Mo' Better Blues (1990)
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Cast
as Bleek Gilliam
as Giant
as Shadow Henderson
as Indigo Downes
as Left Hand Lacey
as Moe Flatbush
as Madlock
as Petey
as Lillian Gilliam
as Butterbean Jones
as Clarke Bentancourt
as Bottom Hammer
as Josh Flatbush
as Big Stop Williams
as Rhythm Jones
as Eggy
as Rod
as Born Knowledge
as Jeanne
as Rita
as Cora
as Roberto
as Young Bleek/Miles
as Tyrone
as Shanika
as Benny
as Club Patron
as Louis
as Sam
as Miles (age 1)
as Miles (age 3)
as Miles (age 5)
as Smith
as Cooley
as Minister
as Father of the Bride
as Party Guest
as Jimmy the Busboy
as Big Stop's Friend
as Taxi Driver
as Impatient Movie Patron
as Joe
as Miles at Birth
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Critic Reviews for Mo' Better Blues
All Critics (33) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (9) | DVD (2)
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.
Though 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.
Audience Reviews for Mo' Better Blues
Plenty of style and energy, but not enough soul.
Super Reviewer
Benefits from the fact that this is Spike Lee's debut and doesn't feature the preachiness that brings down his later efforts.
Super Reviewer
Middling effort from Spike Lee. It had some good scenes and it was well acted, shot etc. I just didn't really like Denzel's character and I think I kind of was supposed to. It also went on longer than the material required.
Super Reviewer
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