At the end of Jersey Boys one of the characters states that in the end it was all about following the music, feeling that urge to keep making it. It is a feeling we all experience in one way or another. As a movie blogger I definitely can relate because you feel a bit empty if you are not watching and writing about film. It is a creative process as you want to keep creating new articles about interesting subjects others will enjoy. I love that feeling, having that drive, but it important you make sure it remains interesting and keeps challenging you. Clint Eastwood did that by making the move of directing besides acting and has been very successful with it. With Jersey Boys he wants to bring the popular musical to the big screen.
Before seeing this movie I actually hadn’t heard of the musical and didn’t know the story of The Four Seasons. The name of the group didn’t ring a bell, but after hearing a couple of their songs I did recognize their music. Jersey Boys shows how the group came to be, their successes, but also the issues going on behind the scenes. If you would put Goodfellas and Dreamgirls in a blender the result would probably look very similar to this film. At the start of the movie the men try to make money living a life of crime, but as their musical career starts to take flight they try to leave that lifestyle behind them. They don’t completely manage to do so and a local gangster (played by Christopher Walken, who’s clearly having fun) plays and important role for the group.
Eastwood succeeds in bringing the songs to the screen in a good looking way, partly because of the excellent singers. It is when the movie shows the behind the scenes parts it partly fails because the drama never seems to go into the depths needed to resonate with the viewer. You never feel the consequences specific events have on the members of the group. Something which also doesn’t work (and another music related movie, Get On Up did as well) is to have the character address the audience directly several times. It is something which probably worked well within the musical, but here it feels awkward. The medium of film allows gives you the possibility to show instead of tell and it isn’t used enough. Jersey Boys isn’t a bad movie, but misses something to make it unforgettable.
Great review. Curious about this one but won’t go out of my way to see it.
I guess that is the right way to approach it.
Hi Nostra! I admire Clint for tackling so many different genres even if some of ’em don’t work. I might give this a rent though I’m not familiar w/ the subject matter at all.
Yeah, he doesn’t stick to one and is willing to try. Appreciate that as well, although this one was lacking something.
I’ve seen the musical and it’s amazing! But I’ve been curious about how good the movie adaptation is. I heard it didn’t get good reviews, so it’s just been sitting on my radar for a day where I need a movie to see.
Well, I couldn’t compare but think I would have rather watched the musical.