Who Do You Love

An unapologetically old-fashioned music biopic, Who Do You Love tells the story of Leonard Chess (Alessandro Nivola) – a Jewish nightclub owner who became a pioneer within the music industry after establishing Chess Records and discovering such legendary names as Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley. Director Jerry Zaks – working from Peter Wortmann and Bob Conte’s screenplay – has infused Who Do You Love with an exceedingly familiar sensibility that contains all of the tropes and cliches one has come to associate with the genre, including the opening that segues into a flashback (Leonard Chess evidently can’t listen to one of his acts without first thinking back on his life) and the expected downfall that dominates the proceedings’ third act. Yet the film is generally elevated by the fantastic music and Nivola’s charismatic, commanding performance, although – in terms of the latter – there’s little doubt that Chi McBride steals every one of his scenes as Chess’ self-described “guide into the exotic negro world.” And although one’s interest does start to dwindle once Chess’ success starts to overwhelm him – ie his marriage, already on shaky ground, takes a seemingly fatal hit after Leonard starts sleeping with a drug-addicted protege – Who Do You Love primarily comes off as a personable, downright irresistible endeavor that’s sure to leave viewers humming its various ditties long after the credits have rolled.

*** out of ****