Jersey Boys, 2014.
Directed by: Clint Eastwood.
Starring: John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza and Christopher Walken.
SYNOPSIS:
The story of the rise to fame of the iconic band, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, from their beginning as four friends playing clubs, to their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The trouble with adaptations, whether it be from a book, a stage show or even from another film, is that you can’t help but compare the two. When you are going to see a film adapted from a behemoth musical masterpiece like Jersey Boys, there is no doubt that you will probably leave the movie feeling slightly disappointed. Unfortunately, this is the case with Jersey Boys. Despite the wealth of talent behind and in front of the camera, there are aspects of the stage show which simply don’t translate to the big screen. However, the musical performances keep the film alive so ultimately, if you are fan then you will adore this movie.
The film begins with Vincent Piazza (Boardwalk Empire) who plays Tommy DeVito, telling the audience that the only honest route out of New Jersey was to get famous. Cue Francesco Castelluccio – who later changed his name to Frankie Valli – played by John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli in the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys); an innocent trainee barber who happens to have the voice of an angel and is favoured by local mob-boss Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken). Tommy is desperately trying to carve young Frankie into his ticket out of trouble, enlisting the help of Nick Massi played by Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi in the Toronto production of Jersey Boys) whilst Tommy cools himself in prison. After totting up some extra notches on their criminal records, the three boys are introduced to Bob Gaudio played by Erich Bergen (Bob Gaudio in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys) and then the magic happens. Officially named The Four Seasons, the rest of the film deals with their rise to fame, some falls from grace and a dashing of tragedy.
Jersey Boys is seemingly full of unknown actors but there is a damn good reason why these men were hired. Young is a stage performer rather than a film actor, and this is blindingly obvious. During moments of dialogue he almost dead behind the eyes which is in vast contrast to when he is ‘performing’ – his eyes light up with excitement and he brings the character of Frankie Valli alive. Young is so insanely talented that one wonders whether or not he might actually be better than Valli himself… It is no wonder that Jersey Boys: The Musical became so celebrated with a star like Young at the helm; a role which landed him a Tony award amongst several others notable accolades. In addition, Bergen and Lomenda are both stage actors, famous for their portrayals of Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi, the former being infamously fired from the Las Vegas production. Unfortunately they suffer the same infliction as Young when it comes to dialogue heavy scenes, although with less to say, it is easily brushed under the carpet. Despite this, it was a stroke of genius casting these three men in their respective roles. The films comes alive when the music starts and the actors’ love for their characters shines through with some bone-chillingly, tear inducing, outstanding musical performances; every note is nailed, easily mistaken for the original songs.
A special mention goes to Vincent Piazza. Straight from the Boardwalk of Atlantic City, Piazza is the only member of the Four Seasons who hasn’t played his role on stage for years previously; a daunting task indeed to match the vocal talents of his fellow cast members. Although it is apparent that he is the only man experienced in front of a camera rather than a couple thousand audience members (any dialogue with Piazza involved is decidedly more interesting), he rises to the challenge, showcasing a seemingly undiscovered talent for singing. With rumours that all singing on set was live, the bundles of talent alive in these men is clearly evident. If you are unsure of whether or not to see this film so far, then go purely for the music alone.
Regrettably, there are several aspects of the stage show that Eastwood simply couldn’t translate to the big screen. Each quarter of the film is narrated by a member of the Four Seasons; annoyingly, this is directed straight at the camera. It’s an interesting technique to use in the theatre but it simply doesn’t work with this film. Sure, Scorsese uses this technique to death, but it doesn’t mean it should be copied – after all, two wrongs do not mean a right. In addition, despite it being a good film, only the last musical performance captures the true magic that soars through the back catalogue of The Four Seasons. If you aren’t enjoying the film up until this point, then please stay for the final scene – it is spine-chillingly awesome.
The rise to fame of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is one filled with disbelief, tragedy and excitement. From four men who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks to the stars they became, not a drop of their journey is boring and undoubtedly will have you engrossed. Jersey Boys is unfortunately, not as magical as the stage production but nonetheless, Eastwood and the rest of the crew have created a good film, showcasing the unbelievable talents of four men who may otherwise never have made it to the bring screen (apart from Vincent Piazza, he’s now a triple-threat). It truly is an awe-inspiring story, so whether you see Jersey Boys on stage, the big screen or even buy the CD, you are definitely advised to indulge in some Four Seasons action.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Sadé Green
