Jersey Boys

So much of the time fact can be better than fiction, which I feel is the reason why so many films in recent years have been based on a true story. I could list them, but it would be endless. So suffice it to say that when I saw my first trailer of "Jersey Boys" based on the smash Broadway play of the same name, it certainly peaked my interest--hey I listened to the Four Seasons a lot growing up.

This all starts in New Jersey in the year 1951. This is a musical biography of the 1960's rock group, the Four Seasons--the rise, the rough times and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends, Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young), Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza), whose music became symbolic of a generation. Far from a mere tribute concert (though it does include numbers from the popular Four Seasons songbook), "Jersey Boys" gets to the heart of the relationships at the center of the group--with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli, the small kid with the big falsetto. In addition to following the quartet's coming of age as performers, the core of the show is how an allegiance to a code of honor learned in the streets of New Jersey got them through a multitude of challenges: gambling debts, Mafia threats, and family disasters. This is but a mere glimpse at the people behind a sound that has managed to endure for over four decades in the hearts of the public.

Others to round out the cast are Christopher Walken as Angelo 'Gyp' DeCarlo, good friend of the boys, Mike Doyle as Bob Crewe, recording manager and collaborator of the group, Katherine Narducci as Frankie's Mother, Lou Volpe as Frankie's Father, Johnny Cannizzaro as Nick DeVito, Tommy's brother, Steven R. Schirripa as Vito, DeCarlo's bodyguard, Lacey Hannan as Angela, Frankie's wife, Freya Tingley as Francine, Frankie and Angela's 17 year-old daughter, Michael Patrick McGill as Officer Mike, Donnie Kehr as Norm Waxman, and Barry Livingston as Accountant.

This was directed by the consummate artist, Clint Eastwood ("Play Misty for Me" '71, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" '76, "Bronco Billy" '80, "Sudden Impact" '83, "Bird" '88, "Unforgiven" '92, "True Crimes" '99, "Mystic River" '03, "Million Dollar Baby" '04, "Flags of Our Fathers" '06, "Invictus" '09, "J. Edgar" '11) plus many more. The way Eastwood was able to capture the essence of these four young actors during the transformation they ended up having to take was pure genius. The one actor here that soared was Mike Doyle as Bob Crewe. He pulled off his character with perfection and he will definitely receive more work. It was effectively written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice based on their musical book. Considering the same writers were used from which this film was based, it's clearly easy to recognize this as the effective script it was. This could have Oscar buzz written all over it come that time.

This was an amazingly well crafted American film second to none, but with the iconic Eastwood in the director's chair, how could it not be anything else but? This is like seeing a biopic and musical all rolled up in one film, so it's like you get two films for the price of one.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                Rated: R                            133mins.