“Both men [Jimi Hendrix and André 3000]’s idiosyncrasies set their music apart from their contemporaries’ and developed niche fan bases that span generations and have deemed them classics within their genres.” —Brianna Patterson
Lead actors in biopics have particularly big roles to fill as lead actors go. They are not simply playing a character but embodying the essence of a historical figure whom many have come to love in real life. Because it’s an arduous task, becoming another person who really existed and replicating their impact on screen, finding the right actor for a biopic can make or break a movie.
When biopic Jimi: All Is by My Side was announced, excitement was running high — not only would the film honor ’60s guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, but it also cast Outkast’s André 3000 in the leading role. Waves of approval rippled across the Internet, simply because of the two artists’ uncanny resemblance.
But appearance is just the starting point for biopics: The actor must embody the person in his or her being, demeanor and practices. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in the autobiographical film Ray and Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash in Walk the Line are prime examples of how legends are supposed to be personified. André 3000 — also known as André Benjamin — shares much more than physical similarities with the rock legend. Both are creative geniuses who have pushed boundaries and redefined limits in their respective genres.
As one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Outkast, André 3000 — along with his counterpart, Big Boi — is a force in the music world. He is known for his flamboyant presence as an artist and his tendency to introduce unconventional topics into his music. From his style of dress — dapper yet eccentric apparel — to his offbeat delivery and conceptualization, his unorthodox approach to hip-hop is what made Outkast, and André himself, rise to stardom.
Hendrix also possessed that raw talent and packaged it with his flashy, unpredictable stage presence and personal style. With his afro and attire, whimsical even for the ’60s, his rise to fame came with the development of his unique persona.
Both men’s idiosyncrasies set their music apart from their contemporaries’ and developed niche fan bases that span generations and have deemed them classics within their genres.
Eccentricity can make it hard to reach success in such formulaic industries. But André 3000 and Hendrix achieved prosperity by being so different.
Despite mixed reviews of the film, which premiered at South By Southwest on March 12, André 3000 as Hendrix provides a solid portrayal that represents more than the similarities of their hair and lanky frames. One musical magnate portraying a legend is a fitting way to pay homage to greatness.
