Cadillac Records is a 2008 American biographicaldrama film written and directed by Darnell Martin. The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and a few of the musicians who recorded for Chess Records.
In 1947 in Chicago, a Jewish immigrant from Poland and bar owner Leonard Chess hires a blues combo, including guitaristMuddy Waters and harmonica player Little Walter. Waters' and Walter's success leads to Chess opening the doors for black musicians and beginning a new record label in 1950 – Chess Records. This attracts stars like Etta James, Howlin' Wolf and Chuck Berry. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.
Beyoncé at the premiere party for the release of the film
The screenplay was written by director Darnell Martin.[3] The filming of Cadillac Records started in February 2008.[6] Filming locations included Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Jersey.[7] Martin directed the film,[2][4] financed by Sony BMG Film.[5]Cadillac Records was produced by Andrew Lack and Sofia Sondervan,[8] and co-executive produced by Beyoncé.[2]
Beyoncé recorded five songs for the soundtrack, including a cover version of Etta James' "At Last" which was released on December 2, 2008 as its lead single.[13] Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, and Eamonn Walker recorded songs for the soundtrack, and Raphael Saadiq, Beyoncé's sister Solange, Mary Mary, Nas, Buddy Guy, and Elvis Presley also appear on the album. The soundtrack was released in single and double-disc editions.[13]
The month after the film was released, Beyoncé performed "At Last" at the inauguration ball of Barack Obama, as he and wife Michelle danced together for the first time as President and First Lady.[14]
The soundtrack spent 48 weeks at number one of the Top Blues Albums.
The film had its world premiere on November 24, 2008, at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.[15] On December 5, 2008, it entered general release in the United States. On its opening weekend, the film opened at Number 9, grossing $3.4 million in 686 cinemas with an $5,023 average.[16] When the film left cinemas in January 2009, it had yet to recoup its $12 million budget; it ended its run with a worldwide box office gross of $8,880,045.[1]
Critical reception
Rotten Tomatoes reports that 66% of 124 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "What Cadillac Records may lack in originality, it more than makes up for in strong performances and soul-stirring music."[17] Another review aggregator, Metacritic, gave the film a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film three stars and stated in his review that "The film is a fascinating record of the evolution of a black musical style, and the tangled motives of the white men who had an instinct for it."[19] Elizabeth Weitzman of the Daily News awarded the film three stars and wrote in her review, "Writer-director Darnell Martin clearly respects the fact that the history of Chess Records is a worthy subject."[20] Most critics praised the film for its music, but complained about its script. Jim Harrington of the San Jose Mercury News praised Beyoncé's vocal performance and wrote in his review that, "Beyoncé Knowles' captivating voice and the film's other pluses can't outweigh the glaring omissions from the story line for this critic" and "Chess Records deserves, and will hopefully someday get, a better spin than the one delivered by Cadillac Records."[21]
Recognition and accolades
David Edelstein of New York magazine named it the 4th best film of 2008,[22]
Stephanie Zacharek of Salon named it the 4th best film of 2008,[22] and
A. O. Scott of The New York Times named it the 10th best film of 2008.[22] During the 2009 award season, Beyoncé received a Satellite Award nomination for her portrayal of Etta James.[23] Beyoncé, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarmon, Ian Dench, James Dring and Jody Street received a Golden Globe nomination, Best Original Song, for writing "Once in a Lifetime"; a song Beyoncé recorded for the film's soundtrack.[24][25]
The film also garnered seven NAACP Image Award nominations, which included Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (Jeffrey Wright), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Cedric the Entertainer, Columbus Short and Yasiin Bey), and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Beyoncé).[26]
Home media
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 10, 2009, and sold over 130,000 copies in its first week.[27] To date, it has made an estimate of $11,916,737 in sales,[27] which coupled with its box office gross helped the film pay back its $12 million budget (total gross: $20,796,782).
