This was a really strong and incredibly polished documentary, with only a couple of minor criticisms worth noting, such as a lot of the old footage featured being awkwardly cropped to fit the 16:9 ratio, and also (more a very personal complaint) I was a bit bummed they didn't discuss either of my two favourite Miles Davis albums (In a Silent Way and A Tribute to Jack Johnson, for the record).
I will say that by and large this is a very good documentary, though. It showcases the good and bad sides of Miles David with a strikingly objective tone, portraying him as a complex person and not shying away from the negative aspects of his life - like his addictions and the abuse in some of his relationships - while also celebrating his talents and contributions to the music world. Many documentaries about deceased artists gloss over darker times in their subject's lives, so this one deserves credit for being so honest- the documentary is all the more compelling for it, too.
Also great was the wide range of interviewees - including still living friends, ex-partners, and bandmates of Miles Davis. Then there was the great voiceover work of Carl Lumby, who narrates quotes and journal entries (I think?) written by Davis himself- a creative choice that could have been cheesy if not handled well, but it was executed fantastically here.
And the budget of the documentary helped, too. They were able to license a great deal of Miles Davis songs (ensuring the soundtrack in general was consistently excellent), and featured clips from films like Elevator to the Gallows and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to great effect (licensing footage from a Disney film in particular can't be cheap).
Recommended for Miles Davis fans or just fans of music in general, because I've been watching a lot of music documentaries lately and this is clearly a cut or two above your average one.
I will say that by and large this is a very good documentary, though. It showcases the good and bad sides of Miles David with a strikingly objective tone, portraying him as a complex person and not shying away from the negative aspects of his life - like his addictions and the abuse in some of his relationships - while also celebrating his talents and contributions to the music world. Many documentaries about deceased artists gloss over darker times in their subject's lives, so this one deserves credit for being so honest- the documentary is all the more compelling for it, too.
Also great was the wide range of interviewees - including still living friends, ex-partners, and bandmates of Miles Davis. Then there was the great voiceover work of Carl Lumby, who narrates quotes and journal entries (I think?) written by Davis himself- a creative choice that could have been cheesy if not handled well, but it was executed fantastically here.
And the budget of the documentary helped, too. They were able to license a great deal of Miles Davis songs (ensuring the soundtrack in general was consistently excellent), and featured clips from films like Elevator to the Gallows and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to great effect (licensing footage from a Disney film in particular can't be cheap).
Recommended for Miles Davis fans or just fans of music in general, because I've been watching a lot of music documentaries lately and this is clearly a cut or two above your average one.