Since its emergence in the late 19th century and its first recording on a physical support in the 1910s, jazz has fascinated and intrigued music fans all over the world. With the development of its history and the rise to fame of some of its greatest interpreters, jazz has become synonym with creative experimentation, emotional feel and existential rebelliousness.
This list brings to you the greatest movies about jazz, and it shows the versatility, evolution, and historical importance of this music genre. From amazing classics like Mo' Better Blues and The Cotton Club to modern achievements like Miles Ahead and La La Land, this article suggests movies that will be appreciated by fans of the music genre as well as musical aficionados and enthusiasts of biopics.
15 The Glenn Miller Story
Directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in the leading role, The Glenn Miller Story is a biopic that narrates the story of Glenn Miller, a famous jazz orchestra leader whose big band became one of the most notorious in the 20th century. Alongside Stewart, June Allyson plays Miller's wife Helen, and several cameos are present by artists like Louis Armstrong, Cozy Cole, and Trummy Young.
The Glenn Miller Story shines for the great performances of both Stewart and Allyson, while the music of the band leader resounds in all its beauty throughout the movie. This biopic is extremely enjoyable and helps the audience understand the various types of jazz that emerged in America. Not only great solo artists but also incredible orchestras.
14 All Night Long
Co-produced and directed by Basil Dearde, All Night Long is an adaptation of a William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello. It sees protagonists Patrick McGoohan as Johnny Cousin and Marti Stevens as Delia Lane. At the same time, the movie features an ensemble of British and American jazz artists playing themselves in the movie, among which we find Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck, and John Dankworth.
All Night Long can be remembered for Patrick McGoohan's magnificent performance as Johnny Cousin, detailed enough to let his true nature transpire scene after scene. The soundtrack is also relevant for its ability to bring the audience back in time to the London jazz scene of the 1960s. A lesser-known movie, All Night Long is engaging till the end.
13 New York, New York
New York, New York was directed by Martin Scorsese, and it stars Robert DeNiro as a saxophone player named Jimmy Doyle and Liza Minelli as a singer Francine Evans. The two meet on V-J Day in 1945 and, soon after, become lovers and music partners. New York, New York is not one of the most famous movies by the Italian-American filmmaker, but still shines for its jazz soundtrack that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the Big Apple.
The movie is beautifully captured by the cinematography of László Kovács, while Scorsese opens up his early style to a more grandiose directing. Despite the box office failure, New York, New York has become a cult classic, also thanks to the title song made famous by a cover of Frank Sinatra.
12 The Cotton Club
Co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Cotton Club is characterized by a giant ensemble cast that includes Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage, James Remar, and Laurence Fishburne. Set in 1930s Harlem, the movie details the story of musician Michael "Dixie" Dwyer (Gere) and the jazz club The Cotton Club, which really existed from 1920 until 1943.
The Cotton Club didn't perform well at the 1985 box office, but still shines in Coppola's atmospheric directing that brings you back in time to the New York of the 1930s. At the same time, the music featured in the movie completely immerses the audience while the actors and actresses deliver refined performances that elevate the plot. Underrated, to say the least.
11 Born to Be Blue
Co-produced, written and directed by Robert Budreau, Born to Be Blue is a creative and inventive biopic about the jazz trumpeter Chet Baker interpreted by Ethan Hawke. Rather than following the canonic exploration of his biography, the movie focuses on a part of the life of the artist, adding a good measure of creative freedom.
Born to Be Blue shows the great and multifaceted abilities of Hawke's acting, here channeling a painful, emotional, and strong performance in the shoes of the American jazz icon. Similarly to Miles Ahead, also in the list, Born to Be Blue uses an improvisational structure that closely resembles Baker's trumpet style. Severely undervalued, this movie is perfect for jazz fanatics.
10 The Fabulous Baker Boys
Written and directed by Steve Kloves, The Fabulous Baker Boys sees real-life brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges portraying respectively Frank and Jack Baker, two brothers who play piano for a living. In order to rebrand themselves while struggling with their career, the duo hires singer Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer).
The Fabulous Baker Boys is characterized by quintessential and timeless performances by the Bridges brothers, one better than the other. Michelle Pfieffer is even better than them at representing her character. At the same time, the movie is elevated by a strong directing by Steve Kloves, at his debut, who will later write most of the Harry Potter films' screenplays. The soundtrack is full of jazz standards that can't go unnoticed.
9 Kansas City
Co-written, produced, and directed by Robert Altman, Kansas City is set in the homonymous city, and it features an impressive soundtrack detailing the Kansas City style of jazz. While her husband, Johnny O'Hara (Dermot Mulroney), is held captive by a local gangster, Blondie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) decides to kidnap the wife of a politician in exchange for his help in releasing Johnny.
What also could be said about Robert Altman's recognizable and unique style that has yet to be said? Altman makes movies his own, and Kansas City is no different. Jennifer Jason Leigh is fantastic in the role of Blondie O'Hara, proving once again to be one of the best actresses of the last 25 years. An underrated movie in Altaman's filmography.
8 Round Midnight
Co-written and directed by Bertrand Tavernier, Round Midnight stars American jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon as Dale Turner, a jazz musician, like the actor in real life, who is struggling with his career and has problems with substance abuse and alcoholism. After relocating to Paris, Turner meets Francis Borler (François Cluzet), a graphic designer whose life is complicated. The movie also features a fantastic soundtrack by Herbie Hancock, who has a little part in the movie too.
Round Midnight's slow-paced development enables the audience to fully grasp the emotional distress and struggles of the protagonist while at the same time allowing the Parisian jazz scene to emanate all its allure. Tavernier's abilities behind the camera are impressive; the same can be said for Gordon and Cluzet's performances.
7 Chicago
Chicago was written by Bill Condon and directed by Rob Marshall, and it stars an impressive ensemble cast that includes Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly. The movie tells the story of Roxie Hart (Zellweger), a housewife who wants to be a vaudevillian, and Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones), who is vaudevillian.
Chicago is a bombastic and over-the-top musical that will live forever in the history of cinema. The screenplay is perfectly suited for a musical, being at the same time engaging, humorous, and energetic. The cast is amazing both in the musical numbers and in their acting performances. Chicago completely annihilated the 2002 box office, bringing home also six Oscars, including Best Picture.
6 Stormy Monday
Written and directed by Mike Figgis in his directorial debut, Stormy Monday is an atmospheric neo-noir that is set in Newcastle upon Tyne. The movie features an effective and amazing ensemble cast that includes Sean Bean, Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sting. Partially set in a jazz club owned by Mr. Finney (Sting), Stormy Monday is a story of political corruption, crime, and passion.
Stormy Monday is an excellent introduction to the neo-noir genre, with its slow-paced rhythm and incredible cinematography by Roger Deakins. At the same time, the cast is particularly convincing in their respective roles, with special praise for Sting and Tommy Lee Jones's performances. The jazz and blues soundtrack is just the cherry on top. To be seen immediately.
5 Whiplash
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, Whiplash stars Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, a jazz drummer who studies at the Shaffer Conservatory. He gets recruited by jazz instructor Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons) to fill in for the first drummer of the conservatory band. Right from the start, Andrew realizes Fletcher's ruthlessness and manipulative behavior, uncompromising in his teaching.
Whiplash is a fantastic debut by the American director, who is able to convey the passion and the hard work behind the life of many musicians like Neiman, who are trying to become part of the industry and leave an eternal mark. At the same time, the movie is characterized by amazing cinematography by Sharone Meir and strong performances by Teller and Simmons, who also won an Oscar for his part.
4 Miles Ahead
Don Cheadle is the mastermind behind this heartfelt and unique portrayal of arguably the most famous jazz artist of all time, his majesty Miles Davis. Set in the 1970s, Miles Ahead follows Davis, interpreted by Cheadle, who also directed the movie and co-wrote the screenplay, struggling with drug addiction and trying to get back at his career. Obviously, the movie features a flawless soundtrack with many of Davis's compositions.
Miles Ahead is characterized by a non-linear structure, which perfectly suits jazz music's non-linear and improvisational style. Not surprisingly, Miles Davis was a master of improvisation, and Cheadle homages this ability precisely with his directing choices. Roberto Schaefer's cinematography is the last piece that brings everything together. Miles Ahead will be re-evaluated in the future.
3 La La Land
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, La La Land is a colorful and emotional musical that won six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony, including Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. The movie tells the story of Sebastian "Seb" Wilder and Amelia "Mia" Dolan, a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who meet in Los Angeles and fall in love.
La La Land is characterized by ultra-expressive cinematography by Linus Sandgren, which fully captures the entire spectrum of colors found in the city landscape or background sets. Chazelle is masterful in his shot structure, especially in the highly technical opening scene. Lastly, the Gosling/Stone duo fits like a glove.
2 Bird
Produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, Bird features Forest Whitaker in the role of Charlie Parker, one of the greatest saxophone players in jazz and a music icon. Bird is non-other than the nickname that the jazz player went by. The movie also features Diane Venora, Keith David, and Samuel E. Wright.
Whitaker is amazing in his role, being able to convey magnificently the rise to fame of the jazz artist as well as his deep struggle with addiction and alcohol. Simultaneously, Eastwood is calibrated and nuanced in his directing, always knowing where best to position the camera for the most impactful shot. Ultimately, Bird is gifted by Jack N. Green's cinematography, which is essential for describing jazz clubs' smokey and suggestive environment.
1 Mo’ Better Blues
Written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee, Mo’ Better Blues features Denzel Washington in his first collaboration with the Brooklyn director. Minifield "Bleek" Gilliam (Washington) is a jazz artist who plays the trumpet and has his own band. However, Bleek's future will be complicated. The movie also stars Spike Lee as the band manager Giant, and Giancarlo Esposito and Wesley Snipes respectively as the pianist Left Hand Lacey and the saxophonist Shadow Henderson.
One of the most stylish films featured in this list, Mo’ Better Blues is characterized by detailed costume design, impeccable and colorful cinematography by Ernest Dickerson, and a Spike Lee in great shape behind and in front of the camera. Denzel Washington couldn't be better for the part.