MO' BETTER BLUES

US, 1990, 130 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris, Joie Lee, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, Dick Anthony Williams, Cynda Williams, Nicholas Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson.
Directed by Spike Lee.

Early in his career, Spike Lee was proclaimed a phenomenon – writer, producer, director, actor. She’s Got a Have It and Do the Right Thing were arresting and thoughtful. This film is much more ambitious, more personal, with big studio production style.

This is a film for African American audiences, for blues fans, for those would enjoy the soundtrack. The central character is a self-centred trumpeter, his relationships, ambitions with his band, and his sentimental redemption.

The film is stylish. But the characters tend to merge with the background and it is hard to appreciate (or, at times, be interested in them). Even Denzel Washington seems, at times, submerged by the plot – which makes the film long and, for those not captivated, tedious – perhaps it should have been mo’ better.

1. Spike Lee and his career, his films, collaborating with Denzel Washington? This film early in his career?

2. The African American themes? The perspectives up till 1990? The blues themes, music and performances?

3. The title, the euphemism for sexual experience? The soundtrack, the blues and performance, the band, the individuals and their instruments, singers?

4. The American appeal, to the black audiences, to world audiences – more observation than empathy, or increasing empathy?

5. Bleek, as a boy, practising the trumpet, his mother and her demands, the role of his father, less influence?

6. Bleek as an adult, his character, self-centred, ambitious, music, the trumpet? Forming the band? The range of players in characters, their instruments? The Bleek Gilliam Quartet?

7. The character of Shadow, music, personality, on stage, performance, the rivalry with Bleek, the effect on each of them, the effect on the band and their morale?

8. Bleek, selfish, the significance of the two women in his life, handling situations, not respecting them, decisions?

9. Clarke, the sexual appeal, her ambitions to be a singer, her hopes, the sexual relationship with Bleek, the incident in biting his lip which he needed to play the trumpet? Ultimate decisions?

10. Indigo, being a teacher, thoughtful, more in command, interactions with Bleek?

11. The club, the owners, contracts, success, and issues of payment?

12. Giant, friend with Bleek, as played by Spike Lee, diminutive and the irony of his name? Finances, deals, contracts, not as confident a manager as he could be, and his gambling problems?

13. The years passing, crises for Bleek, decisions to be made? Possible redemption for him?

14. The end, the montage of Love Supreme and its impact?