Cadillac Records

R

Released Dec 5, 2008

1 hr. 48 min.

Drama

Biography

TRAILER

for Cadillac Records: Trailer 1

List

66%

123 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1947 Chicago, Polish emigrant and bar owner Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) hires a blues combo that includes guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short). Waters' and Walter's success leads to Chess' management of stars Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and others. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.

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Critics Consensus

What Cadillac Records may lack in originality, it more than makes up for in strong performances and soul-stirring music.

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Daniel B

Una montaña rusa con una subida igual de frenética que su caída, "Cadillac Records" de 2008 es una de esas películas que te hacen amar los musicales, no se necesitan grandes presupuestos o extravagantes locaciones, lo único que se necesita es que las canciones te toquen el corazón. Una película que nos recuerda lo efímero del éxito y cómo todos seamos quién seamos no siempre podemos ganar la batalla ante el olvido. Protagonizada por los increíbles Jeffrey Wright y Adrien Brody "Cadillac Records" sigue el increíble ascenso a la fama cómo la caída de leyendas del rock, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Leonard Chess; los primeros responsables en cambiar el paradigma de la música que repercutiría socialmente a inicios de los 70's.; el cómo aunque hayas hecho historia el paso del tiempo se encargará hacer que vuelvas a poner los pies en la tierra, no importa lo que hayas conseguido o el nombre que hayas creado, nada es para siempre. Esta trama explora de fondo el cambio social, el cómo lo que parecía novedoso y transgresor se volvía norma, mientras ellos se quedaban en segundo plano viendo cómo las personas idolatraban a nuevos artistas. Yo creo que uno de los principales problemas de esta película está en lo ambiguo muchas veces de la trama, si, hay grandes referencias y música increíble, pero siento que faltó más tiempo para adentrarnos en lo surrealista de su tiempo cómo Rockstars, la narrativa peca de tener lagunas en su historia, en la que literal saltamos años de una escena a otra, la película logra que empaticemos con los personajes, pero siento que un poco más de desarrollo tanto en su vida cómo estrellas musicales cómo en su vida personal hubiesen sido grandioso para terminar de conocerlos, ver cómo su fama repercutía tanto en su gran ascenso cómo estrepitosa caída, el cómo pasaron de tenerlo todo a enfrentase al olvido. Aun así, la película es hermosa, es increíble indagar en una disquera que cambió lo que parecía imposible. me encantó cómo algo tan secundario cómo lo son los Cadillac en la historia habla de los sueños de los personajes, materializado en su superación personal, lo que parecía imposible en un inicio, el cómo si coinciden personas con hambre de comerse el mundo pueden superar cualquier barrera que pareciera imposible de romper. Una película, aunque con un peculiar desarrollo logra ser cautivadora y mágica con un soundtrack impecable. Cadillac Records intenta tocar cientos de temas en poco tiempo, dónde, aunque muchos terminen desarrollándose de manera superficial, el estilo de esta película es lo suficientemente magnético para quedar atrapado. Personajes histriónicos intentando cambiar las reglas del juego, una película que podrá no ser estructuralmente perfecta, pero vaya que tiene personalidad.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/24

Full Review

Dani G

Kind of the same formula for all these music legends biopics, don't you think? It's not bad, but it's the same

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Thomas M

The best movie song ever adapted: At Last!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/22

Full Review

Kyle M

Does lack originality without a significant memory when mistaking it alongside its earlier copy through crime-ridden "Idlewild" plus racial confrontations as political reminders, but it does entertain with a fine cast exceptionally embodying their characters' talented statures effortlessly towards biographical appreciation of soulful music with quite a jam to gratefully be invited to openly. (B+)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/21/22

Full Review

tom m

Interesting & entertaining. Well written and acted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Geo J

As a blues musician who has has the great pleasure and honor of meeting, playing with, and hanging out with many REAL blues players, I found this movie insulting on almost every level. Horrendous, stereotyped dialog and scenes written by people who I would guess "imagined" what the blues world was. From the opening, incorrect lyrics of Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy", to the ridiculous play-acting of the instruments, I found this movie insufferable on every level. Pure bullshit.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/18/22

Full Review

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Darnell Martin

Director

Adrien Brody

Leonard Chess

Beyoncé

Etta James

Jeffrey Wright

Muddy Waters

Gabrielle Union

Geneva

Columbus Short

Little Walter

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Cadillac Records: Official Clip - I Love Him

3:32

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - At Last

2:02

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - Maybelline

1:52

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - I'm Not Trying to Take

3:53

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - All I Could Do Was Cry

3:25

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - My Babe

2:42

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - Recording at Chess Records

2:17

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - Jamming in the Street

1:25

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - I'm a Man

2:18

Cadillac Records: Official Clip - Howlin' Wolf

2:38

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77%

69%

I'm Not There

25%

63%

The Singer

83%

77%

Talk to Me

80%

74%

Nowhere Boy

88%

89%

Control - Love Will Tear Us Apart

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Cadillac Records: Trailer 1

2:18

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Stephen Garrett

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Cosmo Landesman

Times (UK)

The music is good, the suits are sharp, but it's the outstanding performances that wow. Walker is electrifying as Howlin' Wolf and Beyoncé - playing Etta James - has never been so sultry and sexy.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 26, 2009

Full Review

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Perhaps there were insurmountable legal restrictions. But the movie still serves as a dandy primer for rediscovering a lot of great music.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 20, 2009

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. And on this week's Rate-A-Record card, I give [Cadillac Records] a 98.

Nov 7, 2019

Full Review

Nikki Baughan

Roll Credits

Darnell Martin takes some dramatic licence with the tale of Chess Records. But it's an enthralling story nonetheless, and the outstanding ensemble cast - together with a primal, heart-thumping blues soundtrack - make it a blast from start to finish.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 30, 2019

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

It turns out to be grittier and more lowdown than that Ray Charles bio.

Aug 16, 2011

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1947 Chicago, Polish emigrant and bar owner Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) hires a blues combo that includes guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short). Waters' and Walter's success leads to Chess' management of stars Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin' Wolf (Eamonn Walker), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and others. Inevitably, business and personal lines blur as the sometimes-turbulent lives of the musicians play out.

Director: Darnell Martin
Executive Producer: Beyoncé, Marc Levin
Screenwriter: Darnell Martin
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: LightWave Entertainment, Sony Music Film, Parkwood Pictures
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.1M

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