Mo' Better Blues

R

Released Aug 3, 1990

2 hr. 7 min.

Drama

List

71%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Financially irresponsible Giant (Spike Lee) manages a jazz group, but his sax player, Shadow (Wesley Snipes), wants to replace him with a better businessman. Bleak (Denzel Washington), the band's trumpeter, then tries to defend his close pal Giant, leading to a power struggle between the two musicians. Meanwhile, as Bleak tries to straighten things out with his band mates and manager, he also must choose to be with either sweet teacher Indigo (Joie Lee) or sultry singer Clarke (Cynda Williams).

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Critics Consensus

Mo' Better Blues is rich with vibrant hues and Denzel Washington's impassioned performance, although its straightforward telling lacks the political punch fans expect from a Spike Lee joint.

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Steve D

Its treatment of women (among others) is a bit disconcerting, but the rest is wonderfully written and acted.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Spike Lee provides a hyper engaging visual and auditory background for his examination of the inner workings and power dynamic within a jazz quintet, as well as the multiple relationships being juggled by the band's leader. The film was well cast with Washington and Snipes playing competing band members and Spike Lee added value, doubling as the band's manager and failed sports gambler. Lee deserves even more credit for the visually appealing way this was shot, playing off the excellent soundtrack, creating a pleasing tone throughout, and at least one extremely memorable scene. I should also note how much I loved the opening of this film so it will be no surprise this landing was totally stuck in my opinion and thought the last five or ten minutes were pretty strong.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favorite Denzel performances

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/20

Full Review

Audience Member

It's a smaller, personal story about a jazz musicians rise and fall. It features some really human and flawed characters, which is refreshing. And a wraparound theme of learning to be content with perceived mediocrity. As long as you're a good father, that's what counts.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/20

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the better musicals about live music, and the lives of the musicians particularly concerning the protagonist's and his selfish approach to life.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What a great Spike Lee film. Mo' Better Blues follows a jazz musician named Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington) who is obsessed with his art, but because of that he starts down a path that breaks him away from the people that are closest to him. He has a problem with another band member in his quintet named Shadow Henderson (Wesley Snipes) which leads to issues with everyone on the band. Their manager Giant (Spike Lee) is Bleek's best friend since he was a kid, but as a manager he is absolutely terrible and is deep in gambling debts. Giant keeps telling the quintet that On top of all this Bleek is balancing his love life between two women Indigo (Joie Lee) a teacher and another woman named Clarke (Cynda Williams) an up and coming singer. He movie has a strong message about cause and effect and a bit about fate (which is foreshadowed early on). The movie is well acted. Washington and Snipes do great in this one. They have some arguments that are really realistic. I'm not the biggest fan of Spike Lee acting in his own films, but he does a good job here too. The movie does slow down a bit in the middle of the film, but after a tragic turn of events the movies last third works out very well. This is a well done drama that tells the story about a man who has everything he could ask for and how it comes crashing down. Definitely, give this one a look if you've never seen it!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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Spike Lee

Director

Denzel Washington

Bleek Gilliam

Spike Lee

Giant

Wesley Snipes

Shadow Henderson (Sax)

Joie Lee

Indigo Downes

Cynda Williams

Clarke Bentancourt

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Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Save My Life, Please

2:44

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - The Mo' Better Blues

2:28

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Bleek's Trumpet Practice

2:37

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - L-O-V-E

2:43

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Beaten to a Pulp

3:00

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Where's Our Money?

1:25

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Shadow & Clarke

2:26

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - Grandstanding Sax Player

2:37

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - You'll Play Again!

2:39

Mo' Better Blues: Official Clip - What Did You Call Me?

2:45

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

... At once alluring and disappointing.

Rated: B-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Charles Shaar Murray

Empire Magazine

It's tight, suspenseful, funny and packed with great music.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Personal rather than social issues come to the fore in Mo' Better Blues, a Spike Lee personality piece dressed in jazz trappings that puffs itself up like Bird but doesn't really fly.

Sep 22, 2008

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Perhaps the attractive part of the film is its stubborn imperfection. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Lee’s filmmaking is as alive as ever, though, and the movie is best when he’s just goofing around.

Rated: B

Aug 31, 2022

Full Review

Monica Dorenkamp

OutWeek

We are left with a film that could have been about so many things but ultimately isn't about much.

May 21, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Financially irresponsible Giant (Spike Lee) manages a jazz group, but his sax player, Shadow (Wesley Snipes), wants to replace him with a better businessman. Bleak (Denzel Washington), the band's trumpeter, then tries to defend his close pal Giant, leading to a power struggle between the two musicians. Meanwhile, as Bleak tries to straighten things out with his band mates and manager, he also must choose to be with either sweet teacher Indigo (Joie Lee) or sultry singer Clarke (Cynda Williams).

Director: Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Spike Lee
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.9M
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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