Cadillac Records

As an actor, Jeffrey Wright possesses a rare and impressive talent for rendering a real-life figure with resounding truth and veracity - even if he does not bear a great deal of physical resemblance to them. Consider his turns as Martin Luther King (Boycott, 2001), Jean Michel Basquiat (Basquiat, 1996), Colin Powell (W. 2008), and here, as the great guitarist Muddy Waters. His performance provides a weighty anchor for this tale of the post-war Blues scene in Chicago.

He has considerable support in this instance from an excellent ensemble cast including Mos Def as Chuck Berry and Beyonce Knowles (putting in an exceptional performance as Etta James), not to mention the warm, steady narration supplied by Cedric the Entertainer as guitarist Willie Dixon. Together, they recount the story of Chess Records: a label founded by a white man, Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), to promote black music. And naturally all manner of rivalries, racial tensions and romantic attractions simmer beneath the surface.

Thankfully, Cadillac Records is more than just another glossy music biopic. Its real fire is apparent in the film's lusty appreciation for the actual music (a curiously rare trait in films about musicians). There are some liberties taken with the historical truth which may well upset the purists, but for the most part, this is a real, strong-hearted celebration of one of the most important periods in rock 'n' roll history. ·