Fresh
Perhaps there were insurmountable legal restrictions. But the movie still serves as a dandy primer for rediscovering a lot of great music.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Overview
The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Director and cast
- Darnell Martin Director
- Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess
- Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters
- Gabrielle Union as Geneva Wade
- Columbus Short as Little Walter
- Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon
- Emmanuelle Chriqui as Revetta Chess
- Eamonn Walker as Howlin' Wolf
- Tammy Blanchard as Isabelle Allen
- Eric Bogosian as Alan Freed
- Norman Reedus as Chess Engineer
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
66%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Anyone who likes pop music or wonders how bands like the Rolling Stones got rolling will enjoy the ride.
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
Fresh
In story terms, its cavalcade of melodrama and conflict isn't always persuasive, but writer-director Darnell Martin's respect for the music shines through.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Fresh
I think music fans will enjoy this.
Ben Lyons, At the Movies
Rotten
There is not one authentic moment of human discourse in the whole movie.
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies
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