Heavy-handed for sure. But also highly atmospheric.

topitimo-829-270459

Spike Lee followed his career-best "Do the Right Thing" (1989) with a totally different film, moving away from racial tensions and towards a universal groove. "Mo' Better Blues" (1990) tells the story of trumpeter Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington), and his relationships with band mates (Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn), his manager (Spike Lee), and the two women from whom he can't decide 'oh which one' (Joie Lee, Cynda Williams). There isn't really a plot-line, but instead the film moves on smoothly, enjoying great music on the way and depicting the obsessive trumpeter.

The film looks and sounds great. Lee builds a working atmosphere and makes you appreciate the music. My problem is that the film is very heavy-handed in its character working, except for the protagonist. The narrative thread of Wesley Snipes being jealous about Denzel's place in the spotlight, as well as the narrative thread about Spike's gambling problem and Denzel taking pity on him, are both old almost to a point of cliche. The film's groovy vibe makes them passable, but it does not rise to be one of Lee's masterworks. In "Do the Right Thing" he had played his cards right, and let things develop on their own pace. This film feels a greater need to explain the characters, who are already one-dimensional. And the ending is terrible, Lee lets the film continue about five minutes too long.

But the music is great, and Denzel is too. Also I got to give some credit to Spike's own acting. This film came out a year after "Do the Right Thing", and his characters in these two films couldn't be further apart. The supportive ensemble is strong, and makes the cast of characters better and more realistic, than the screenplay would have them to be.

score 8/10

topitimo-829-270459 21 October 2019

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw5204135/