Yahoo! movie news is reporting that Mos Def will play legendary rocker, Chuck Berry. Turns out we’re probably not looking at the usual biopic movie here. Instead, it’s a look at Chess Records and all of its artists.
Set in Chicago in the 1950′s Mos Def is just one of the players in an ensemble cast that includes Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles and Cedric the Entertainer.
Titled Cadillac Records, I’m kind of anticipatory to see what Mos Def pulls out of his hat next. I remember heading to the theater a couple of years ago to check out 16 Blocks and thinking to myself, “here we go again;” another rapper turned actor that will stink up the screen. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find that I quite like Mos Def’s quirky demeanor and vocal qualities. He’s also got a seemingly easy going persona and has no trouble commanding the screen. After his role in Michel Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind, I’m actually convinced that the guy can act and is actually fairly enjoyable to watch perform.
Having said that, besides this upcoming role of Chuck Berry, which I think could be a great fit for him, he’ll also be appearing in the new Eddie Murphy “comedy” entitled Meet Dave, which, after release of the trailer, seems to be getting unanimous hate from internet fan boys.
Either way, here’s hoping Mos Def can continue to deliver. I think he’s got great potential and this Chuck Berry role may be meaty enough for him to show off his true talent… or it could cause him to sink like a rock if he isn’t able to pull it off.
Oh yeah and I think he needs to change his screen name to something a bit more conventional to really be taken seriously (e.g. The Rock becoming Dwayne Johnson).
Loved Mos Def in Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, he was an oddball casting choice for Ford Prefect, but it totally worked.
Mos Def was one of the few thing in “hitchhikers” I enjoyed. Never ever would have I have dreamed of Ford Prefect being casted with Mos Def. Brilliant
Of course Mos Def can act. Even though I really liked his performance in Be Kind Rewind, his best role so far was in Something The Lord Made which Alan Rickman also starred in. I believe he was nominated for a golden globe for that role too. Ever since he became serious about acting he has used the name Mos Def.
Names don’t mean all that much in hollywood now. People are more accepting nowadays. Kind of ridiculous to hear stories like Tom Cruise’s last name was Cruz, but he didn’t want to be looked at as a foreigner. How about that guy who is doing T4, McG? Come on, they won’t change their names either.
I was impressed by Def’s performance in “16 Blocks” and though that movie isn’t much to write home about, I did like it a lot and more than anything because of Def who was fun to watch. I’m curious about this project but I’m starting to groan when I hear the term biopic and “unconventional” biopic isn’t doing anything to raise my expectation on the genre or even this particular incarnation of it. I’m definitely curious but weary.
Kurt, Primal, Marina….
Kurt – totally forgot about “Hitch Hiker’s Guide” – kind of a forgettable movie for me, but MD was good. I thought he worked too.
Primal – I think the weird names (Madonna, Cher, The Rock, Ice-T) work for getting notice, but to me they’re just kind of cheesy. Maye that’s just me though. Haven’t heard of “Something The Lord Made.” Will definitely check it out as I’m a big Rickman fan (see “Snow Cake” – he f’ing rocked in that).
Marina – I don’t think this is a biopic exactly; not even an unconventional one. I think I wasn’t clear that it seems to be more of a story on the record company and Chuck Berry was one of the artists on the label.
story edit: it takes place in Chicago. Not in New Jersey. It’s just being filmed in Jersey.