Born to Be Blue (2015)

A re-imagining of jazz legend Chet Baker's musical comeback in the late '60s.

Director:

Robert Budreau

Writer:

Robert Budreau

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo, Callum Keith Rennie

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ethan Hawke	...	Chet Baker
Carmen Ejogo	...	Jane / Elaine
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Dick
Tony Nappo	...	Officer Reid
Stephen McHattie	...	Dad
Janet-Laine Green	...	Mom
Dan Lett	...	Danny Friedman
Natassia Halabi	...	Jenny
Kevin Hanchard	...	Dizzy Gillespie
Charles Officer	...	Bowling Alley Dealer
Tony Nardi
Katie Boland	...	Sarah
Janine Theriault	...	Florence
Joe Condren	...	Actor Dick
Sophia Walker	...	Real Elaine

Storyline

Born to be Blue starring Ethan Hawke is a re-imagining of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker's life in the 60's. When Chet stars in a film about himself, a romance heats up with his costar, the enigmatic Jane (Carmen Ejogo). Production is shelved when Chet's past comes back to haunt him and it appears he may never play music again but Jane challenges him to mount a musical comeback against all the odds.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use, language, some sexuality and brief violence

Details

Country:

UK Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 2016 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$46,184 (USA) (25 March 2016)

Gross:

$46,184 (USA) (25 March 2016)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Real Films, Lumanity Productions, Black Hangar Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen McHattie, who starred as the father of Chet Baker in this movie, also starred in Robert Budreau's short film 'The Deaths of Chet Baker' in 2009 as Chet Baker.

User Reviews

Now this is a good movie!!!

The overall production was stellar.

Ethan Hawke gives a honest performance that showcase his most endearing qualities as a fine thespian. His portrait of Chet Baker is impressive.

Hawke and Cameron Ejogo who played his girlfriend in the film had a lot of chemistry between the two of them, which is good because the movie centers on the both of them greatly. I herd her role is more of a mixture of many women Chet seem to be able to pull down, which only makes her performance more important, as she goes from being a coworker in a movie about his life to his love interest, the mother of his child, and most importantly the muse the keeps him going and inspires him to kick his drug habit in order to get better and play better.

The imagery of the film was great, it was not too colorful but gave a bright California vibe known in 1960s movies.

And it was a well told story about about drug addiction. It was not one of these things where you should feel super sad for the person cause he can't stay off the stuff. It was a honest look about an insure man who could not function properly without heroin in his system.

Truly a masterpiece in cinema when you can tell a fantastic and interesting story in a motion picture that does not to use Hollywood clichés in it. I loved it.