Watch Cotton Club Encore

Cotton Club Encore is a 2019 drama musical film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the same director of the original 1984 Cotton Club movie. This time, the original footage was restored, re-edited and re-scored with additional scenes that didn't make the original film back then. Set in Harlem's Cotton Club in the 1920s and 1930s, the story follows the lives of various characters, including a trumpet player named Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere) and a tap dancer named Sandman Williams (Gregory Hines). The Cotton Club was a nightspot where many of the era's top African American performers were featured, including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Lena Horne. But like many places during the time of prohibition, the club was filled with underworld figures, and the Cotton Club was not just a place for music and entertainment, it also became a repository for the criminal activities of notorious mob bosses.

Throughout the movie, Dixie Dwyer becomes involved with the gangster Dutch Schultz (James Remar) and begins to fall for a woman named Vera (Diane Lane), who is Schultz's girlfriend. Meanwhile, Sandman Williams and his brother, Clay (Maurice Hines), are in their own way trying to make it to the top of the dancing world, even as they struggle with issues of race and their place in Harlem's milieu.

The cast delivers top-notch performances, showcasing incredible singing and dancing abilities. Richard Gere and Gregory Hines give their best in their respective roles, showcasing an extraordinary chemistry that allows them to convey their characters' intentions with elegance and grace. The rest of the cast also delivered great performances, especially Diane Lane, who played the broken-hearted woman caught between two men from two very different worlds.

Coppola did an outstanding job showcasing the glamour and opulence of the Cotton Club in its heyday, with stunning sets, gorgeous costumes, and dazzling choreography. The music scenes are flawless, transporting the audience back in time to that specific era in Harlem's history. The particular attention to detail and the quality of the reconstruction process make the audience feel like they are once again experiencing the original Cotton Club movie.

The re-scored version of the film, featuring completely new songs and old tunes performed by modern artists such as Jennifer Hudson and Janelle Monáe, stands out for its high quality and contributes to making the musical numbers one of the strongest points of the movie. The sound quality is top-notch, providing an immersive experience that enhances the film's overall quality with its perfectly executed and vibrant soundtrack.

In addition, the new editing process gave the story's plot more depth and added previously unseen footage that provides a more complete experience, giving the audience more insight into the characters' lives and the plot twists that occurred in the original film. However, the new plot direction may not please fans of the original movie as some beloved scenes may not appear in the film anymore.

Overall, Cotton Club Encore is an enjoyable movie that provides a glimpse of the glamour, gangsters, and music of 1920s and 1930s Harlem. The cast, music, creative direction, and reconstruction of the original footage make it an excellent watch for fans of the genre, and new audiences will enjoy experiencing the iconic Cotton Club, relived and reconstructed for the modern time.

Cotton Club Encore is a 1984 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes.