Jersey Boys (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
For years, I have heard raves about the stage play 'Jersey Boys' from the likes of my father and my Aunt Maureen. They'd seen it a few times and couldn't believe I hadn't yet. Now arrives the film version directed by the great Clint Eastwood and ... I mildly enjoyed it, yet it's riddled with flaws, and also acknowledge that the play is probably quite a bit better. 'Jersey Boys' is a well-meaning but not always compelling biopic about The Four Seasons; and the narrative is (shoddily) presented from the points-of-view of 3 of the 4 founding members: Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza, of Boardwalk Empire), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda, from the stage play), & Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen, from the stage play), all of whom directly address the camera from time-to-time in familiar Goodfellas fashion. The only member who never breaks the 4th wall for us is Frankie Valli (Tony Award-winning John Lloyd Young of the 1st Broadway production).
The story begins in 1951 New Jersey with shy 16 yr. old Frankie being recruited as the lead singer for a group that includes his best friend, Tommy, & Nick ... another eventual member of The Four Seasons. Deciding they need a 4th guy, they tempestuously wrap-up a deal with Bob, who in addition to singing & playing the piano ... is a writer (and a darn good one, at that). After playing a few low-paying, low-profile gigs, they finally score a record contract & 3 hit singles follow: "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", & "Walk Like a Man". But as they rise to the top of the charts & make appearances on both American Bandstand & The Ed Sullivan Show, cracks in their relationships appear; especially regarding Tommy's dictator-like helming. His enormous debts to a loan shark threaten them. And this eventually results in The Four Seasons splintering; with Frankie Valli heading off on his own. Tepid drama ensues.
This movie is frustrating to me for many reasons. For everything I liked, there was something that I didn't. But let me start with what I liked. I liked the idea that the boys are all driven by intense ambition to use their talents to escape their dead-end lives in Jersey (they even have ties to the mob ... get out!). I highly enjoyed hearing the great music. Eastwood utilizes the group's popular tunes, such as: "Rag Doll", "Bye Bye Baby", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You...", "My Mother's Eyes", "Let's Hang On", & "My Eyes Adored You" (used in a sweet, if simultaneously creepy fashion). I really liked the look of the film; the production design & a de-saturated color scheme aided the nostalgic feel for the era. And I enjoyed some of the performances ...
John Lloyd Young has a distinct look and certainly sings the Frankie Valli songs with a haunting similarity to the original falsetto crooner. I even think the 37 yr. old actor ably pulled off playing a 16 yr. old in the early scenes. But he did not captivate the screen like I needed him to; part of that is a problem with the script (his character doesn't get his due til late in the proceedings). Erich Bergen impressed me as the band's talented songwriter, Bob Gaudio; he has a fresh-faced quality that reminded me of early Chris Klein. Michael Lomenda, as the least-talented member, Nick Massi, hammed it up too much for me; his theatrical notion of playing to the last row of the house does not work in the film medium. My favorite performance was by Vincent Piazza as cocky, bad-ass Tommy DeVito, a guy who can't let go of his criminal ways despite huge music success. Piazza lent a 'wise guy' shtick that not only had the most energy of the 4 leads, but also felt the most genuine.
I also enjoyed Christopher Walken as a music-loving mob boss who tries to help The Four Seasons out of their loans/debts (all thanks to Tommy). Other smaller performances felt - like Michael Lomenda - too over-the-top or inauthentic. I guess I've crossed into my 'complaints' section of this review. My main problem: the "drama" in the story is lukewarm and we're given little reason to care about these guys. Their mobster ties, personal clashes, career highs-&-lows, unhappy family lives ... none are given special treatment. The characterizations may be larger-than-life (which can be entertaining when done appropriately) ... but they're also paper thin. Worst of all, we're meant to care about Frankie's relationship with his troubled teen daughter. But when tragedy strikes, I felt nothing. How could I? We weren't even privy to the fact that she was a talented singer until he happens to tangentially mention it in the middle of an awkwardly-staged diner scene. Not good.
Even when Frankie sings "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in the climactic sequence (which should have felt like a BIG moment), it's executed with humdrum energy. I should have had tears welling in my eyes. I should have been leaning forward in my chair with anticipation of leaping from my seat (before realizing I was in a multiplex and not a theater house). Even the end credits "Oh, What a Night" routine (meant to mirror the end of the stage play) felt tacked-on & unceremonious. Bahh. I throw my hands up. I definitely enjoyed the movie in spurts, but then something ineffectual would occur that had me shaking my head. Though it lacks energy & gets creaky in spots, I still appreciate Eastwood's stellar filmmaking techniques, and there's no denying the joyous strength of the music here.
The story begins in 1951 New Jersey with shy 16 yr. old Frankie being recruited as the lead singer for a group that includes his best friend, Tommy, & Nick ... another eventual member of The Four Seasons. Deciding they need a 4th guy, they tempestuously wrap-up a deal with Bob, who in addition to singing & playing the piano ... is a writer (and a darn good one, at that). After playing a few low-paying, low-profile gigs, they finally score a record contract & 3 hit singles follow: "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", & "Walk Like a Man". But as they rise to the top of the charts & make appearances on both American Bandstand & The Ed Sullivan Show, cracks in their relationships appear; especially regarding Tommy's dictator-like helming. His enormous debts to a loan shark threaten them. And this eventually results in The Four Seasons splintering; with Frankie Valli heading off on his own. Tepid drama ensues.
This movie is frustrating to me for many reasons. For everything I liked, there was something that I didn't. But let me start with what I liked. I liked the idea that the boys are all driven by intense ambition to use their talents to escape their dead-end lives in Jersey (they even have ties to the mob ... get out!). I highly enjoyed hearing the great music. Eastwood utilizes the group's popular tunes, such as: "Rag Doll", "Bye Bye Baby", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You...", "My Mother's Eyes", "Let's Hang On", & "My Eyes Adored You" (used in a sweet, if simultaneously creepy fashion). I really liked the look of the film; the production design & a de-saturated color scheme aided the nostalgic feel for the era. And I enjoyed some of the performances ...
John Lloyd Young has a distinct look and certainly sings the Frankie Valli songs with a haunting similarity to the original falsetto crooner. I even think the 37 yr. old actor ably pulled off playing a 16 yr. old in the early scenes. But he did not captivate the screen like I needed him to; part of that is a problem with the script (his character doesn't get his due til late in the proceedings). Erich Bergen impressed me as the band's talented songwriter, Bob Gaudio; he has a fresh-faced quality that reminded me of early Chris Klein. Michael Lomenda, as the least-talented member, Nick Massi, hammed it up too much for me; his theatrical notion of playing to the last row of the house does not work in the film medium. My favorite performance was by Vincent Piazza as cocky, bad-ass Tommy DeVito, a guy who can't let go of his criminal ways despite huge music success. Piazza lent a 'wise guy' shtick that not only had the most energy of the 4 leads, but also felt the most genuine.
I also enjoyed Christopher Walken as a music-loving mob boss who tries to help The Four Seasons out of their loans/debts (all thanks to Tommy). Other smaller performances felt - like Michael Lomenda - too over-the-top or inauthentic. I guess I've crossed into my 'complaints' section of this review. My main problem: the "drama" in the story is lukewarm and we're given little reason to care about these guys. Their mobster ties, personal clashes, career highs-&-lows, unhappy family lives ... none are given special treatment. The characterizations may be larger-than-life (which can be entertaining when done appropriately) ... but they're also paper thin. Worst of all, we're meant to care about Frankie's relationship with his troubled teen daughter. But when tragedy strikes, I felt nothing. How could I? We weren't even privy to the fact that she was a talented singer until he happens to tangentially mention it in the middle of an awkwardly-staged diner scene. Not good.
Even when Frankie sings "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in the climactic sequence (which should have felt like a BIG moment), it's executed with humdrum energy. I should have had tears welling in my eyes. I should have been leaning forward in my chair with anticipation of leaping from my seat (before realizing I was in a multiplex and not a theater house). Even the end credits "Oh, What a Night" routine (meant to mirror the end of the stage play) felt tacked-on & unceremonious. Bahh. I throw my hands up. I definitely enjoyed the movie in spurts, but then something ineffectual would occur that had me shaking my head. Though it lacks energy & gets creaky in spots, I still appreciate Eastwood's stellar filmmaking techniques, and there's no denying the joyous strength of the music here.