Feaure Articles

Cadillac Records
By ETEditor

Cadillac Records
☺☺

By now, countless movies have been made about the music of the 40s and 50s. It’s hard to expect to see anything new about that time period. Therefore, it’s probably equally hard to create a movie about it. Cadillac Records aims to feed the urge to reminisce about the good ole days but you can’t help feeling like they may have tried too hard to cover too much in a couple of hours

The movie began paralleling two lives: the blues great, Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and Chess Records owner, Leonard Chess (Adrian Brody). The two officially worked together when Chess approached Waters about recording. This not only began a long working relationship, but also began a musical legacy, which includes Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def) and Etta James (Beyoncé). Cadillac Records follows the artists’ dramas, as well as their sexual and drug escapades

It’s apparent that many directions could have been taken with this film. The all inclusive direction wasn’t the best one. Through much of the movie, there were several seemingly underdeveloped moments. It would’ve been a more poignant project had they elaborated on some events, such as Muddy Waters’ money issues with Chess Records or Etta James’ relationship with Leonard Chess. Even the kissing/make out scene between Beyoncé and Adrian Brody was hollow; it lacked onscreen chemistry, possibly due to the storyline’s surface treatment. The best thing one could get from Cadillac Records is a renewed interest and appreciation for yesterday's music.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
By ETEditor

☺☺☺☺Oscar Worthy

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a tough nut to crack. On one hand, the movie taps into universal fears of loss and loneliness early in the picture and continue to address them throughout Benjamin Button's remarkable journey. On the other hand, the movie is quite digitally advanced; ‘Button’ is one of the few movies where technology plays as much of a role as the actors, but (unlike other films) it’s not allowed to take over. It’s difficult to describe the film because there are so many themes and ideas intricately woven into the storyline

Fortunately, the film is anchored in a storytelling format. ‘Button’ begins with Caroline (Julia Ormond) reading Benjamin Button’s diary to her dying mother, Daisy (Cate Blanchett). The diary is effective in explaining Buttons’ extraordinary life and revealing a surprising secret. Benjamin (Brad Pitt) writes about his complicated life as a person who was born old and is growing young. After his father leaves him on Queenie’s (Taraji P. Henderson) steps, he is cared for in a rest home for the elderly. At age 7, he meets the person that would influence much of his life-Daisy, a young girl whose grandmother lives in the home. Daisy and Benjamin float in and out of each other’s lives throughout the film. They eventually come together around the age of 40. By then, they know they are chronologically going in different directions but still find a way to love each other during the time they have left. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button concludes with gentle twists and turns leading to an unexpected and “curious” place