Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser

PG-13

Released Feb 12, 1989

1h 29m

Documentary

List

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

86%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Along with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Thelonious Monk is credited as one of the pioneering musicians of bebop and is the second most recorded jazz composer in the world. Charlotte Zwerin's documentary tries to unravel Monk, who was known for having a thorny personality and an aggressive playing technique to match. Interviews with Monk's son and fellow musicians shed some light, and performance footage from a European tour captures his idiosyncratic style.

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Time Out

We might be moved by Monk's childlike dependency on his wife, baffled by his esoteric humour, honoured simply by his presence, but all we really need now are the records.

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

The Monk music that courses through the film is extraordinary in its range of feeling.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The musical value of this footage is so powerful that nothing can deface it, despite the best efforts of Zwerin to do so.

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

Marvin J. Bevans

The Crisis

If for no other reason, this documentary is worth seeing, if only to pay witness to one of the great music men in action in rare, close-up footage which focuses not only on Monk's fast foot tapping, but his idiosyncratic approach to piano playing.

Nov 14, 2023

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Nov 22, 2008

Full Review

TV Guide

A lively and loving tribute to the genius of Thelonious Monk.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

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Audience Member

Ages 13 and older, full of the 2nd-most recorded jazz songwriter ever, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Largely lets the music speak for itself...and what complicated music it is! The film briefly charts Thelonious Monk's rise from Coleman Hawkins sideman to leader in his own right and lavishly offers us concert footage from the late 1960s. A few talking heads tell us about his probable mental illness (sounds like bipolar) but we do not get to know the man through his own words, as he seems mysterious and not interested in talking for the camera. If you haven't checked Monk out, you really should.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A haphazard attempt to portray the life of Thelonius Monk. This movie could have been better.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

watching monk play is always a joy and, while it's a shame the film has to delve into suspicions of mental illness associated with his notoriously eccentric behavior, whatever the truth of the matter, it in no way diminishes his brilliance. a giant of american music. watch it here --> http://youtu.be/E4pmPPtKU64 <-- happy b-day mr monk

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Listening and watching Thelonious play is enough to know that the man is a genius and seeing his slow twirls on stage is enough to know that he is a little off in the head, but this documentary brings out stories of hilarity and sadness, about the artist, told by the people closest to him. After watching this I am on the verge of listening to every single recording.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was riveted by the performances and the scenes of Monk creating the music, not so much by the talking heads and re-enactments. This was a case of messing with a good thing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Charlotte Zwerin

Director

Jimmy Cleveland

Self

Harry Colomby

Self

John Coltrane

Self

Ray Copeland

Self

Nica De Koenigswarter

Self

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Synopsis

Along with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Thelonious Monk is credited as one of the pioneering musicians of bebop and is the second most recorded jazz composer in the world. Charlotte Zwerin's documentary tries to unravel Monk, who was known for having a thorny personality and an aggressive playing technique to match. Interviews with Monk's son and fellow musicians shed some light, and performance footage from a European tour captures his idiosyncratic style.

Director: Charlotte Zwerin
Producer: Clint Eastwood
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $46.8K
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Dolby

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