As shown in the June 25, 2014 edition of the 'Monroe County Reporter':
In
order to best review this film I must share a true story of my encounter while
in California to be in a friend's wedding:
One
night in a dark corner of a piano bar in Carmel-by-the-sea, a rugged old man
enjoys an evening meal with his lady friend.
They sit at a corner table with their backs to the local crowd in the
small room. Outside the glass window is a
meadow graced by a cool breeze where sheep graze under the moonlight. The sound
of crashing ocean waves is faint in the distance. The lighting inside the
restaurant causes the windows to reflect a group of friends, my wife and I
included, who herd inside to take over the live singing; however, the glass does
not reveal the faces of the two recluses in the dark corner.
"Can
you believe he's right here?" one friend asks after we greet each other. Without hesitation both my wife and I knew
who to guess. Before our arrival, friends
hinted we might see the owner of the Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant. The recluse, as it turns out, was one of the
most iconic figures of the silver screen, Mr. Clint Eastwood.
This
encounter seems appropriate to share because I was about to see his new film
"Jersey Boys" and this particular setting informed how I watched the
movie. The film is based on a musical, which
is based upon a book, which is based on a true story. I was unprepared to view this film because I
did not see the Tony Award winning musical nor having read the book. What was
in the forefront of my mind while watching the film was I just saw the person
who made this film and I wondered why he directed a film like this.
The
movie is structured similar to the jukebox Broadway musical, which is narrated as
a first-person documentary from each member of The Four Seasons during their rise and fall before Americans knew
of the The Beatles. The four-part story begins with Spring and
ends with Winter, but I wouldn't have known this if I hadn't read about the
musical before I watched the movie. From
beginning to end and especially during the credits that follow, the movie seems
to be lacking as if the Broadways musical is necessary to watch to get the full
picture. Several of the original
Broadway performers from 2005 are in the film, including John Lloyd Young, who
portrays the incredible range of Frankie Valli.
I
imagine Eastwood himself finds deep connection with what it means to be from
New Jersey in this film. Born and raised
in California from a working class family, Eastwood's demeanor that night displayed
a sense of respect for his roots and private-life. He was quiet, reserved and slipped
quietly out the back door when finished, but not before friends of ours were
turned down with the raise of a hand as they tentatively went up to shake his
hand.
"Jersey
Boys" falls short for the same reason why it also succeeds. It offers a reflection to what it's like to
bear the consequences of our actions and those around us. I don't think Clint cared to measure up to
the expectations of his audience. It's
as if the film was his own reflection.
