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Mo' Better Blues (1990)

 -  Drama | Music  -  3 August 1990 (USA)
6.4
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Ratings: 6.4/10 from 5,909 users  
Reviews: 28 user | 23 critic

Jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam makes questionable decisions in his professional and romantic life.

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Title: Mo' Better Blues (1990)

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Seven short films - each one focused on the plight of a different child protagonist.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Left Hand Lacey (Piano)
...
Butterbean Jones
...
Indigo Downes
...
Bottom Hammer (Bass)
...
Moe Flatbush
...
Big Stop Williams
...
Clarke Bentancourt
...
Josh Flatbush
Jeff 'Tain' Watts ...
Rhythm Jones (Druns)
...
Madlock
Leonard L. Thomas ...
Rod
...
Eggy
Edit

Storyline

Opens with Bleek as a child learning to play the trumpet, his friends want him to come out and play but mother insists he finish his lessons. Bleek grows into adulthood and forms his own band - The Bleek Gilliam Quartet. The story of Bleek's and Shadow's friendly rivalry on stage which spills into their professional relationship and threatens to tear apart the quartet. Written by David <DGOWERS6@CHECLABA.SCU.EDU.AU>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

trumpet | friend | stage | jazz | rage | See more »

Taglines:

A Spike Lee joint.

Genres:

Drama | Music

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

3 August 1990 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A Love Supreme  »

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$16,153,600 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Behind the bill on the cover/poster, the posters for Do the Right Thing can be seen. See more »

Goofs

During the performance of Bleek's "Pop Top Urban 40 Funk Love ... Song", Bleek's headgear changes from hat to baseball cap. See more »

Quotes

Bleek: I may have been born yesterday, but I stayed up all night.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Flavor Flave of the rap group Public Enemy spells out the letters in "Universal" as the studio logo appears on the screen. See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Spike Lee (2000) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Surprised how much I liked it
15 January 1999 | by (London) – See all my reviews

When this was on TV the other night, I expected to stick out about two minutes of it. Being a follower of Tarantino, all I'd heard recently of Spike Lee was wholly negative. In addition, I know nothing of black culture and/or jazz. Imagine my surprise then when, two hours later, I found myself entirely intoxicated by the blend of atmosphere, empathy, humour and pure depth of character and relationship in this exceptional movie. Next up, I'm watching all his other movies... Quentin, make your peace!


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