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Review Miles Ahead

Miles Davis was a master of his craft. He was also a jerk, arrogant, egocentric and selfish. Those are the lessons we learn from the film. Don Cheadle directs and acts in this anti-biopic of the jazz master (social music).

MILES AHEAD is not just about the music. It’s about what we all face at one time or another in our lives; questions about who we really are, what we have to say and how will we say it. How will we ultimately be defined and who gets to say so? — (C) Official Site.

This is the directing debut of the great Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”, “Ocean Eleven”, “Iron Man 2”). It took him ten years to convince the estate to let him direct this film which he co-wrote. “Miles Ahead” takes place in the 70s when Miles Davis took a five year break being the”jazz’s Howard Hughes.” Confined in his New York house, with his memories, drugs and alcohol as only companions. It is not a biopic, you won’t learn anything about the life of the artist, except that he was married to a Frances Taylor, the love of his life, which we learn about through flashbacks. But their romance misses the chemistry and passion it so desperately want to achieve. The film is a visual composition, a combination of styles weirdly put together through a lack of experience.  “Miles Ahead” is an experimental movie which entertains mostly because of the acting and the fantastic music. Don Cheadle is impressive as Miles Davis, disappearing in the role. Ewan McGregor is delightful as Dave Brill, a journalist who wants to write about Miles’ rumored comeback and is take on a crazy adventure.

A fun and crazy story about one of music’s greatest artists but not much more than that.

Stanley Berenboom

One Comment

  1. Sounds like I’d enjoy all of that. Added to watchlist. ..
    However, with No Man’s Sky coming out in August, I fear my movie-watching tempo will plummet :p

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