Review of Jersey Boys (2014) by Brett B — 24 Jun 2014

Taste in music is - obviously - subjective. However, there are a few inarguable musical truths, and one of these is that the songs of the Four Seasons are among the best of their era, with memorable melodies and one-of-a-kind harmonies. Director Clint Eastwood's JERSEY BOYS - a cinematic adaptation of the Broadway hit - tells the rise and fall (and rise again) of the group from the early 1950s through the 1970s, complete with mob connections, familial turmoil, inter-group conflict, and an understated sense of humor, all powered by crisp, sparkling versions of the Seasons' classic hits.

For a good chunk of the early section of the movie, it is something of GOODFELLAS-lite, as we follow young Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) navigate their way through their aspiring music careers under the watchful eye of local boss - and mafia connection - Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken at his most Walken-ish). Soon, Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) and Bob Guadino (Erich Bergen) join the ranks, and the Four Seasons begin their ascension to the top of the charts. The story frequently involves the characters breaking the fourth wall and talking right to the audience, a device which might not have translated well from the stage version but actually adds an interesting flavor to the cinematic interpretation; there's something captivating about an actor speaking directly into the camera, and it gives JERSEY BOYS a confessional, conversational sort of feeling.

Eastwood, on the surface, might seem like a curious choice to helm what could be termed a "musical," (though there are no instances of the characters spontaneously bursting into song; all of the numbers are presented as organic performances by the group itself) but one needs only to look at his background - which includes directing 1988's BIRD, a biopic of jazz great Charlie Parker, as well as composing the scores to many of his own films - to see that music is a passion of his. His clean and straightforward directorial style pairs well with the more mob-inflected elements, and his handling of the musical numbers, though never flashy, offers some interesting staging.

The four leads are all convincing, both on the acting and singing front, though Piazza's the standout, managing to capture everything quintessential about being an Italian goon in that era without becoming a complete caricature. He also provides a great deal of the movie's humor, an element that is never in the foreground but is always close by. There are even a few inside jokes and references to some classic gangster films, which eagle-eyed movies buffs should be able to spot.

I've seen some criticisms leveled at JERSEY BOYS that imply the movie lacks exuberance or flair, that it's a strangely dark experience. "No fun" is a phrase I've seen bandied about in some other reviews, but I don't subscribe to this at all. Even at its most dark, there's a feeling of playfulness on Eastwood's part that is a marked contrast to the dour heaviness of some of his recent films (such as 2011's J. EDGAR, a film I enjoy but whose tone would have been completely wrong for JERSEY BOYS). Though it tells a kind of story that we've seen before, this specific collection of characters (and their specific story) is unique, and coupled with the great music, it makes for an engaging and completely entertaining semi-musical biography.

And if nothing else, JERSEY BOYS guarantees you'll leave the theater with at least one (and probably several) of the Four Seasons' classic songs stuck in your head, which is never a bad thing.