|
|
|
1990
|
MO'
BETTER BLUES
|
|
|
STARRING:DENZEL
WASHINGTON,SPIKE LEE,WESLEY SNIPES,JOIE LEE, CYNDA WILLIAMS,GIANCARLO
ESPOSITIO,ROBIN HARRIS,BILL NUNN, JOHN TURTURRO,NICHOLAS TURTURRO
WRITTEN
BY SPIKE LEE
PRODUCED
BY SPIKE LEE
DIRECTED
BY SPIKE LEE
GENRE:DRAMA/MUSIC
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:R/USA:R
RUNNING
TIME:129 MIN
|
Bleek
(Denzel Washington) is a successful jazz musician whose band the "Bleek
Quartet" plays to packed crowds every weekend. A control freak
whose stubborn 'my way or no way' attitude is causing friction within
his band (especially with lead saxophone player Shadow, played by
Wesley Snipes), Bleek's personal life is not fairing any better as
he cannot commit to either of his two girlfriends Clarke (Cynda Williams)
or Indigo (Joie Lee) while his loyalty to his childhood friend, band
manager and gambling addict Giant (Spike Lee) leads to a tragic conclusion.
Sandwiched between two of Spike Lee's best films -Do the Right
Thing and Malcolm X- Mo' Better Blues
is a film with a lot of potential that could not get off the ground.
The script needed a lot more work, the dialogue in particular is sloppy
and the improvised scenes are way too raw and stick out like a saw
thumb (the scenes in the dressing room featuring some bad acting by
all).
The best moments in the film all take place within the smoke filled,
packed out jazz club where the "Bleek Quartet" play and
while I am not a fan of jazz music I couldn't help but be impressed
with the great soundtrack and the preparation the actors have gone
through to become credible jazz musicians on screen.
Denzel Washington is good as always. His natural charisma and strong
screen presence help make an unsavory character such as Bleek likeable
enough for us to actually care as to what happens to him. Wesley Snipes
too gives a strong performance, reminding many that he was a fine
dramatic actor before he became a b-grade action star.
Spike Lee however does not fare as well. As a director his fearlessness
and inventive techniques has made him one of the best, and his direction
in this film is solid. But as an actor he is absolutely terrible,
perhaps the worst actor/director I have ever seen. His insistence
on casting himself in his own movies brings down the quality of his
films, making it almost unbearable to watch at times. Unfortunately
Mo' Better Blues is no different. |
|
|
