Jersey Boys
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
2014/USA
GK Films/RatPac Entertainment/RatPac-Dune Entertainment/Warner Bros.
First viewing/theatrical release
[box] Bob Gaudio: Tommy, no stolen goods, okay?
Tommy DeVito: Stolen goods? No! These fell off a truck.[/box]
Jersey Boys had me dancing in my seat.
This is the story of the Four Seasons, the ’60’s group headlined by falsetto singer Frankie Valli. They start out as a trio of friends from the mean streets of New Jersey, their life as petty criminals redeemed by the music and Valli’s recognized talent. A close relationship with mobster Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken) greases the skids a bit and band member Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) remains a thief at heart. Their fortunes are made when Joe Pesci from the neighborhood introduces them to straight-arrow songwriter Bob Gaudio and he joins the group. We follow their careers through a string of number-one hit singles. Things turn darker when DeVito, the nominal manager of the group, is found to be in deep with a mob loan shark and to have stolen a half million dollars from the group’s tax account as well.
This is a nice straightforward rendering of the Broadway show. I’ve seen that a couple of times in Las Vegas and loved it, so when the movie version came out I just had to make a rare trek to the theater. Even though I was not a special fan when the music of the Four Seasons was new, all these songs just spell junior high and high school to me. I was happier when I walked out than I was when I went in. I don’t ask more of a musical.
Trailer
