Jersey Boys

Clint Eastwood's film take on the acclaimed Broadway musical, Jersey Boys, is probably not what you are expecting.  Unlike most musical adaptations, it's not showy in the slightest, and there are no exuberant or fun numbers until the very end.  This is a quiet, somewhat muted movie.  It's relaxed, it's assured, and it's sedate.  Some may see this as the wrong approach, especially for a musical, but it kind of works here with the material he's been given.

Anyone who knows Eastwood's directing style knows that he is a quiet director, who likes working with washed out colors and dialogue that seems very calculated.  I'll understand if you can't see this style working with a musical.  In most cases, I would agree.  But the reason it works here, I think, is that this is a nostalgia piece.  The film is the equal to an old record that takes you back to a place in your mind as you listen to it.  I think that's the feeling Eastwood is going for here.  The film was originally set to be directed by Jon Favreau, who probably would have given us a glossier film, but backed out of the project early on.  Rather than the splashy and glitzy production we usually get, this movie is gentle, with a soft sense of humor.  Mind you, this is not a great Eastwood movie, as it often feels like it is skimming the surface of the story and the characters (something the stage musical glosses over better than the movie does).  But, I think it still works.

The original stage production of Jersey Boys is more or less a concert that tells the story of the rise and fall from fame of the musical act, The Four Seasons.  The movie follows a much more traditional narrative, and is probably better for it.  One thing that has carried over from the stage is that the characters constantly break the fourth wall to directly address the audience.  This could have been a deadly mistake, but the screenplay knows how to make this approach work in a way so that it's not obtrusive to the story being told, nor does it take us out of the action.  Another smart move is the casting, and how some of the actors here played the characters on Broadway.  In particular, John Lloyd Young (who reprises his Tony-winning performance as lead singer, Frankie Valli, here), is masterful - both in his actual performance, and in recreating Valli's distinct signature singing style.  Really, the closest thing to a "name" in the cast is Christopher Walken, who is quietly hilarious and oddly warm as a mob boss who takes Valli and his bandmates under his wing.

The film's recount of The Four Seasons' career will seem awfully familiar to anyone who has seen a music bio-picture before.  There's the scenes with the band coming together and forming, their struggle to break into the music industry and be taken seriously, the rise to fame and TV appearances, friction within the group, and personal and domestic problems at home, usually caused by being on the road so much and away from the families.  This movie hits all of those notes, and you can always tell what's coming up next.  But, the movie's unique style and the performances hooked me enough that I was willing to go along with it.  When we first meet Frankie, Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) and Nick (Michael Lomenda), they are essentially low-level Jersey punks and hoods, making their way through various prisons as they struggle to find their musical sound.  A young Joe Pesci (played here by Joseph Russo) introduces them to a songwriter named Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen), and they soon discover their distinctive musical style that eventually brings them chart-topping success.

Naturally, there are problems within the band over time (Tommy falls heavily in debt with local mobsters), and the constant pressures of performing on the road puts a strain on Frankie and his family back home, particularly with his young daughter, his relationship with whom creates a tragic subplot.  This is actually one area I wished that Jersey Boys had spent a little more time on, as the film kind of seems to gloss over their relationship, making the ultimate outcome not hit quite as hard as it is probably intended.  Regardless, every time the Four Seasons take the stage to perform one of their famous numbers, the movie comes to life with some wonderful recreations of the classic songs.  Whenever we see Valli and the boys on stage, everything seems right, from the costumes of the era, to the singing, and the performances.  Here, we can see Eastwood's eye for detail and music, and it really does serve the film well.

And yet, I can definitely see how this could not be a film for everyone.  The intentionally slow pace was able to hold my interest, but I can see how it could turn off some.  Also, the movie never goes as deep into the relationship of the four people who made up the band as it probably should.  On stage, where the whole point of the experience is the thrill of a live performance, it doesn't come across as strong.  But in a film, where the narrative has a stronger sense, it does seem a bit flimsy at times.  We get just enough information, but we could have used more.  The film's most fatal mistake, however, comes at the very end, when the band reunites in 1990 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, and we get to see the actors in very unconvincing old age make up.  This was a problem that also plagued Eastwood's earlier film, J. Edgar.  He either needs to hire a new make up artist, or stop being attracted to scripts where he is forced to age his actors.

So, Jersey Boys is definitely a flawed film, and I can see how it will turn off some audiences.  But, I liked its style and its gentle humor.  It's not a substitute for the original stage production, but it does its job well enough.  I have a feeling your appreciation for this film will also tie into your appreciation to the music of the time, and for Eastwood's signature tone and atmosphere.  This is not a lively or a fun movie, but it is quiet and nostalgic, and I think it fits the tone of the story being told.

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