Jersey Boys
Dir: Clint Eastwood
2014
***
Jersey Boys is a great musical. I first saw it back in 2011 and enjoyed it immensely, knowing nothing of the history of the group. Their back-story is more interesting than most and how they adapted that into a musical was very clever and thoroughly entertaining. The film adaptation isn't really a Clint Eastwood film, he is obviously a fan and so has changed little about the production. I think that maybe he should have though. The film starts well and holds the attention but towards the end, nothing is explained, years are skipped over and worst of all, songs are missed (including my very favorite; 'Begging'). There is a poorly executed big number towards the end that fails to be good film or good musical theatre. It's clumsy at best. The performances are good and the sets are sublime but the substance is missing. The Four Seasons deserved better.