Moving Pictures: Cadillac Records (Sony Pictures) Format: Blu-ray Rated: M

It’s amazing that this story hasn’t been told until now, really. ‘Cadillac Records’ backgrounds the growth and success of Chicago blues record label Chess, the home of a roster of legendary artists from Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, to Chuck Berry and Etta James.

I’m not a big fan of “bio movies”, especially musical ones, which always seem to lose something in the telling of the story. Documentaries are almost always better, more instructive, and more interesting.

Because it doesn’t just focus on one artist, however, ‘Cadillac Records’ is better than most, and will alert some to a time in history, and a record label, that changed the face of music. Who can imagine the creation of electric blues or early rock’n'roll or R’n'B without it?

Contemporary R’n'B singer Beyonce backrolled this movie and stars as Etta James, and does a reasonable job in the role. As a whole, the film is interesting enough, and some will love the music, but it lacks that extra something to make it a must-see experience.

There’s nothing about the production that really shows off high definition, and surprisingly, the DolbyTrue HD surround doesn’t sparkle quite as much as one would hope it to. Not that it’s awful, just that it doesn’t have the extra muscle one might expect from a film about music.

Extras include the usual bunch of ‘behind the scenes’ featurettes and an interesting ‘Chess Record Player’ option that requires BD Live (internet connection and registration). GARY STEEL

Sound 2.5

Vision 3

Movie 3