1990
R
Universal Pictures
2 h 9 m

1990
R
Universal Pictures
2 h 9 m

Summary Financially irresponsible Giant (Spike Lee) manages a jazz group, but his sax player, Shadow (Wesley Snipes), wants to replace him with a better businessman. Bleek (Denzel Washington), the band's trumpeter, then tries to defend his close pal Giant, leading to a power struggle between the two musicians. Meanwhile, as Bleek tries to straig...

Directed By: Spike Lee

Written By: Spike Lee

1990
R
Universal Pictures
2 h 9 m

1990
R
Universal Pictures
2 h 9 m

Mo' Better Blues

Name: Mo' Better Blues
Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Released: 1990-08-03
Duration: 2 min 9 s
Rating: 61
Cast: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews

User Score Mixed or Average Based on 10 User Ratings

5.9

My Score

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Where to Watch

Directed By: Spike Lee

Written By: Spike Lee

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews

61% Positive
14 Reviews

39% Mixed
9 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews

61% Positive
14 Reviews

39% Mixed
9 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Orlando Sentinel

The music becomes an aspect of Washington's performance - as does, in a satisfying way, everything else in the film. [03 Aug 1990, p.7]

By Jay Boyar FULL REVIEW

Chicago Tribune

A messy but nonetheless compelling movie.

By Gene Siskel FULL REVIEW

Christian Science Monitor

I wish Mo' Better Blues were a little mo' better than it is, but Spike Lee remains a major filmmaking talent, and even his second-best work has an awful lot going for it.

By David Sterritt FULL REVIEW

The Seattle Times

While Mo' Better Blues is quite tolerable entertainment, it's skin-deep stuff, and not much of a stretch for the actors. [03 Aug 1990, p.3]

By John Hartl FULL REVIEW

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. More focused on the sexual dilemmas of its main character than on musical themes, pic might well be subtitled He's Gotta Have It.

FULL REVIEW

Rolling Stone

A film that could have been the first cleareyed view of the jazz world from a black perspective ends as a romanticized fable. For the only time in his remarkable career, Spike Lee has failed to tell it like it is.

By Peter Travers FULL REVIEW

Time Out

A messy, meandering script ensures that, despite stylish camerawork and sturdy acting, this lengthy indulgence succeeds neither as jazz movie nor as cautionary tale.

FULL REVIEW

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User Reviews

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User Score

Mixed or Average Based on 10 User Ratings

5.9

60% Positive
6 Ratings

10% Mixed
1 Rating

30% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

View All

User Score

Mixed or Average Based on 10 User Ratings

5.9

60% Positive
6 Ratings

10% Mixed
1 Rating

30% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Universal Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Release Date Aug 3, 1990

Duration 2 h 9 m

Rating R

Genres

Tagline A Spike Lee joint.

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Awards

Venice Film Festival

• 1 Win & 2 Nominations

Young Artist Awards

• 2 Nominations

Mo' Better Blues

Where to Watch

Where to Watch

Top Cast

Denzel Washington

Bleek Gilliam

Spike Lee

Giant

Wesley Snipes

Shadow Henderson (Sax)

Giancarlo Esposito

Left Hand Lacey (Piano)

Robin Harris

Butterbean Jones

Joie Lee

Indigo Downes

Bill Nunn

Bottom Hammer (Bass)

John Turturro

Moe Flatbush

Dick Anthony Williams

Big Stop Williams

Cynda Williams

Clarke Bentancourt

Nicholas Turturro

Josh Flatbush

Jeff 'Tain' Watts

Rhythm Jones (Drums)

Samuel L. Jackson

Madlock

Leonard L. Thomas

Rod

Charlie Murphy

Eggy

Steve White

Born Knowledge

Rubén Blades

Petey

Abbey Lincoln

Lillian Gilliam

Linda Hawkins

Jeanne

Raye Dowell

Rita

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

Details

Details

Awards

Awards

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