Miles Davis documentary 'Birth Of The Cool'

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by detroit muscle, Aug 3, 2019.

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  1. detroit muscle

    detroit muscle MIA Thread Starter

    Location:
    UK

    I couldn't find anything posted about this - looks good!
     
  2. the pope ondine

    the pope ondine Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    oh wow! im in
     
  3. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    Last edited: Aug 3, 2019
  4. Tom H

    Tom H Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kapolei, Hawaii
  5. Raylinds

    Raylinds Resident Lake Surfer

    YES!!!!!!!
     
  6. johnnypaddock

    johnnypaddock Senior Member

    Location:
    Merrimack Valley
    I just saw this trailer... Man it looks promising. Looking forward to it.
     
  7. hbbfam

    hbbfam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chandler,AZ
  8. Fastnbulbous

    Fastnbulbous Doubleplus Ungood

    Location:
    Washington DC USA
    Shoot, I was thinking maybe the film was about the BotC sessions themselves. Not sure we need another Miles doc but we're getting one anyway and I'll see it eventually.
     
    smilin ed likes this.
  9. hbbfam

    hbbfam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chandler,AZ
    And BTW his auto biography is excellent. The narrator on the audio book sounds like Miles is reading it himself.
     
  10. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    yea, I thought the same thing, heart skipped a beat. But of course, I'll be there as soon as it comes in town
     
    Nascimento Brasil likes this.
  11. patrickd

    patrickd Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin TX USA
    Just saw it. It's fascinating for Miles fans, naturally, but not all I'd hoped for from the trailer. It has some decent interview footage and acknowledges but tells us little about his habits and unpleasant side, which is somewhat at odds with how frank Miles was himself in acknowledging the facts. There's some glorious moments of old footage of him playing but not enough over the course of more than two hours ( but it was interesting to see live shots of him near the end showing a remarkable loss of vitality when he really was not that old, so you can see how the lifestyle took it's toll). The person I went with said it was too like listening to a lecture and slide presentation in places, so temper your expectations before you go and you likely won't be disappointed. Personally, I really enjoyed it and will watch it again at some point.
     
  12. Humbuster

    Humbuster Staff Emeritus

    Theatrical release ?
     
  13. I'm assuming yes, but I'm not sure. It will almost certainly air on PBS sometime in the next 6(?) months, I'm guessing as part of their American Masters series (I would presume).

    I saw the thing here in DC in a theater, on a documentary film fest back in April or May (I forget which). I thought it was quite good, but of course I could easily think of a dozen or more areas that deserved more attention, and a good 20 or 30 minutes more.

    Overall, I'd give it an 8/10, but I was hoping for more of a solid 9. It's good, but don't expect every nook and cranny of his story to get enough attention.
     
    Humbuster likes this.
  14. jeromesabbagh

    jeromesabbagh Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York
    I totally want to see this!
     
  15. Radio

    Radio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Michigan
  16. leemelone

    leemelone Forum Resident

    Location:
    ATL
    Radio likes this.
  17. peopleareleaving

    peopleareleaving Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
  18. This is airing SOON -- this week here in DC (and probably the same nationally).

    I (suddenly, moments ago!) thought I'd missed it, but 1) fortunately I hadn't, and 2) I forgot I had my DVR set to automatically record any/all new "American Experience" episodes.

    I saw this in a theater here in DC last year (on a documentary film-fest), and it's quite good! A few areas I felt got a little bit of a short shrift, and even at 2 hours, I think an extra 20 minutes would have been great (not enough 1960's and 70's coverage -- though what is covered from both those decades, is covered fairly equally).

    Anyway, DON'T MISS IT. I can't remember what I said earlier (upthread), but I'm sure if I gave it a letter-grade, I think I either gave it a very solid B+ or maybe a hair closer to an A- (if I was giving letter grades). Thinking back (now) on when I saw it, I'm now thinking more "B+" -- but still, don't miss it.

    Sadly, though, practically no new performance footage (of any sort), though there are some non-performance clips I'd never seen (which were welcome).
     
  19. Tomorrow night! -- 2/25 -- with probable re-airings at all sorts of odd times, over the next week.

    Don't miss out!
     
  20. Radio

    Radio Forum Resident

    Location:
    Michigan
    Bump for tonight’s showing.
     
  21. Jazzmonkie

    Jazzmonkie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tempe, AZ
    Good doc featuring a number of people that actually knew and/or played with him. I'm glad they didn't interview Wynton Marsalis. :hide:
     
    kevywevy and robertawillisjr like this.
  22. vince

    vince Stan Ricker's son-in-law

    That's the SECOND time, this week, I've heard the saying:
    "God punishes you, by making all your dreams come true."
     
    Nascimento Brasil likes this.
  23. moople72

    moople72 Forum Resident

    Location:
    KC
    I found it to be a bit disappointing.

    The sax part from Flamenco Sketches playing over the end credits made me wonder if the filmmakers knew what they were doing! It sounds like a trivial gripe but to me it underscores that this film may have been in the wrong hands.

    More archival footage and less "experts" BS-ing would have been nice.

    Too bad In A Silent Way was overlooked.
     
    Nascimento Brasil and Chris M like this.
  24. the pope ondine

    the pope ondine Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia

    should be the rule of thumb really
     
    moople72 likes this.
  25. groundharp

    groundharp Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger

    Location:
    California Day
    I enjoyed watching it on PBS the other night, but my opinion tends to be similar to yours on this documentary. It definitely needed some better editing, for example, Miles' ex-wife Frances talks about how she didn't really know about Miles Davis when she met him, although she knew (or knew about) Johnny Mathis. Despite not saying ANYTHING else about Johnny Mathis, we are subjected to about a minute and a half of Mathis singing in the background. WTF?! A waste of film-time that could have been given to more Miles Davis music.

    Also, it's not just In A Silent Way that got skipped over (an UNFORGIVABLE mistake, IMHO), the film skips over everything between Sketches Of Spain and Bitches Brew.
     
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