Beaks here...

In the tradition of ARMAGEDDON and DEEP IMPACT, VOLCANO and DANTE'S PEAK, CAPOTE and INFAMOUS, we suddenly, inexplicably have two dueling Chess Records biopics hitting theaters over the next few months. And while Jerry Zaks's WHO DO YOU LOVE? can technically claim first-ies due to screening at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival (Variety review here), it looks like Darnell Martin's CADILLAC RECORDS is going to beat it into commercial release.

Martin's picture is clearly the more star-studded of the two (Martin's got Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def, etc.; Zaks has Allesandro Nivola); it also wrapped less than six months ago, so there's a sense that it's getting rushed into theaters to perhaps edge out its competition and/or chase a few acting nominations for its impressive cast. Going off the just-released trailer, I could certainly entertain a Best Supporting Actor nod for Wright as Muddy Waters. As for Beyonce's Etta James... it's all good until she sings "At Last".

I'm a fan of Martin's overlooked 1994 indie I LIKE IT LIKE THAT, so I really want to believe she nailed this story. The trailer's got great energy, and you can't beat the music. I just wish someone could've convinced Beyonce to lip sync.