Mo' Better Blues (1990)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:30
Fresh:21
Rotten:9
Average Rating:6/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Spike Lee ventures into the world of jazz music with this stylish romantic drama. Forced by his mother to study the trumpet, Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington) has grown up to become the leader of a... [More]
Starring: Denzel Washington, Joie Lee, Cynda Williams, Spike Lee
Director: Spike Lee
Reviews for Mo' Better Blues
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 4/5 |
It’s tight, suspenseful, funny and packed with great music. Full Review |
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Denzel, Wesley and Co are fine, but Mo' Better Blues hits too many bum notes. Full Review |
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Despite stylish camerawork and sturdy acting, this lengthy indulgence succeeds neither as jazz movie nor as cautionary tale. Full Review |
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3.5/4 |
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. Full Review |
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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. Full Review |
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Though it's full of striking visual ideas and actorly turns, it never fully convinces. Full Review |
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B- |
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. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Spike Lee's film is filled with promising ideas and moments of technical virtuosity.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/4 |
Mo' Better Blues is not a great film, but it's an interesting one, which is almost as rare. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Atmospheric character study by Lee with a bravely unlikable Denzel Washington.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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2.5/5 |
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?' Full Review |
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2/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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CommentLatest News for Mo' Better Blues
April 05, 2005:
Spike & Denzel to Team Up for a Fourth Flick
Blackfilm.com snagged an interesting quote from controversial filmmaker Spike Lee. The director was attending an after-party for Denzel Washington's Broadway opening of... More...
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