Review of The Cotton Club (1984) by Allen G — 26 Mar 2013

Another example of style over substance from Coppola that gets away with it through the quality of that style, strong performances and some nice ideas behind, the otherwise weak, script.

It's got a curious energy to it- a positivity that's rooted in darkness, quite literally. There may be song and dance but the stories behind those songs are far from carefree and joyful. While there are slight moments that remind us of the greatness of the Godfather 1 and 2, the majority of this is more like the failings prevalent in Rumble Fish- decent plot lines are overshadowed by a weak script and interesting ideas aren't given anything close to the limelight they deserve.

It's an intriguing film, full of charm and inventiveness but it's also empty in some regards, the formula this film follows is a simple one and yet it still falters- it's hard to believe that The Godfather has the same creator because this feels amateurish script-wise.

Thankfully, good performances from a great cast and Coppola's brilliance from an aesthetic perspective save this film from being neither bad or forgettable, indeed it is memorable in some aspects but as an overall viewing experience there is still a lot left to be desired.