Mo' Better Blues (1990)

73% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(8,844 ratings)

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… More 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 and old pal, is addicted to gambling and often gets roughed up by thugs looking for pay back. Bleek is the only member of the quintet who wants to keep him as manager. The trumpeter's woman problems concern trying to decide between two girlfriends who both love him: a schoolteacher (Joie Lee) and a singer (Cynda Williams). Spike's father Bill Lee scored the film, with contributions from Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Abbey Lincoln and Ruben Blades (who plays Giant's bookie). ~ John Bush, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Spike Lee
Genres: Drama

On DVD: Dec 28, 2004
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
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.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Though it's full of striking visual ideas and actorly turns, it never fully convinces.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Mo' Better Blues is not a great film, but it's an interesting one, which is almost as rare.
Caryn James, New York Times
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?'
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
For the only time in his remarkable career, Spike Lee has failed to tell it like it is.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
If Lee was striving to convey a fuller sense of the jazz musician's life, of the connections between black life and black music, or a deeper, more soulful feeling for the music itself, his efforts fall short.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
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.
Charles Shaar Murray, Empire Magazine
It's tight, suspenseful, funny and packed with great music.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
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.
, Film4
Denzel, Wesley and Co are fine, but Mo' Better Blues hits too many bum notes.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
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.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
Spike Lee's film is filled with promising ideas and moments of technical virtuosity.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Despite stylish camerawork and sturdy acting, this lengthy indulgence succeeds neither as jazz movie nor as cautionary tale.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Atmospheric character study by Lee with a bravely unlikable Denzel Washington.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

danny d

what an incredible movie. i dont care for spike lee's themes of racial distinction in most of his films, and some of it that was present in this film were annoying, but this film was too brilliant not to love. it has quickly become one of my favorite movies of all time. i… More
what an incredible movie. i dont care for spike lee's themes of racial distinction in most of his films, and some of it that was present in this film were annoying, but this film was too brilliant not to love. it has quickly become one of my favorite movies of all time. i tried to identify wether this was a film about love or music, and then i realized its not about either, its a memoir of a musician. i think i like this film more than most for musical reasons and not film reasons, because im such a HUGE jazz fan, but the movie was well made and well acted. the diologue and ending were not typical rehearsed hollywood, they were genuine. many scenes were pointless and didnt further the plot at all, and in this film it was a good thing. it made the characters more real. denzel was incredible as usual, but the entire cast with the exception of indigo was chosen perfectly. the music scenes were really great and because i know jazz, i know that the things that happen to denzels character in this film happen to jazz musicians all the time. i may not always care for spike lee, but he did a wonderful job on this film.
Sean L

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.
Anthony V

For Anyone who loves Jazz.

Cast

            Denzel Washington as Bleek Gilliam

            Spike Lee as Giant

            Wesley Snipes as Shadow Henderson

            Joie Lee as Indigo Downes

            Cynda Williams as Clarke Bentancourt

            Giancarlo Esposito as Left Hand Lacey

            Robin Harris as Butterbean Jones

            Bill Nunn as Bottom Hammer

            Dick Anthony Williams as Big Stop Gilliam

            Ruben Blades as Petey

            Jeff "Tain" Watts as Rhythm Jones

            Nicholas Turturro as Josh Flatbush

            Abbey Lincoln as Lillian Gilliam

            Linda Hawkins as Jeanne

            Zakee Howze as Young Bleek/Miles

            Bill Lee as Father of the Bride

            Branford Marsalis as Party Guest

            Samuel L. Jackson as Madlock

            Leonard Thomas as Rod

            Charlie Murphy as Eggy

            Steve White as Born Knowledge

            Joe Seneca as Big Stop's Friend

            Tracy Camilla Johns
            
            John Canada Terrell
            
            Monty Ross
            
            Mamie Louise Anderson as Club Patron

            Douglas Bourne as Jimmy the Busboy

            Leon Addison Brown as Smith

            Arnold Cromer as Miles Age 5

            Herbert Daughtry as Minister

            Raye Dowell as Rita

            Anaysha Figueroa as Shanika

            Flavor Flav as Impatient Movie Patron

            Angela Hall as Cora

            Deon Richmond as Tyrone

            Scot Anthony Robinson as Cooley

            Christopher Skeffrey as Louis

            Jelani Asar Snipes as Miles Age 1

            John Sobestanovich as Taxi Driver

            Raymond Anthony Thomas as Joe

            Sheldon Turnipseed as Benny

            Carol M. Wiggins
            
            Glenn Williams III as Miles Age 3

            Terrence Williams as Sam

            Darryl M. Wonge Jr. as Miles at Birth

            Coati Mundi as Roberto

            Robi Reed
            
See full cast