Mo' Better Blues
Mo' Better Blues is a 1990 American musical comedy-drama film starring Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee, who also wrote, produced, and directed. It follows a period in the life of fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (played by Washington) as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing both his relationships and his playing career. The film focuses on themes of friendship, loyalty, honesty, cause-and-effect, and ultimately salvation. It features the music of the Branford Marsalis quartet and Terence Blanchard on trumpet. The film was released five months after the death of Robin Harris and is dedicated to his memory, being his final acting role.
Plot
In Brooklyn, New York in 1969, a group of four boys walk up to Bleek Gilliam's Brownstone apartment and ask him to play baseball with them. Bleek's mother insists that he continue his trumpet lesson. His father becomes concerned that Bleek will grow up to be a sissy, and a family argument ensues. Bleek continues playing his trumpet, and his friends depart.
Cast
- Abbey Lincoln
- Bill Lee
- Bill Nunn
- Branford Marsalis
- Charlie Murphy
- Cynda Williams
- Denzel Washington
- Deon Richmond
- Dick Anthony Williams
- Doug E. Doug
- Giancarlo Esposito
- Jeff "Tain" Watts
- Joe Seneca
- John Turturro
- Joie Lee
- Monty Ross
- Nicholas Turturro
- Robin Harris
- Rubén Blades
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Spike Lee
- Tracy Camilla Johns
- Wesley Snipes
More details
| author | Spike Lee |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | Brooklyn |
| director | Spike Lee |
| editor | Sam Pollard |
| genre | comedy-drama |
| keywords | brownstone cheat club owner family argument french girl gambling debts injured jazz band loan shark lock morning open saxophone stake out teach wed |
| musicBy | Bill Lee |
| producer | Spike Lee |
| productionCompany | 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks |
| publisher | Universal Pictures |
| recordedAt | New York City |
| theme | musical drama |