Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: April 1, 2016
6.3
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
12
Mixed:
10
Negative:
4
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6
smiyamotJul 20, 2016
For true fans, wanting to know why an artist disappeared for 5 years would be a Holy Grail quest. Unfortunately, for the casual movie goer, not so much. Let's see, drugs, women, the usual.
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6
TVJerryApr 26, 2016
Most modern biopics aren't structured in traditional chronological order, hitting the personal and professional highlights. This exploration of jazz innovator Miles Davis "riffs" on one incident in his life with flashbacks to fill in a fewMost modern biopics aren't structured in traditional chronological order, hitting the personal and professional highlights. This exploration of jazz innovator Miles Davis "riffs" on one incident in his life with flashbacks to fill in a few blanks. Don Cheadle not only co-wrote and directed, he also stars as the trumpet pioneer. After 5 years of producing no music (and enduring chronic pain and extended drug use), he's approached by a writer (Ian McGregor) whose effort for a story turns into much more. Flashbacks reveal bits of Davis' relationship with his wife and a few other seminal moments. You could say the film is constructed in a free-form sort of jazz improvisation style. This approach, while interesting, doesn't help build any dramatic force or tension. Fans of the musician may appreciate this opportunity, but regular film goers won't find much meaningful here. Expand
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5
netflicApr 25, 2016
Don Cheadle is a great actor, and he shines in this new movie as a famous musician Jim Miles.

As a director and a co-writer, well, I still need to be convinced that he could be as good a director as an actor. And mostly it is because of
Don Cheadle is a great actor, and he shines in this new movie as a famous musician Jim Miles.

As a director and a co-writer, well, I still need to be convinced that he could be as good a director as an actor. And mostly it is because of the plot which he co-wrote. Car races, shooting, fighting. And almost nothing of his work with other talented musicians.

The wildly cut narrative, I could only assume, refers to improvisation. Parts of the movie are brilliant but overall I was not very impressed.

This movie is his first full-feature one. Let’s hope next ones will be even better.
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6
TrailesqueJul 28, 2017
This wacky hybrid of musician's biopic and buddy adventure/action flick has its flaws, but its uniqueness caught my attention. Cheadle is superb as the notoriously brilliant but hard-to-handle Davis, and MacGregor, playing a journalistThis wacky hybrid of musician's biopic and buddy adventure/action flick has its flaws, but its uniqueness caught my attention. Cheadle is superb as the notoriously brilliant but hard-to-handle Davis, and MacGregor, playing a journalist trying to get an exclusive profile, is fine as his ad hoc sidekick. Some of the cinematography is done in the same style as some of his album covers, which is an interesting choice, and some of the dialogue scores too. Other choices - like certain sections of the soundtrack - are less impressive. Really it is pretty much a mess, but a fun one. Expand
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