Cadillac Records
- Adrien Brody: Leonard Chess
- Jeffrey Wright: Muddy Waters
- Gabrielle Union: Geneva Wade
- Columbus Short: Little Walter
- Cedric the Entertainer: Willie Dixon
- Emmanuelle Chriqui: Revetta Chess
- Eamonn Walker: Howlin 'Wolf
- Mos Def: Chuck Berry
- Beyoncé Knowles: Etta James
Cadillac Records is an American musical film released in 2008.
Action
Leonard Chess, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland and lived with his young wife Revetta in Chicago. The man of humble dreams of a family in financial security and a Cadillac. He first opened a club for African-American blues musician. There Muddy Waters performing with his band. Leonard founded in 1947, the blues label Chess Records and Muddy Waters takes as first artists under contract. Take a first song and go with this record to Mississippi, the home of Muddy Waters. There reaches Leonard that the song is played on the radio. They have a first hit and Leonard gives Muddy Waters his first Cadillac. This is becoming a tradition: every artist with success at Chess Records gets a Cadillac. Back in Chicago aimed Leonard Chess and his brother Phil a new studio and takes other artists such as the harmonica player Little Walter under his wing. The label produced hit after hit. Finally, they discover with Chuck Berry the Blue Star, which reaches across the country with his style of music, the white youth. Now the only thing missing is a female star. With the young Etta James you will find a voice, but has to Leonard not only an artistic appeal, but also the private interests him. Also Etta feels attracted to Leonard, however, knows that he will never be her life partner. Leonard finally leaves his company. He gets into his Cadillac, looks one last time its logo in the rearview mirror and dies at the next turn of a heart attack. Leonard Chess is dead, but the history of the Blue Stars of Chess Records continues. Muddy Waters is flying to London and his world career starts.
Background
The plot of Cadillac Records is based roughly on the true story of Leonard Chess and operated by his brother Philip record label Chess Records, which is considered one of the most important labels for blues and other varieties of black music. With Chess Records launched the careers of Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin 'Wolf, Willie Dixon and other musicians are inextricably linked.
Reviews
Josef Schnelle wrote in the Berliner Zeitung, the film acts like a film version of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He finds that director Darnell Martin, however, have given little trouble with the zeitgeist of the 1950s and the policy environment.
According to Sebastian Handke in the Tagesspiegel the film one of the best music films is long and Beyoncé show with her moving portrayal that it could be more for movies than just the face and voice.
Awards
The song Once in a Lifetime by Beyoncé Knowles in 2009 received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Song. The film was also a Black Reel Award in 2008 for Best African-American film. The actors were honored with the Ensemble Price and Jeffrey Wright as Best Supporting Actor.