Writer: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice (Screenplay)
Starring: Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Steve Schirripa, Christopher Walken, Kathrine Narducci, Lou Volpe, Johnny Cannizzaro, Michael Patrick McGill, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda
Plot: The story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Sensational Musical Experience
Story: Jersey Boys starts as we meet Tommy DeVito (Piazza) and Frankie Valli (Young) two young men who grow up in New Jersey where there is only three ways out, jail, army or become famous but for now they work for local crime boss Gyp DeCarlo (Walken).
Tommy along with his brother and Nick Massi (Lomenda) are in a band but Tommy makes the decision to make Frankie the new lead singer of the band between the prison spells. Tommy, Nick and Frankie bring in new talented musician Bob Gaudio (Bergen) as the group look to make their break and Bob Crewe (Doyle) offers them the first steps into the music world and The Four Seasons are born. The story goes on to show the rise and fall of the one of the most popular bands of the 60s.
Jersey Boys shows the rise and fall of the Four Seasons, four young men from Jersey trying to make their way in the musical world. This shows how management for small bands wasn’t at the level it was for the time they appeared as we see how they find themselves in trouble both with money and personal life. The story handles both the fame and the personal lives with a perfect balance which is always the hard part of one of these films.
Actor Review
Vincent Piazza: Tommy DeVito is a true Jersey boy always wanting to make a quick buck, Tommy builds the group as well as dealing with the financial side of the band but doesn’t want to let anyone else take control of this part of the band. Vincent is good in this role and I believe is the only one of the four not from the stage version.
John Lloyd Young: Frankie Valli is the voice of the group, he has being cycled by Tommy and Nick’s criminal past but having local crime boss Gyp DeCarlo supporting him giving him all the time needed. He gets married staying away from the party side of the group and even starts getting involved Bob in their own venture. John steps away from stage and gives a great performance in this role.
Erich Bergen: Bob Gaudio gets bought in from outside the main Jersey click because he has all the music writing skills. He is a better business man but has to deal with Tommy making finance mistakes while he tries to pull up his own deal on the side with Frankie. Erich is good in this role stepping away from the stage version.
Support Cast: Jersey Boys has a large supporting cast with a mix of stage stars and actors all blend into the story perfectly without over shadowing the main band.
Director Review: Clint Eastwood – Clint does a good job bring this musical to the bring screen putting together the dynamic between the band members and putting together the shows very well.
Biographical: Jersey Boys shows us how this band rose to the top only to crumble from within.
Music: Jersey Boys handles the performances the band puts on very well to make us feel like it could be the first time we have seen them.
Settings: Jersey Boys uses the settings to keep us in the time period the story is set in.
Suggestion: Jersey Boys is one I do think fans of the music world should watch showing just how the behind the scenes can work with the band. (Music Fans Watch)
Best Part: Songs.
Worst Part: Slightly long.
Believability: Based on the real band.
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 2 Hour 14 Minutes
Tagline: Everybody remembers it how they need to.
Overall: Good look at an iconic band.
Rating