Are the rules different for Variety? Is that how it works? Yes, we realize they have about 10 trillion times more juice than us and most of the rest of bloggers out there, but an embargo is an embargo, no? Doesn’t make sense if people don’t play by the rules does it?
“Cadillac Records” reviews aren’t supposed to hit until the week of release (next week), but Variety has already posted theirs, penned by John Anderson. They basically give it the thumbs up.
“Approaching the blues with the enthusiasm of an overcaffeinated brass band, helmer Darnell Martin nonetheless makes some kind of music with the percolating ’50s biopic “Cadillac Records” — mostly because she mines a righteous, mythic sensibility out of the story of Leonard Chess, Muddy Waters and the birth of the Chicago blues. Jeffrey Wright’s Waters is unforgettable, Eamonn Walker gives an unnerving performance as rival bluesman Howlin’ Wolf, and Beyonce Knowles’ Etta James should put bottoms in seats.”
Our take? Variety is either has no taste for music films or they’re being extremely generous. Aside from a disarmingly good performance from Beyonce (both musically and otherwise) and solid ones from Wright the film is… oh wait, we’re not supposed to say. You can guess… Ps, you can hear snippets of the soundtrack over at the Columbia site. “Cadillac Records” hits theaters on December 5.
OK…beyonce…is good as…Beyonce! She is not a convincing Etta James, singing or otherwise. She is too soft. She is not striking as the daughter of a pool shark. She feels like the mildly rebellious daughter of an Ex-Xerox exec in a wig and red pumps. Mos Def is a good Chuck Berry though!