Jersey Boys

Director Clint Eastwood doesn't just transfer the hit Broadway musical about The Four Seasons onto the big screen; he adroitly delves into their complex interrelationships, focusing on the diminutive front man with the unmistakable falsetto voice, Frankie Valli (Tony-winner John Lloyd Young). The behind-the-music story of this iconic rock ‘n' roll group begins in Belleville, New Jersey, circa 1951, with young Frankie Castelluccio hanging out with troublemaking Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza). Frankie catches the attention of mobster Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken), who becomes his mentor/ protector. While hot-tempered Tommy also serves as manager, and bass guitarist Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) does arrangements, they don't really find their sound—or name—until prolific songwriter Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen) joins the group and hooks them up with flamboyant record producer Bob Crewe (Mike Doyle). Suddenly, they're wildly successful, churning out ‘60s hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don't Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” “Can't Take My Eyes Off You”…and many more. Decidedly peripheral to Frankie's loyalty to his buddies are his first wife, Mary Delgado (Renee Marino), and his reporter girlfriend, Lorraine (Erica Piccinnini). Along the way, Eastwood deftly contrasts their beautiful four-part harmony star success with their squabbling, road-warrior travails, and disillusionment over gambling debts and loans. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an “‘Oh What a Night' to Remember” featurette with director Clint Eastwood and the cast (5 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are the production featurettes “From Broadway to the Big Screen” (23 min.) and “Too Good to be True” with actor Donnie Kehr (5 min.), and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a solid musical bio-pic.] (S. Granger)