‘n’ roll. Like “Talk to Me”—it too was directed by an African-American woman—this period piece tracks the careers of African-American professionals in the popular music business. Both films illuminate the creative and personal challenges that black entertainers faced in the civil rights era. “Cadillac Records” shows Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) opening the Macamba Night Club catering to a black clientele, then buying Aristocrat Records, renamed Chess Records, to record “race records.” Darnell focuses on the extended family of Chess artists. Key players are evoked by actors and singers who do credible impersonations and vocalizations: Jeffrey Wright plays Muddy Waters and sings “I’m A Man”; Mos Def channels Chuck Berry doing “Maybelline”; and executive producer Beyoncé Knowles plays Etta James, singing “At Last” and other numbers. Cedric the Entertainer, as Willie Dixon, serves as narrator for this touching look back at a legacy. Martin ends with titles noting the legal resolutions of white rock acts that stole black music. With Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Eamonn Walker, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Eric Bogosian. 108m. Anamorphic 2.40 widescreen. (Bill Stamets)
Related Stories
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Spawn Sacrifice: A Review Of The Creator "The Creator" is richly detailed, punchy, pulpy, punkish entertainment that still has highly serious subjects in mind, without growing didactic and with substantial heart.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN "M3GAN" sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, "Get Out") and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
Writer-director Darnell Martin finds New Jersey locations to recreate her version of the Chess Records story, where Polish Jews recorded South Side blues and early rock ‘n’ roll. Like “Talk to Me”—it too was directed by an African-American woman—this period piece tracks the careers of African-American professionals in the popular music business. Both films illuminate the creative and personal challenges that black entertainers faced in the civil rights era. “Cadillac Records” shows Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) opening the Macamba Night Club catering to a black clientele, then buying Aristocrat Records, renamed Chess Records, to record “race records.” Darnell focuses on the extended family of Chess artists. Key players are evoked by actors and singers who do credible impersonations and vocalizations: Jeffrey Wright plays Muddy Waters and sings “I’m A Man”; Mos Def channels Chuck Berry doing “Maybelline”; and executive producer Beyoncé Knowles plays Etta James, singing “At Last” and other numbers. Cedric the Entertainer, as Willie Dixon, serves as narrator for this touching look back at a legacy. Martin ends with titles noting the legal resolutions of white rock acts that stole black music. With Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Eamonn Walker, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Eric Bogosian. 108m. Anamorphic 2.40 widescreen. (Bill Stamets)
