The emergence of rock-and-roll, as seen from the catbird seat of Chess Records in Chicago: Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Etta James, et al. The golden music, the vintage cars, the period hairdos retain their glamour; the backstage clichés are just old. Adrien Brody, as producer Leonard Chess, and Jeffrey Wright as Waters outdo one another in unintelligible murmurs and mutters; Beyoncé Knowles sings up a firestorm as James; and Mos Def is an all-around delight as Berry. With Columbus Short, Gabrielle Union, Eamonn Walker, and Cedric the Entertainer; written and directed by Darnell Martin. (2008) — Duncan Shepherd
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