earlytalkie Where to start? Oh, yes. The 45rpm record was introduced by RCA in April 1949, yet we see them in a scene set in 1948. Chess records releasing in that format. In 1941, there is a 1949 Mercury. In 1948 a 1952 Ford. In 1952, a 1955 Cadillac. In 1955 we see someone perusing a 1958 Cadillac brochure, then proudly pulling up in a 1956 model. In a 1955 Chuck Berry concert, there are mid-60's Go-Go girls up on the stage, dancing alone as only 60's girls did. The now-common slang "sweet" was never uttered in the 1950s. Did the word "m----- f-----" exist as the most commonly used expression of African-American males back then? I doubt it. We see a scene of The Rolling Stones circa 1962 followed by a scene of Etta James recording her immortal "At Last"--which she did in 1961. The narrative is jumpy and disjointed, and I am reliably informed, inaccurate in many spots. But the music is great.

Spaceygirl Cadillac records has a fantastic soundtrack. Having said that, personally I think it would have worked better as a mini-series. There are so many characters that it's difficult to focus on just one. Nevertheless, many actors shine in their roles. Adrien Brody tackles a difficult role with his usual ease. The fabulous Jeffrey Wright is a stand-out, Mos Def is an irrepressible Chuck Berry and Gabrielle Union is quietly impressive in a supporting role. Beyonce, however, in a key role of Etta James is woefully miscast and her acting talents are dubious. The script is good, the set-pieces attractive and the film is beautifully shot.

bluesman-20 Cadillac records for the most part is a fun walk down memory lane and it gives you insight into some of your favourite artists of the 50's. Now if your looking truth it ain't here. Just to be clear on that. This is a Biopic after all and when did Hollywood ever let the truth get in the way of the facts.? The true story is Leonard and Phillip Chess founded Chess records and discovered many of the greatest artist who defined the blues and rock and roll. however in this movie we only have Leonard Chess played by Adrian Brody it's not his best performance he did better in Hollywoodland . the Movie opens up with the famed meeting between Alan Lomax and Muddy Waters in which Lomax looking for Robert Johnson could'nt find him but discovered Muddy Waters instead.Muddy records for the library of congress hears his voice on the tape recorder and discovers his voice. this discovery sends him down to Chicago and the Birth of the delta blues there. Leonard Chess owns a struggling night club until one day he hears Muddy playing and decides to open up a recording studio and release these exciting sounds on record. His night club burns down to the ground and suddenly Leonard has money to open his studio. He calls it Chess records and he discovers major blues talents like Little Walter Howlin Wolf Willie Dixon Chuck Berry.and Etta James. Muddy sees the money come in and it changes his life he becomes a drinking womanizer who doesn't care for consequences too much he even tries to get Leonard involved in some of his dealings but Leonard says no. he's married. Time goes by and suddenly it's the sixties and Chess records seems old style no longer in favour. And Leonard has problems dealing with his artists Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters are feuding both cannot stand each other. Little Walter has become a psychotic wild man with a disdain for authority and Leonard has fallen in love with Etta James who has a harsh drug problem. the Days of Leonard buying his artists Cadillacs for selling records of over a million dollars is gone (Hence the Title Cadillac Records) Chuck Berry is arrested and serving time and an Era goes by just like that. The Film is a bittersweet look at a era gone by when artists were bigger then life where the music actually lived and breathed and it affected the lives of all who heard it. The Best performance must go to Eammon Walker for his portrayal of Howlin Wolf. Walker gives Wolf a cool edge he knows something that we don't he's got style and charisma and most of all he's cool. there's a scene that shows you perfectly when Muddy welcomes Wolf to Chess and tells him about all the money he's going to make Wolf put's him in his place. "You see this truck Well I own it....But it don't own me" Beautiful calm cool and with a edge. Jefferey Wright hits the right notes as Muddy Waters in fact This should 've come on the heels of a Muddy waters Biopic because Wright is that good. Cedric the Entertainer is for once not annoying as he turns in a delightful performance as Willie Dixon. And Beyonce Ah...Beyonce sweet beyonce Shows us she can act with style and class in fact her songs on the soundtrack are a delight or a guilty pleasure,Her rendition of At Last is haunting. She pulls off the role of the first lady of the blues PERFECTLY! the only weakness is Mos Def playing Chuck Berry he plays the role like he should have called it in. But despite that the movie holds together and delivers a Rock and Roll Bio pic that stands up there with American Hot Wax and The Buddy Holly Story and La Bamba. Is there flaws oh yes and inaccuracies but the music and the wonderful performances make it all worth while.

dc1-1 The key: The opening titles reveal that "Cadillac Records" is "BASED on a true story". Maybe it should have been written, "Loosely based on a true story." So a lot of purist viewers are taking serious issue with the movie's departures from the true story of Chess Records. My advice to them: go watch a documentary on PBS or the BBC, and lighten up. This movie was very entertaining, the music was great, the actors were terrific, and Beyonce was simply incredible. Apparently, Etta James herself didn't think so -- according to published articles, she hated that Beyonce sang "her song" (At Last). Can you spell J-E-A-L-O-U-S? And a PS to the purists: Please avoid seeing William Bendix in "The Babe Ruth Story" -- if you hated "Cadillac Records", this movie will make you apoplectic. ;-)