Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

Name: Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: August 23, 2019
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Ashley Kahn, Betty Davis, Carl Lumbly, Carlos Santana, Cheryl Davis

2019

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

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Movie Details & Credits

Abramorama | Release Date: August 23, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Ashley Kahn, Betty Davis, Carl Lumbly, Carlos Santana, Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis, Flea, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Cobb, Jimmy Heath, Juliette Gr, Lee Konitz, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Ron Carter, Stanley Crouch, Wayne Shorter

Summary: Miles Davis: Horn player, bandleader, innovator. Miles Davis was a singular force of nature, the very embodiment of cool. The central theme of his life, and of this film is Davis' restless determination to break boundaries and live life on his own terms. This documentary feature explores archival photos and home movies shot by Miles and hisMiles Davis: Horn player, bandleader, innovator. Miles Davis was a singular force of nature, the very embodiment of cool. The central theme of his life, and of this film is Davis' restless determination to break boundaries and live life on his own terms. This documentary feature explores archival photos and home movies shot by Miles and his colleagues, his manuscripts and Miles' original paintings, to explore the man behind the music.… Expand

Director: Stanley Nelson

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Glenn Whipp

Aug 28, 2019

The considerable achievement of “Birth of the Cool” comes from the way it understands those words and places them in the context of American history. You’ll want to listen to Miles’ music after watching the film and, when you do, you might feel it a little deeper. Read full review

Lorry Kikta

Aug 26, 2019

I highly recommend this decades-spanning, engrossing, hilarious, sad, and informative documentary to all music fans, whether you liked Davis beforehand or not. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Aug 26, 2019

As someone who’s absorbed bits and pieces of the Miles Davis story over the years but never felt like I had the big picture, I found “Birth of the Cool” to be intensely gratifying. Nelson is a filmmaker with a sixth sense for how to nudge history into the present. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Aug 22, 2019

More than a few moments here are new, and real grabbers. Read full review

John Anderson

Aug 29, 2019

Mr. Nelson’s movie is a gossipy and very musical primer on Davis, who is, needless to say (though it is said and said), among the giants of jazz. Read full review

John DeFore

Aug 26, 2019

For those with only a glancing knowledge or none at all, this is as good an introduction as you could want. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Aug 23, 2019

For either newcomers or fans, the documentary’s cradle-to-grave, talking head approach too readily threatens to take the zip, romance, and funk out of a fascinating subject who would be nothing without those very elements. Read full review

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User Reviews

drecool95

Aug 25, 2020

A great profile of one of the greatest musicians to ever live. Miles Davis changed music forever. Whether you know his music well or know none of it, give this documentary a watch.

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fede01_8

May 20, 2020

"VERY long"? It's only two hours!
"Miles was a superficial artist and person"? I don't know what these two morons here watched but it certainly wasn't this great documentary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GinaK

Sep 18, 2019

A very good but VERY long biographical film about Miles Davis, his life and his art. It is more fixated on the minutiae of his life than on his art, but overall it is an interesting and very well-crafted film, if a bit overwhelming. But I was never bored, even though I don’t know much about jazz.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Proteus

Nov 1, 2019

The movie shows us what we thought all along - Miles was a superficial artist and person. Miles gives cool a bad name. At one point an acquittance describes Miles music as a stone skipping across a pond. Very true. No depth, everything on the surface. Same with Miles himself. He wife FrancisThe movie shows us what we thought all along - Miles was a superficial artist and person. Miles gives cool a bad name. At one point an acquittance describes Miles music as a stone skipping across a pond. Very true. No depth, everything on the surface. Same with Miles himself. He wife Francis was perfect for him. Another image conscious partner who 50 years later is still bragging about what great legs she had as a young woman and how many guys want to "blank" her. If you want a fair assessment of Miles Davis life this doc gives it to you. But if you are a big fan of his music you might consider staying away because the man himself was a lightweight, a drug user, wife beater and in the end a loser.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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