Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” is based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name that opened in 2005 and went on to win the Tony award for Best Musical. The film follows the life of Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and his band, The Four Seasons, which was comprised of Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) and Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen).
In a style reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s films such as “Goodfellas,” the characters narrate the film starting in their youth. Valli grew up in a respectable home, one with a clock with the picture of the Pope on one side and Frank Sinatra on the other. He had singing gigs in his youth in little bands in smoke-filled bars and dance halls. DeVito tried pulling him into a life of petty crime before managing to help form the Four Seasons. DeVito is portrayed as a low-down scoundrel who cheats and steals his way to success. His illegal activity and financial debt to the mob caused even more strain on the already dysfunctional group.
DeVito and Valli grew up together, and they helped each other rise to the top, but the other band members would not put up with his shady dealings and unprofessional behavior that threatened to bankrupt the band, if not destroy it. Mob boss , Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken) helps the group settle their problems. He acts as a father figure to Valli, someone he can always come to for advice.
I should state that I have not seen the stage musical on which the film is based. How the film compares to its original incarnation is not something I can comment on. As a film, however, it is a beautifully rendered yet lifeless biopic that feels too familiar. The period detail, set design, costumes, hair, and make-up are all exquisite. Every detail on screen is so ornately crafted that it truly feels like the various time periods. The singing, done live on set, is also tremendously satisfying. Eastwood and his casting director wisely chose to cast people who could really sing, including John Lloyd Young, who played Valli in the original Broadway production. He manages to capture Valli’s distinctive voice while also carrying the dramatic scenes.
The film has too many “Chubby, hmmm…?” moments, as British film critic Mark Kermode calls them. Those are awkward scenes in films in which key moments of the characters’ lives are revealed in a way that seems forced and manufactured just for the film. The saying comes from a friend of Kermode’s referring to “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story,” Todd Haynes’ comical biopic of Karen Carpenter done with Barbie dolls in which someone says that the anorexic singer is chubby. An especially clunky “Chubby, hmmm…?” moment in “Jersey Boys” is when they are standing around outside trying to figure out the band’s new name, and a hotel sign suddenly lights up with the words “Four Seasons.” What a coincidence.
Everything looks and sounds incredible, but the characters are not ultimately interesting. It recalls much better films such as “The Buddy Holly Story” and “Goodfellas.” Like some other recent Eastwood films, it has a washed out look that at times almost resembles black and white. The visual aesthetics of the film accurately reflect its problems. The vibrancy and fun are drained out of the film, leaving it embalmed in nostalgia.