Mo' Better Blues

Name: Mo' Better Blues
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Released: August 3, 1990
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Bill Nunn, Cynda Williams, Denzel Washington, Dick Anthony Williams, Giancarlo Esposito

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Mo' Better Blues

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 3, 1990 | R

Starring: Bill Nunn, Cynda Williams, Denzel Washington, Dick Anthony Williams, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, Joie Lee, Robin Harris, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes

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 toFinancially 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 straighten things out with his band mates and manager, he also must choose to be with either sweet teacher Indigo (Joie Lee) or sultry singer Clarke (Cynda Williams).… Expand

Director: Spike Lee

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 129 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire Charles Shaar Murray

Its tight, suspenseful, funny and packed with great music. Read full review

Gene Siskel

A messy but nonetheless compelling movie. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Mo' Better Blues is not a great film, but it's an interesting one, which is almost as rare. Read full review

Jay Scott

Once the riffs are over and put into place, Mo' Better Blues is approximately one-third fabulous, one-third boring, and one-third infuriating. [06 Aug 1990]

John Hartl

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]

Staff (Not Credited)

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. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

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

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