“'Round Midnight”, 1986
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Directed by Bertrand Tavernier, this film follows Dale Turner, a fictional American jazz saxophonist played by real-life jazz legend Dexter Gordon, who moves to Paris in the late 1950s to find a more appreciative audience. The movie is a poignant exploration of friendship, music, and the struggle with addiction, featuring a soundtrack that is a love letter to jazz itself.
Starring: Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, Gabrielle Haker, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Lonette McKee, Christine Pascal, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Pierre Trabaud, Frédérique Meininger;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: drama, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “'Round Midnight” on the website imdb.com
“Bird”, 1988
Director: Clint Eastwood
Directed by Clint Eastwood, this biographical film tells the troubled life story of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (played by Forest Whitaker). It delves into Parker's innovative contributions to the world of jazz, his struggle with heroin addiction, and his relationships with fellow musicians and family. Whitaker's performance and the film's attention to musical detail make it a standout.
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, Michael Zelniker, Samuel E. Wright, Keith David, Michael McGuire, James Handy, Damon Whitaker, Morgan Nagler, Arlen Dean Snyder;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: drama, biography, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 161 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Bird” on the website imdb.com
“Whiplash”, 2013
Director: Damien Chazelle
Damien Chazelle's intense drama centers on a young jazz drummer, Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), who enrolls at a cutthroat music conservatory where he is mentored by a fearsome instructor, Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons). The film explores themes of ambition, obsession, and the demanding nature of achieving greatness in the world of jazz.
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Chris Mulkey, Damon Gupton, Suanne Spoke, Max Kasch;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 106 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
“Mo' Better Blues”, 1990
Director: Spike Lee
Spike Lee's drama focuses on a fictional jazz trumpeter, Bleek Gilliam (played by Denzel Washington), as he navigates the complexities of life, love, friendship, and the demands of leading a jazz quintet. The film is known for its vibrant depiction of the jazz scene and its thoughtful exploration of the conflicts between art, career, and personal relationships.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris, Joie Lee, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, Dick Anthony Williams, Cynda Williams;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: drama, melodrama, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Mo' Better Blues” on the website imdb.com
“La La Land”, 2016
Director: Damien Chazelle
Directed by Damien Chazelle, this romantic musical drama, while not exclusively about jazz, prominently features jazz music as a central theme. The story follows a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) as they pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. The film celebrates jazz as a dying breed of authentic music and explores the tension between preserving the art form and adapting to contemporary tastes.
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, J.K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe, Tom Everett Scott;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: musical, drama, melodrama, comedy, music;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
“Paris Blues”, 1961
Director: Martin Ritt
Directed by Martin Ritt, this romantic drama stars Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier as expatriate jazz musicians in Paris. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and the expatriate experience, set against the backdrop of the Paris jazz scene of the 1960s.
Starring: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, Louis Armstrong, Diahann Carroll, Barbara Laage, André Luguet, Marie Versini, Moustache, Aaron Bridgers;
Production year: 1961;
Genre: drama, melodrama, music;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “Paris Blues” on the website imdb.com
“Born to Be Blue”, 2015
Director: Robert Budreau
A biographical drama directed by Robert Budreau, focusing on the life of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker (played by Ethan Hawke). The film highlights Baker's career resurgence in the late 1960s, touching upon his struggles with drug addiction and his efforts to stage a musical comeback, blending fiction with reality for dramatic effect.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo, Callum Keith Rennie, Tony Nappo, Stephen McHattie, Janet-Laine Green, Dan Lett, Kedar Brown, Kevin Hanchard, Tony Nardi;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: biography, music, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Born to Be Blue” on the website imdb.com
Each of these films, in its unique way, captures the essence of jazz music and its profound impact on both artists and audiences alike.
In conclusion, films about jazz present an emotive tapestry that weaves the vibrant threads of history, personal struggle, cultural evolution, and artistic genius into a captivating visual and auditory narrative. These motion pictures, ranging from the smoky club scenes of “Round Midnight” to the contemporary struggles and triumphs portrayed in “Whiplash,” not only celebrate the spellbinding improvisations and compositions of jazz music but delve deeper into the souls of the artists and the society that surrounds them. They showcase the rich and often tumultuous journey jazz musicians undertake, symbolizing both the individual's pursuit of perfection and the broader tapestry of American heritage. The pulsating rhythm of jazz in film becomes a character of its own, at times discordant and cacophonous, at other moments harmonious and sublime, mirroring the complexities of life itself. Fans of cinema and jazz alike can find solace, inspiration, and a sense of connection within these stories that resonate with authenticity and passion.
