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Round Midnight

Play trailer Poster for Round Midnight R Released Sep 12, 1986 2h 10m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In the 1950s, Dale Turner (Dexter Gordon), a gifted black saxophonist with a drinking problem, leaves behind New York and his estranged family and relocates to Paris. There he plays for a progressive, jazz-loving audience without being judged by his race, and ages quietly in peace. Not intending to turn away from his vices, Dale nonetheless becomes the project of a French fan (François Cluzet) who tries to help him fight his alcoholism, ultimately inspiring both Dale and his music.

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Round Midnight

Round Midnight

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Critics Consensus

Brought brilliantly to life by Dexter Gordon's outstanding performance, Round Midnight is the rare jazz-inflected drama that matches the power of the music.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Gordon’s performance conveys something else that’s all too rare in movies of musicians—namely, joy. It’s a serene and lofty joy, with an element of wry detachment and even self-deprecation built in, but it’s vitally present nonetheless. Feb 16, 2024 Full Review Clayton Dillard Slant Magazine The beacon of ’Round Midnight is Dexter Gordon’s performance. May 20, 2022 Full Review Tim Pulleine Guardian A wonderfully detailed performance by a real jazz musician, Dexter Gordon. Oct 27, 2021 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com ‘Round Midnight succeeds as a composite of jazz and its tormented originators thanks to the inspired casting and improvisational skills of real-life bebop musician Dexter Gordon. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 28, 2022 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) Though I think Dale sometimes has a whiff of the inscrutable Magical Negro, Gordon plays him with so much charm and nuance that he becomes fully fleshed-out character. And by God, the music! Dec 9, 2021 Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) Romantic without being sentimental, the picture has a marvelous look and sound and feel. Oct 27, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blu B A Jazz Musical Biopic Classic. The music is the highlight and is what holds this together through the narrative meandering and slow burn. It truly immerses you in the music, the scene, and the vibes. That's really what this film is 70% of the time. We're just feeling the cigarette smoke coming through the screen with empty glasses of scotch next to us. The cinematography is really good also. The night scenes in Paris, the Jazz club, direction, moody lighting, the smoke, cramped apartments all immerse you with the music and I truly don't mind at all those long scenes because it's such a strong vibe and truly where and how this film soars when it works. Everything else is solid enough save for the editing which isn't bad. The problem is the other 30% or so. It feels like stuff just happens only very loosely connected by the "feelings" you get scene to scene and direction carrying this. But when it gets to Dexter's personal life, relationship with others, and trying to form some kind of narrative it's almost nonexistant at points or loosely connected enough to be passable. If you strip the music away and look at just the characters/story there is pieces and chunks but nothing really solid. This makes this feel like a 3 hour plus movie and it did start to wear off in the last third or so a bit which was also when we focused the most on character/going to NYC. I don't think that's a coincidence. If your a big fan of Jazz, Musical biopics, the director, or any actors in this than give this a shot. I do have to say I struggle to see casual muscial genre fans getting into this and drama fans also because of th elack of narrative. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/15/25 Full Review Audience Member I have never forgotten this movie. It really impressed me as did Dexter Gordon. Have seen it twice and would love to watch it again. :o) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member When the jazzman is signifyin', and the band is windin' low It's the late night side of morning in the darkness of his soul He can fill a room with sadness as he fills his horn with tears He can cry like a fallen angel when risin' time is near Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Sensitive and inspiring flick from a time when movies used to be about human beings and not politics. A must watch even if you're not a Jazzhead (thou you may become one after watching this). Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member What an amazing performance from Dexter Gordon. He was nominated for Best Actor in 1987. Any fan of Jazz music should appreciate the nice story and great soundtrack. The story is a little slow and simple, but the music kept me going. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review steve d Unless you are really into the music there isn't a lot here. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Round Midnight

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1950s, Dale Turner (Dexter Gordon), a gifted black saxophonist with a drinking problem, leaves behind New York and his estranged family and relocates to Paris. There he plays for a progressive, jazz-loving audience without being judged by his race, and ages quietly in peace. Not intending to turn away from his vices, Dale nonetheless becomes the project of a French fan (François Cluzet) who tries to help him fight his alcoholism, ultimately inspiring both Dale and his music.
Director
Bertrand Tavernier
Producer
Irwin Winkler
Production Co
Little Bear [fr]
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 1986, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 3, 1986
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 30, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.7M
Runtime
2h 10m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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