Cadillac Records

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Director: Darnell Martin

Stars: Beyoncé Knowles, Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def, Adrien Brody

Year: 2008 Running Time: 109 mins Rating:

The story of one of the most influential record labels in music history, Cadillac Records follows entrepreneur Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) as he takes black music to the masses in 1940s Chicago. With a host of top-notch actors playing music legends like Etta James (Beyoncé) and Chuck Berry (Mos Def), this is a compelling account of the birth of modern music as we know it.

Review

In late 1940s Chicago, bar owner Leonard Chess (Brody) recognises the potential of a ramshackle blues duo made up of gravel-throated guitar man Muddy Waters (Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Short).

Setting up his own record company, Chess Records, the enterprising Polish immigrant soon sends Muddy and his troubled bandmate to the top of the charts.

As the money begins pouring in, Chess unearths more talent in the form of Howlin' Wolf (Walker), Etta James (Knowles) and Chuck Berry (Mos Def), making the all important cross-over into the mainstream and taking so-called 'race music' to an enthusiastic white audience.

While these prodigious talents' output begins to change the face of music forever, the pitfalls of success and Leonard's somewhat underhand business practices threaten to tear apart what he lovingly refers to as the 'Chess Records family'.