Just saw the recently re-edited--and director approved--Cotton Club Encore edition. While the film has been improved in many areas, it still has the same issues the original release had: There's too many characters and sub-plots to keep on top of; the plot of the film gets convoluted and hard to follow; the central theme of the relationship between brothers is hanging on by a thread; and most of the performances are two-dimensional. While many people were hoping to have a Godfather-like reunion with the same team from that film, it never really delivered on that intention.
However, there's a LOT to appreciate, especially the musical performances of a very talented cast. There were many moments where the theater I saw it in erupted in applause. The singing and dancing, in particular Gregory Hines, had you really longing for musicals that capture that degree of energy coming from the screen.
For me, The Cotton Club Encore is worth seeing so long as your expectations are in place. It is not Coppola's best work by any measure, but it is greatly improved and the dance numbers and singing ("Stormy Weather" by Lonette McKee will stop you dead in your tracks) raises this film up from mediocre to moments of pure exquisite filmmaking.
However, there's a LOT to appreciate, especially the musical performances of a very talented cast. There were many moments where the theater I saw it in erupted in applause. The singing and dancing, in particular Gregory Hines, had you really longing for musicals that capture that degree of energy coming from the screen.
For me, The Cotton Club Encore is worth seeing so long as your expectations are in place. It is not Coppola's best work by any measure, but it is greatly improved and the dance numbers and singing ("Stormy Weather" by Lonette McKee will stop you dead in your tracks) raises this film up from mediocre to moments of pure exquisite filmmaking.