Mo' Better Blues (1990)
Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 9
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 6
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 9,053
Movie Info
Spike Lee's 1990 directing effort is a jazz film, the story of a fictional trumpeter named Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington). He leads a quintet at the Beneath the Underground club with a flashy saxophonist named Shadow Henderson (Wesley Snipes). Though Shadow takes a few too many solos, everything seems fine in Bleek's life. Trouble soon arises, however, and he is forced to make decisions regarding both his best friend Giant (Spike Lee), and his relationships with two women. Giant, his manager
Dec 28, 2004
MCA Universal Home Video
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Denzel Washington
Bleek Gilliam -
Spike Lee
Giant -
Wesley Snipes
Shadow Henderson -
Joie Lee
Indigo Downes -
Cynda Williams
Clarke Bentancourt -
Giancarlo Esposito
Left Hand Lacey -
Robin Harris
Butterbean Jones -
Bill Nunn
Bottom Hammer -
Dick Anthony Williams
Big Stop Gilliam -
Ruben Blades
Petey -
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Rhythm Jones -
Nicholas Turturro
Josh Flatbush -
Abbey Lincoln
Lillian Gilliam -
Linda Hawkins
Jeanne -
Zakee Howze
Young Bleek/Miles -
Bill Lee
Father of the Bride -
Branford Marsalis
Party Guest -
Samuel L. Jackson
Madlock -
Leonard Thomas
Rod -
Charlie Murphy
Eggy -
Steve White
Born Knowledge -
Joe Seneca
Big Stop's Friend -
-
-
-
Mamie Louise Anderson
Club Patron -
Douglas Bourne
Jimmy the Busboy -
Leon Addison Brown
Smith -
Arnold Cromer
Miles Age 5 -
Herbert Daughtry
Minister -
Raye Dowell
Rita -
Anaysha Figueroa
Shanika -
Flavor Flav
Impatient Movie Patron -
Angela Hall
Cora -
Deon Richmond
Tyrone -
Scot Anthony Robinson
Cooley -
Christopher Skeffrey
Louis -
Jelani Asar Snipes
Miles Age 1 -
John Sobestanovich
Taxi Driver -
-
Sheldon Turnipseed
Benny -
-
Glenn Williams III
Miles Age 3 -
-
Darryl M. Wonge Jr.
Miles at Birth -
Coati Mundi
Roberto -
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All Critics (33) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (9) | DVD (5)
Personal rather than social issues come to the fore in Mo' Better Blues, a Spike Lee personality piece dressed in jazz trappings that puffs itself up like Bird but doesn't really fly.
Top CriticThough it's full of striking visual ideas and actorly turns, it never fully convinces.
Despite stylish camerawork and sturdy acting, this lengthy indulgence succeeds neither as jazz movie nor as cautionary tale.
Mo' Better Blues is not a great film, but it's an interesting one, which is almost as rare.
From characters to camera angles, this story of a self-absorbed jazz trumpeter is one long cliche, the kind that might make his most loyal admirers wince and wonder, 'Spike, what happened?'
For the only time in his remarkable career, Spike Lee has failed to tell it like it is.
It's a burning, feeling film of impulses, bringing out the best in the filmmaker, who used to create miniature moviegoing events with his releases, before He Got Game came along and smothered his good taste.
It's tight, suspenseful, funny and packed with great music.
Full of wonderful music, grand visuals, and melodramatic plot twists, the movie is laced with very funny moments, as well as interesting insights into the world of jazz and the plight of the dedicated musician.
Denzel, Wesley and Co are fine, but Mo' Better Blues hits too many bum notes.
Centering on the career of a jazz musician (well played by Denzel Washington, just before he became a star), this mid-range picture has nice production values but the drama is too diffuse, lacking the edge of Spike Lee's more overtly political works.
Spike Lee's film is filled with promising ideas and moments of technical virtuosity.
Atmospheric character study by Lee with a bravely unlikable Denzel Washington.
Denzel Washington really comes into his own in this one, as a struggling jazz musician. Worth a rental for his performance, alone!
Spike Lee's creative film revolving around the difficulties modern men have in finding the proper balance between work and love in their lives.
Mo' Better Blues, in thrall to the cliches of the star-is-born musicals of the past, is a stillborn academic exercise.
There's no getting around Lee's talent, but in this case his script could have used some polish -- or perhaps collaboration.
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Movie: ID: 13895 Title: Mo' Better Blues Release Date: null MPAA: 4 Status: 1
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