Sunday, December 7, 2008

My Pimped Out Cadillac


Its last two weeks and we all know what that means....... last time to make up what ever grades and function(party) one last time before returning to the reality of home for a month. I decided to take a break and hit the movies, with choices being slim this weekend I decided on Cadillac Records. A story about the rise and fall of Chicago based Chess Records. With an all star artist roster of Etta James, Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry, they took over the charts during their time. Chess records played a pivotal part in the desegregation of the airways and creation of rock and roll by way of the blues.
A good job by director Darnell Martin (who might I add is a woman, trail blazer indeed), who's last major project was Oprah's TV movie "Their Eyes are Watching God." Excellently shot on location in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Mississippi. What surprised me the most was the cast, composed of Jeffery Wright, Beyonce Knowles, and Columbus Short to name a few (see end for complete list). Kim Hardin, the casting director, brings together this eclectic cast of new, rising, and veteran actors to create a very believable on screen chemistry.
There are a few performances that I must highlight. First is Ms. Knowles (or should we say Carter). With the release of her latest album Sasha Fierce, you can see the evolution in her singing. However, I still cant get passed her singing in movies. When she sings all I can her is the destiny child Beyonce, especially in Dream Girls, which is sad because I often loose sight of her true talent. It is one scene in the movie where she begins to sing in the bathroom, it was at that moment when I felt chills and was once again reminded of her true talent. Sadly, as the movie progresses you really don't hear it again till the end of the movie. On the flip side, she is beginning to blossom as an actor. In this movie I didn't see much of Beyonce, I saw her character Etta James. Although, if Etta James was that curvy.........oooppp now look. Her best scene would be her dinner meeting in an all white restaurant. It is in this scene you see Beyonce exhibit real emotions contrary to her everyday life.
Another star performance was Columbus Short. He and his management have done a great job in selecting roles roles that develop him as an actor, roles that allow him to shine, and progress him forward to be more believable in future roles. For example, his first note worthy performance was "Stomp the Yard", where he plays a troubled black male that turns his life around through dancing while attending a HBCU. The next role we see him in is "This Christmas", where he plays a young man in the military trying to juggle family, marriage, and morality. Now he plays (Lil' Walter) a round character where we gain a 360 view of the characters life and development. While watching this you often forget it is Short playing Lil' Walter and being to see only Lil' Walter.
Overall I recommend this movie for all viewers; it has a little something for everyone. Hey it kept my attention until the end (I do fall asleep on movies in the theater).
Overall Rating 3.5

Cast

Adrian Brody.............................The Jacket
Emmanuelle Chriqui.................Entourage, In the Mix, Don’t Mess with Zohan
Cedric the Entertainer..............Madagascar 2, Street Kings
Mos Def.....................................Be Kind Rewind, 16 Blocks
Beyonce Knowles.....................Dream Girls
Columbus Short........................Stomp the Yard, This Christmas
Gabrielle Union.........................The Perfect Holiday, Daddy's Little Girls
Eammon Walker.......................ER (3 episodes), Lord of War
Jeffery Wright............................Invasion, Casino Royale, Quantum Solace

 

Dolores Claiborne

Dolores Claiborne
Sometimes an accident can be an unhappy womans best friend. Check out this interesting classic on dvd.

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