Beyonce in 'Cadillac Records': the EW First Look

dprecious Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 02:01 AM EST

I SAW THE MOVIE AND WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH BEY AT ALL. SHE DID NOT EMBODY THE CHARACTER OF ETTA JAMES. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A LIVING LEGEND LIKE ETTA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HER REALLY GET A FEEL FOR THE PERSON YOU ARE ABOUT TO PLAY. BEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE ONE CONVERSATION WITH ETTA, SO HOW COULD SHE EVEN GET READY TO PLAY HER IN A MOVIE. THEY SHOULD HAVE USED ETTA'S VOICE IN THE MOVIE BECAUSE BEY DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO HAVING A VOICE LIKE ETTA. BEYONCE IS A POP SINGER AND ETTA HAD A VERY BLUSEY, SOULFUL VOICE, WHEN ETTA SANG YOU HEARD THE PAIN OF THE LIFE SHE LIVED BEY COULDN'T BUY A CLUE, THAT'S WHY SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE HER RESEARCH AND IT WAS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THAT SHE DID NOT. NOT HATIN' ON BEY SHE IS A SUPERSTAR BUT ETTA OR A GREAT ACTRESS SHE IS NOT, GET SOME LESSONS.

GreatMovie Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 03:34 PM EST

Umm. this movie was excellent. I will say that I was not a major fan of beyonce, but depise that I am a mjaor fan of oldies. Beyonce showed her behind off in this, and yes you are right, she is not Etta. But she damn sure played a damn good part of Etta James. who else wouldve played it better? seriously? i dont understand why people try to bring her down. There is only one Etta, and i believe Beyonce will make it to become an icon, just give her a chance, she is still young. All of the damn artist you mentioned above, are they not of age now? Bey is still in her twenties, give her time. she'll make it. and I hope she does get an oscar for this movie. and once in for all, it was a great movie, it is NOT solely on Etta James, there are others that are important. so what else do you have to criticize?

Kyoto Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 11:41 AM EST

Is she going to try to claim songwriter credit for At Last to win an Oscar?? LOL.. And while this movie may not be about Beyonce, the advertising portrays it to be about her playing Etta James.

Neena Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 11:36 AM EST

And damiennphilly..No one is hating on her. Most people aren't impressed with her and some are just over her. And FYI..there's nothing wrong with wanting to be an ICON, but she hasn't done anything that significant in her career to warrant that title.. She wants to be Tina Turner..then perhaps she should reinvent her sound and look, like Tina..Drop out of the spotlight for awhile, like Tina..and then give her fans a real ultimate experience.. Tina Turner, Anita Baker, Madonna, Cher, Joan Jett, Janet Jackson, Annie Lennox, are ICONS..

Neena Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 11:32 AM EST

damiennphilly..No,I read that on the internet while the movie was still being shot.That Etta didn't want Beyonce to portray her, she said something about her complexion and voice. If I can find it, I'll post the link..

Doralee Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 09:07 AM EST

I must say B is a good singer but all these movie's she keeps popping up on. Beyonce acting is really not you. I am not hating in any way all I am saying is just because you can sing your ass off, do not mean you can do movie's that are about diva's of the 50's & 60's.Yes they paved the way but come on B please cut it out,sweety why do you think J Hudson got that award you had in your mind you was going to get? P.S from your #2 fan.

Preston Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 05:15 PM EST

There's only one Etta James and Beyonce was trying not to outdo her vocally in that movie playing her.

bootsycolumbia Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 09:30 PM EST

I love these kinds of music history movies so I'll go see it. I have to admit, Bey's not my favorite actress, but the girl can sing and it sounds like a good movie, overall.

Terran Watkins Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 03:45 PM EST

Hi, B fan here... Mareuax Watson of EW condtradicted herself in this article: "she lacks the pained vocal chops to convincingly pull off James' songs or make them her own like Diana Ross did with Billie Holiday's standards in 1972's Lady Sings the Blues. Each time she covers classics like "At Last" and "Trust In Me," you hear Beyonce, not Etta." she staed that Diana Ross made Billie Holiday's songs her own, somethin beyonce didnt do. but the very next sentence says you hear beyonce not etta...thats doing the same thing that diana did with billie's songs...pay attention to detail haters...

Mars Rock Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 02:33 AM EST

Beyonce should have lipsyched ''At Last" she's not in Etta's league singwise!

damiennphilly Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 05:41 PM EST

I am a huge B fan and I always said B is goal driven . I haven't always been a fan of B'S as far as acting goes but I have been really into the reviews of cadillac records and she really been getting great reviews . It's really sad to me that so many people take joy in bringing her down . From every actor to actress to every singer to singer they respect this woman but people who have not met her or even had a conversation with her stay trying to bring her down (its sad). It's time to give this girl credit for her hard work , she wants to be a icon and there's not wrong with wanting that and people needs to respect her for that . B will take the film world by storm if she continues to strive for it . Also Etta was thrilled to have Beyonce play her in this movie she just wasn't sure if B could pull it off because she is such a good girl .I just added that part because Neena got the wrong info from somewhere .

Trey Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 02:23 PM EST

BJohnson...I totally agree with you!!! People would have been saying she is a fake, etc. I must ask, who would have portrayed Etta James better than Beyonce? I would love a response. True, B doesn't have the hard chops or that gritty voice like Etta, but who cares (i don't personally). As long as her acting skills have improved, I will be satisfied.

Fatima Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 12:38 PM EST

And Neena I don't even think you can make sense. The magazine can't be bias towards Beyonce? Do you mean UNbiasED?

Amy Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 09:32 PM EST

I'm going to see it because I love Adrien Brody, and like Margeaux says Beyonce doesn't even come out 'til the second hour, so there is much more to the movie...I'm excited

jen Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 09:15 PM EST

you guys know that the movie doesn't even revolve around etta james, right? this isn't beyonce's movie, there's a lot more to it.

Joe C Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 08:18 PM EST

Until EW's queen can convince someone to give her a role that does not involve singing, it's obvious that no one takes her seriously as an actress yet. This would have been an interesting movie, but her presence means that I definitely will be skipping it. No love for her here.

Jdaniels Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 05:25 PM EST

I wanna see it! its not like B is the best actress, but she isnt the star either and she isnt the only reason to see or not see the movie.

Neena Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 04:16 PM EST

And Margeaux, I don't think you can be bias towards Beyonce..you sound like your her biggest fan gushing on her greatness at times.. Just my opinion

Neena Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 04:15 PM EST

I read that Etta wasn't pleased that Beyonce was chosen for this role, she wanted some one gritter and with a soulful voice.. I won't be seeing this, not a fan of her acting and barely like her singing. She definitely shouldn't get an Oscar for this either

BJohnson Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 04:00 PM EST

If they told Beyonce' to lip sync the music, people would try to call her out on that, so I'm not expecting her to sound like Etta, only Etta can sound like Etta. She knows she doesn't sound like Etta and she'll do Beyonce doing Etta. I'll be going because I'm also a fan and Brody and Jeffrey Wright. I've been to enough weddings and shows to hear God awful versions of "At Last." I'll take Beyonce's interpretation over any of that.

Go Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 02:36 PM EST

Sounds good, I'm excited to see this. The film looks great and Bey is just the cherry on top! Love it.

Fatima Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 01:56 PM EST

EXCITED. I knew Beyonce would eventually get better. She'll never be a great actress, but she can hold her own and she's generating buzz for the entire movie.

Etta is right though. And I LURVE Beyonce.

Stacey Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 01:56 PM EST

Beyonce should never been given the role. I don't buy her in that kind of role. She did good in Dreamgirls. But you always hear Beyonce's voice; not the actual artist being covered. Couldn't they have found someone more convincing to play the role. Who is not so big already. If she can't sell the music in such a role, damn.