Valley Breeze

4 entertainment JUNE 26-JULY 2, 2014 | vaLLEY brEEzE LiviNg EditioN SYNOPSIS: Based on the Broadway production of the same name, director Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys" tells the musical story of the rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the 1950s and 60s. REVIEW: "Jersey Boys" is another movie that's pure Clint Eastwood from start to finish. By that I mean another high quality film with great atten- tion paid to every detail, from the casting, script and music to the 1950s-era cars, mock turtle- necks and cardigans. What fun to be on the set decorating team. Watching the big screen ver- sion of "Jersey Boys" is step- ping back to that moment in our country's history where music came alive and all dreams were possible. Even the color of the film has a vintage patina to it, almost but not quite like those old black-and- white photos that had a bit of color added later. Eastwood has taken some heat over casting the stars of the Broadway musical in the movie, which I don't really understand. They're fantastic! I have nothing but praise for the cast and agree with Eastwood, who said at a press conference for the movie, "Twelve hundred performances … that's experi- ence you just cannot buy." "Jersey Boys" begins in Belleville, New Jersey circa 1951, where young Frankie Castelluccio, who later adopted the stage name Frankie Valli ( John Lloyd Young), is get- ting into trouble, thanks to his crime-happy friend Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza). The two eventually form a group with pal Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda). Frankie's angelic, swoon-worthy voice and Tommy's charm and connec- tions to mobsters like Gyp de Carlo (Christopher Walken) help get things rolling. But it isn't until songwriter/ keyboard player Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen) joins the group that things begin to gel and they become "The Four Seasons." Hits like "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" start burning up the radio airwaves, "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "American Bandstand." I haven't seen the Broadway pro- duction, but love Eastwood's adaptation for the big screen (he even pays homage to the stage production at the end). Even if you weren't around in the 1950s and 60s, the songs are so dreamy that you can't help but be happy listening to them (I nearly clapped after a few of them!). And the songs don't drag the film down at all; to the contrary, they blend in well with the story. I mean really, the songs are the story, and it's fun to see the backstory of how they were written and performed. I also love how the characters break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audi- ence, which gives the story a "Goodfellas" vibe. Plus, it's just a great American success story, as a line from the movie notes: "You want to turn things around? You gotta keep work- ing." Yep, that's how things happen, whether it's 1955 or 2014. I have a feeling "Jersey Boys" will do well during the upcom- ing awards season. Be sure to check it out. Jane Boursaw is the founder and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane. Her credits include hundreds of print and online publica- tions, including The New York Times, People Magazine, Variety, Moviefone, TV Squad and more. Follow her on Twitter at @reel- lifejane. "Transformers: Age of Extinction" hits theaters this week, and looks to be another summer blockbuster. Shia LaBeouf is out, Mark Wahlberg is in, but the real stars are those massive robots. The movie has very little competition, and those are R-rated grownup movies in limited release. So expect the robots to clobber at the box office. Director Michael Bay's fourth chapter of the action franchise stars Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, a struggling car mechanic and single dad. The story picks up four years after the invasion of Chicago in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." When Cade and his daughter (Nicola Peltz) discover a Transformer in their midst, it stirs things up between the Autobots and Decepticons, and brings a paranoid government official into their lives. Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, Peter Cullen, John Goodman and Ken Watanabe also star in this movie executive produced by Steven Spielberg. This is the first film in the franchise to feature an entirely new cast and the first to fea- ture the Dinobots. Returning Transformers include Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Ratchet. Clint's attention to detail livens 'Jersey Boys' Reel Life With Jane JaNE boUrSaW OPENING THIS WEEK: TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION is expected to be a mid- summer blockbuster. It opens this weekend. JERSEY BOYS is the Broadway hit- turned-movie, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Directed by Clint Eastwood, it opened as the fourth place grossing picture in its premiere last week- end, taking in a solid – if not spectacular – $13 million. WWW.ASIAGRILLE.COM LINCOLN MALL LINCOLN MALL LINCOLN MALL PLAZA PLAZA PLAZA 334-3200 334-3200 334-3200 Open Daily at Open Daily at Open Daily at 11:30 am 11:30 am 11:30 am Take-out of Dine-in Take-out of Dine-in Take-out of Dine-in Banquet Facilities Banquet Facilities Banquet Facilities for 35-85 for 35-85 for 35-85 Karaoke Thursdays Karaoke Thursdays Karaoke Thursdays Enjoy outdoor dining with Enjoy outdoor dining with take-out from Asia Grille. take-out from Asia Grille. Dining Guide 104 Cass Ave., Woonsocket, RI 597-6400 or 597-6401 • Fax 597-6402 Kitchen Hours: Tues. & Wed. 11:30am-9pm; Thurs. & Fri. 11:30am-10pm; Sat. 4-10pm; Sun. & Mon. Private Functions on ly. www.theburritoco.com Wrecked on the Deck 3 Flavors of Margaritas 3 Different Appetizers $3.99 each Every Thursday Starting at 4pm Weather permitting. Available outside only. 7 TH ANNUAL CANCER FUNDRAISER on Monday, June 30 TH 4-8 p.m. • Refreshments • Door Prizes • Raffles Tickets on Sale Now!

• Cover