Films > Film Reviews

Miles Ahead

30/04/16

Pleading ignorance here, but I went into this film not knowing anything about the musician Miles Davis. Upon exiting this American biopic I feel I know more about his lifestyle but it didn’t really explain much for the common place audience member.

Rolling Stones writer Dave Braden (Ewan McGregor) interviews famous jazz icon Miles Davis (Don Cheadle). This leads back to how they first met and that Davis has a mixtape of new material after a long absence. Davis doesn’t want to hand it in to Columbia Records; he starts thinking back on his music and his relationship with Frances Taylor (Emayatzy Corinealdi) as everything racks up.

I honestly don’t know which parts of this movie were based on real events or typically altered by the Hollywood machine. I think pandering to help people like myself who don’t know anything about Miles Davis would have been better. For all I know, the heated action and gun fighting of trying to get a mixtape is accurate. Also the ending states Miles’ name, then 1926 -, as if he’s still alive, which I can confirm he isn’t. Admittedly this was obviously poetic license. So it makes me wonder how much of this admittedly stylish movie was over exaggerated.

Don Cheadle is a dazzling director, actor, writer, additional composer and producer. He does a great job in all fields and particularly as the director. The way scenes meld into each other or cut sharply into a later/earlier version of Miles or Dave is seamless and cool. It helps the story move along nicely and keep this gangster-esque vibe at sleek levels.

It’s not like other biopics I’ve seen before, which is a good and bad thing. It’s good because it’s engaging and not boring. It has a musicality at all times. On the flip side, having it flick back and forth, melding possible untrue sequences makes it difficult to buy into and I still feel like I know zilch about the trumpet player.

Cheadle is a powerhouse as the man behind the golden instrument; he brings a swagger and electric edge to the role. The times when he’s reminiscing are played nicely, showing the broken side of Davis. Ewan McGregor plays a fun part, playing a fraud with a buzz kill side hoping to scoop a story on Miles, and he plays the likable factor well as their odd friendship grows. Emayatzy Corinealdi is beautiful and the least cartoonish figure. She provides the drama and shattered dreams of life to great heights.

The plot may be hard to jump on board with and it skids off into trying something new but it’s got style and Cheadle rocks the house with an expressive and enjoyable performance.