Saw 'Jersey Boys'

[Texanne]

I thought it was very good, but not as good as the stage production. For one thing, my favorite Four Seasons song is in the stage show with very creative staging, but Clint Eastwood left it out of the film completely.

Also, I felt that the Rashomon style worked better on stage than in the film. In addition, I thought that the story wasn't developed enough. I was glad I had already seen it on stage because it helped with understanding the characters and plot.

Still, it was an enjoyable film with great music.

 

[huisache]

and you favorite four seasons song is?
I am holding out for a movie about The Four Tops, my favorite group from my teens. My favorite American group anyway.

 

[Texanne]

C'mon, Marianne. Naturally.

And the Four Tops are my favorite American group, too. I still think Levi Stubbs had the single greatest voice in the history of popular music. What you might not know is that the songwriting team of Holland/Dozier/Holland wrote the Four Tops' songs in a key they would require Levi to sing tenor even though he was a natural baritone. They liked the emotion that singing tenor brought out in his voice. They weren't wrong.

Levi was also completely loyal to the group, eschewing solo offers and refusing to have his name listed -- no "Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops" for him.

 

[accuratehorn]

You might be a little biased about the song c'mon Marianne, for some reason.
Give me Rag Doll, Sherri, or maybe best of all, Dawn.
Loved those songs back in sixth, seventh grade.

 

[Texanne]

accurate,

Ya think? I also love Opus 17.

 

[FAST FRED]

I was entertained, although neither The Four Seasons nor their music ever turned me on very much.

The Link

As a musician/singer, I certainly have always recognized their talent, their sound and their musical contribution, but I generally switched stations whenever they came over the airwaves and I have never bought any of their records.

I'll rate this biopic far behind the excellent "Ray" starring Jamie Foxx, somewhat behind "Cadillac Records" (which is the story of Chess Records and its great stable of R&B artists, whom I really dug to the max) and about equal to "Dreamgirls" (which was sort of based on The Supremes).

For me, as a moviegoer, the best parts of this flick were the songs and the musical performance portrayals, except that the guy playing lead singer Frankie Valli didn't have the upper range to be able to sing their best songs in the right key.

His falsetto's upper limit was apparently a couple of semitones too low, so they simply lowered the key, and I thought his vocal tone was also too nasal.

Frankie Valli's unique upper range and his outstanding vocal quality were significantly superior, a fact made quite evident to my ear when the original recordings were heard as the closing credits rolled.

JMO, however my dear wife noticed the exact same thing and commented on it before I said a word.

The set dressing and the period clothing were very accurate.

The rest of the movie featured familiar story elements and plot dynamics which I thought were previously and better utilized in such flicks as "Goodfellas" and "Hairspray."

Recommended for genuine Four Seasons fans and anyone else who wants to see it.

IMHO, many others would be better served by purchasing a greatest hits album.

Or, perhaps, by seeing the live musical, which I have not had the pleasure of doing myself.

 

[Texanne]

The guy who played Frankie Valli originated the role on Broadway and won the Tony. No one can duplicate Frankie Valli's voice.

 

[FAST FRED]

Agreed.