Mo' Better Blues (1990)

Note Générale:

6,3/10   

Réalisateur:

Spike Lee

Scénariste:

Spike Lee (writer)

Date de sortie:

3 août 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedie | Drame | Musique

Accroche:

A Spike Lee joint.

Intrigue:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Trumpet | Directed By Co Star | Jazz Music | Star Died Before Release | Quintet

Récompenses:

1 win & 2 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Classic Insight Into The NYC Jazz World

Ensemble

Denzel Washington	...	Bleek Gilliam
Spike Lee	...	Giant
Wesley Snipes	...	Shadow Henderson (Sax)
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Left Hand Lacey (Piano)
Robin Harris	...	Butterbean Jones
Joie Lee	...	Indigo Downes
Bill Nunn	...	Bottom Hammer (Bass)
John Turturro	...	Moe Flatbush
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Big Stop Williams
Cynda Williams	...	Clarke Bentancourt
Nicholas Turturro	...	Josh Flatbush
Jeff 'Tain' Watts	...	Rhythm Jones (Druns)
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Madlock
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Rod
Charles Q. Murphy	...	Eggy
Steve White	...	Born Knowledge
Rubén Blades	...	Petey
Abbey Lincoln	...	Lillian Gilliam
Linda Hawkins	...	Jeanne
Raye Dowell	...	Rita
Angela Hall	...	Cora
Coati Mundi	...	Roberto
Zakee Howze	...	Young Bleek / Miles (as Zakee L. Howze)
Deon Richmond	...	Tyrone
Raymond Anthony Thomas	...	Joe (as Raymond Thomas)
Sheldon Turnipseed	...	Benny
Christopher Skeffrey	...	Louis
Terrence Williams	...	Sam
Darryl M. Wonge Jr.	...	Miles at Birth
Jelani Asar Snipes	...	Miles, Age 1
Glenn Williams III	...	Miles, Age 3
Arnold Cromer	...	Miles, Age 5
Leon Addison Brown	...	Smith
Scot Anthony Robinson	...	Cooley
Herbert Daughtry	...	Minister
Bill Lee	...	Father of the Bride
Branford Marsalis	...	Party Guest
Doug E. Doug	...	Jimmy the Busboy (as Douglas Bourne)
Tracy Camilla Johns	...	Club Patron
John Canada Terrell	...	Club Patron
Monty Ross	...	Club Patron
Carol M. Wiggins	...	Club Patron
Isabella	...	Club Patron
Mamie Louise Anderson	...	Club Patron
Joe Seneca	...	Big Stop's Friend
John Sobestanovich	...	Taxi Driver
Flavor Flav	...	Impatient Movie Patron
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Anaysha Figueroa	...	Shanika (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Spike Lee

Scénaristes (dans l'ordre alphabétique)
Spike Lee		writer

Produit par
Jon Kilik	....	line producer
Spike Lee	....	producer
Monty Ross	....	co-producer

Musique originale
Bill Lee

Image
Ernest R. Dickerson		(as Ernest Dickerson)

Montage
Samuel D. Pollard		(as Sam Pollard)

Distribution des rôles
Robi Reed-Humes		(as Robi Reed)

Création des décors
Wynn Thomas

Décorateur de plateau
Ted Glass

Création des costumes
Ruth E. Carter		(as Ruth Carter)

Maquillage
Matiki Anoff	....	makeup artist
Clifford Booker	....	hair stylist: women
Tom Brumberger	....	special makeup effects artist
Larry M. Cherry	....	hair stylist: men (as Larry Cherry)
Debbie Deas	....	additional makeup artist
Marjorie Durand	....	additional makeup artist (as Margie Durand)

Directeur de production
Preston L. Holmes	....	production supervisor (as Preston Holmes)
Brent Owens	....	unit manager

Assistant réalisateur
H.H. Cooper	....	second assistant director
Randy Fletcher	....	first assistant director
Dale Pierce-Johnson	....	second assistant director

Département Art
Jane Asch	....	camera scenic artist
Wilbur L. Ball	....	apprentice scenic
Jeff Balsmeyer	....	storyboard artist
Martin Bernstein	....	construction coordinator
Nancy Boytos-Amanuel	....	set dresser (as Nancy Boytos)
Joan Brockschmidt	....	second dresser (as Joan Brocksmidt)
Marcia Brown	....	art department production assistant
Kimberly Buckley	....	assistant to the set decorator (as Kimberley Ann Buckley)
William Butler	....	set dresser (as Bill Butler)
Mary Citarella	....	scenic artist
Rodney Clark	....	set builder
Michael Curry Jr.	....	set builder (as Mike Curry Jr.)
Sara D'Alessandro	....	scenic sculptor (as Sara D'Allesandro)
Eva P. Davy	....	scenic artist (as Eva Davy)
Ellen Doak	....	scenic artist
Judith Evans	....	scenic artist (as Judith A. Evans)
James Geyer	....	scenic shopman
Jeffrey L. Glave	....	scenic chargeman
Carmen Griffin	....	shop production assistant
John Grimolizzi	....	set builder
Bruce Lee Gross	....	lead man
Harold Horn	....	set builder
Gary Jennings	....	scenic artist
Joyce Kubalak-Szafilita	....	scenic artist (as Joyce Kubalak)
Kevin Ladson	....	first assistant props
Michael Leather	....	set dresser
Virginia Lim	....	scenic artist
Timothy Main	....	set builder (as Tim Main)
Charles McClennahan	....	assistant art director
Philip Michelson	....	second assistant props
Octavio Molina	....	property master
Ken Nelson	....	key set builder
Carl Prinzi	....	key construction grip
Michael T. Roberts	....	assistant art director
Rosalie Russino	....	scenic shopwoman (as Rosalle Russino)
Sherryl Sachs	....	scenic artist
Mark Paul Selemon	....	set dresser (as Mark Selemon)
Charlene Shildmyer	....	scenic artist (as Charlene Shildmeyer)
Salvatore Sirico	....	set builder (as Sal Sirico)
Pam Stephens	....	art department coordinator
Peter Swaine	....	construction production assistant (as Peter Swain)
Paul Wardwell	....	construction grip
Robert Woods Jr.	....	construction grip

Technicien du son
Abdul Malik Abbott	....	cable person (as Abdul Abbott)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas	....	adr editor (as Pam Demetrius)
Kay Denmark	....	adr boom operator
William Docker	....	assistant sound editor (as Bill Docker)
Stephen Fitzstephens	....	sound
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rosa Howell-Thornhill	....	sound production assistant
Brian Johnson	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Kevin Lee	....	sound editor
Skip Lievsay	....	sound designer
Jann McClary	....	apprentice sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley editor
Andrew Schmetterling	....	boom operator
Gail Showalter	....	adr editor
Greg Speed	....	assistant sound editor (as Gregory L. Speed)
Frank Stettner	....	sound recordist
Philip Stockton	....	sound editor

Effets spéciaux
Michael L. Benson	....	special effects (as Michael Benson)
Tom Newton	....	special effects coordinator
Will Scheck	....	special effects
Chris Skutch	....	special effects

Visual Effects
Don Canfield	....	motion control operator: title sequences
Andy Hudson	....	visual effects

Cascadeur
Roy Farfel	....	utility stunts
David S. Lomax	....	utility stunts (as David Lomax)
Elliot Santiago	....	utility stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Caméra et Département Electrique
Henry Adebonojo	....	second assistant camera
Stuart Allen	....	crane technician: Louma crane
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip (as Bob Andres)
Martin Andrews	....	pre-rigging gaffer
Jonathan Burkhart	....	first assistant camera
Beverly Cable	....	electric trainee
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
Myra-Lee Cohen	....	additional second assistant camera
Val DeSalvo	....	best boy electric (as Valerie Desalvo)
Christian Epps	....	dimmer board operator
Daniel Finn	....	additional grip (as Dan Finn)
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Andy Harris	....	second assistant camera (as Andrew Harris)
Charles Houston	....	gaffer
Pamela Katz	....	first assistant camera (as Pam Katz)
Tom Kudlek	....	dolly grip
David Lee	....	still photographer
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Derek McKane	....	additional electrician
John Mitchell	....	electrician
John Newby	....	camera operator
Ed Newins Jr.	....	grip
David Noble	....	additional grip
Phil Oetiker	....	additional camera operator (as Phil Oeticker)
John O'Malley	....	electrician
George Pattison	....	additional camera operator
Carl Peterson	....	grip
Floyd A.B. Rance III	....	camera trainee
Nate Ranger	....	assistant camera
Paul Reuter	....	additional second assistant camera
Keith Salkowski	....	electrician
Leslie Saltus	....	camera trainee
Susan Starr	....	additional first assistant camera
Lois Thompson	....	grip trainee
Joan Zierler	....	additional first assistant camera

Département Casting
Paulette D. Clark	....	casting assistant (as Paulette Clark)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Andrea Reed	....	extras casting
Tracy Vilar	....	extras casting

Département Costume et garde-Robe
Donna Berwick	....	assistant to costume designer
Lisa R. Frucht	....	wardrobe assistant (as Lisa Frucht)
Beulah Jones-Black	....	assistant to costume designer
Jennifer Lax	....	wardrobe assistant
Rita McGhee	....	wardrobe production assistant
Susie Money	....	wardrobe supervisor
Janinea Shelton	....	wardrobe production assistant
Miriam Wong Tsao	....	wardrobe assistant (as Miriam Wong)

Dpartement Editorial
Donna Myers-Rambharose	....	apprentice editor
Leander T. Sales	....	assistant editor
Brunilda Torres	....	first assistant editor

Département Musique
Abdul Malik Abbott	....	music playback
Vince Caro	....	assistant scoring engineer
Stephen Fitzstephens	....	music engineer
James Flatto	....	assistant music editor
Alex Steyermark	....	music editor
Terence Blanchard	....	composer: special music (uncredited)
Jennie Hansen	....	musician: viola (uncredited)

Département Transport
William K. Gaskins	....	driver (as Willi Gaskins)
Charlie Hoffman	....	driver
Harry J. Leavey	....	driver (as Harry Leavey)
James Leavey	....	transportation captain
Tom Newins	....	driver
Martin Whitfield	....	driver

Divers
Shannon Amos	....	production coordinator
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Alysse Bezahler	....	assistant production office coordinator
Terence Blanchard	....	technical consultant
Wanda Brooks	....	intern
Yolanda Busbee	....	production assistant: 40 Acres
Jeffrey W. Byrd	....	intern (as Jeffrey Byrd)
Shari L. Carpenter	....	office production assistant
Melvin Tyrone Clarke	....	intern
Eric Daniel	....	set production assistant
Lee Davis	....	craft service
Lyle Dickey	....	intern
Mike Ellis	....	set production assistant (as Michael Ellis)
Michael Fleming	....	technical consultant
Susan D. Fowler	....	production coordinator: Forty Acres
Michael Gaynor	....	dailies projectionist
Bil Haley-Freeman	....	assistant location manager
Brian Harris	....	parking production assistant
Donald Harrison	....	technical consultant
Van Hayden	....	craft service (as Van A. Hayden)
Patricia Ann Holmes	....	assistant auditor (as Patricia Holmes)
Anthony L. Jamison	....	apprentice
Debra D. Jeffreys	....	production office coordinator
Desirée Jellerette	....	production secretary
Kristen M. Johnson	....	intern
Damon Jones	....	intern
Janice Kambara	....	intern
Eric Klein	....	location assistant (as Eric Barry Klein)
Erik Barry Klein	....	parking coordinator
Erik Knight	....	set production assistant
Bill Lee	....	technical consultant
Cinqué Lee	....	video archivist
Leticia Lee	....	assistant auditor
Palesa Ka Letlaka	....	intern
Sam Longoria	....	publicity assistant: Universal
Karen Mason	....	intern
Tiffany McLinn Lore	....	intern (as Tiffany McClinn)
Larry Mims	....	assistant: Mr. Washington
Ayesha Morales	....	intern
Robert Nickson	....	production controller
Fred Nielson	....	set production assistant (as Fred Nielsen)
Eric Oden	....	auditor
Brent Owens	....	location manager
Daryl Patterson	....	craft service
Thomas Patrick Petrilla	....	production assistant
Traci Proctor	....	office production assistant
Kia B. Puriefoy	....	set production assistant (as Kia Puriefoy)
Simona Ross	....	intern
Amada R. Sandoval	....	intern
Jean-Andre Sassine	....	parking production assistant
Winsome Sinclair	....	intern (as Winsome GM Sinclair)
Audra C. Smith	....	production assistant: 40 Acres (as Audra Smith)
Earl Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Lee
Kevin A. Smith	....	intern
Anna C. Southall	....	unit publicist (as Anna Southall)
Susan Stuart	....	intern
Dale Watkins	....	assistant location manager (as Dale T. Watkins)
Doug G. Watson	....	set production assistant (as Doug Watson)
Latanya White	....	intern
Harold R. Williams Jr.	....	assistant dailies projectionist (as Harold Williams)
Nike Zachmanoglou	....	continuity
Nike Zachmanoglou	....	script supervisor
Coati Mundi	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Companies de production

• Universal Pictures
• 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Distributeurs

• Universal Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Autre(s) titre(s):

A Love Supreme (USA) (working title)
Variations on the Mo' Better Blues (USA) (working title)

Durée:

129 min | USA:130 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

Dolby SR

Classification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Lieux de tournage:

141st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Société:

Universal Pictures

Anecdotes:

Usage of the film's original title: "A Love Supreme", was denied by Alice Coltrane, the widow of John Coltrane, the composer of the four-movement composition.

Goofs:

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

Guillemet:

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

Connexions:

Référencé sur "The Simpsons: Moe Baby Blues (#14.22)" (2003)

Classic Insight Into The NYC Jazz World

This is a very entertaining movie and it is underrated. The characters, story and music are captivating.

However, I think part of the reason for the lower ratings is the the poor camera effects. Lee focuses in on characters at times, as though they are standing and talking to a camera by themselves in some sterile room, such that it actually cheapens the film. There is a real lack of realism to this technique - it reminds me of 1960's style TV shows like Batman. It gives a feel that they ran out of money and when they had to go back and re-shoot the scene, they did so on the cheap. A minority may find this unique or appealing, but no great movie or director will use this technique. The filming with multiple characters in the shot is generally very good. But, the movie could have been better without these flaws.

The writing at times is exceptional. There are great lines, as well as very entertaining dialogue. The scenes between Denzel and Snipes are exude an extraordinary power and they offer an exceptional dynamic to the movie as a whole. The female characters are also very compelling. "Clark" (Cynda Williams) is extraordinarily attractive and the movement of the character through the course of the movie is well done.

It is difficult not to be captivated by this film. The positive cultural dynamic it captures is one that Americans can only hope to be present. Yet, one gets the feeling that reality is closer to the darker elements the movie exposes. Yet, there is ultimately a very positive message of love, responsibility.