Mo' Better Blues (1990)
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, (more)
- Director(s):
- Spike Lee
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Spike Lee's 1990 directing effort is a jazz film, the story of a fictional trumpeter named Bleek Gilliam (Denzel Washington). He leads a quintet at the Beneath the Underground club with a flashy saxophonist named Shadow Henderson (Wesley Snipes). Though Shadow takes a few too many solos, everything seems fine in Bleek's life. Trouble soon arises, however, and he is forced to make decisions regarding both his best friend Giant (Spike Lee), and his relationships with two women. Giant, his manager and old pal, is addicted to gambling and often gets roughed up by thugs looking for pay back. Bleek is the only member of the quintet who wants to keep him as manager. The trumpeter's woman problems concern trying to decide between two girlfriends who both love him: a schoolteacher (Joie Lee) and a singer (Cynda Williams). Spike's father Bill Lee scored the film, with contributions from Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Abbey Lincoln and Ruben Blades (who plays Giant's bookie). ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 130 mins
Complete Cast:
- Denzel Washington - Bleek Gilliam
- Wesley Snipes - Shadow Henderson
- Cynda Williams - Clarke Bentancourt
- Robin Harris - Butterbean Jones
- Dick Anthony Williams - Big Stop Gilliam
- Jeff "Tain" Watts - Rhythm Jones
- Abbey Lincoln - Lillian Gilliam
- Zakee Howze - Young Bleek/Miles
- Branford Marsalis - Party Guest
- Leonard Thomas - Rod
- Steve White - Born Knowledge
- Tracy Camilla Johns
- Monty Ross
- Douglas Bourne - Jimmy the Busboy
- Coati Mundi - Roberto
- Carol M. Wiggins
- Raymond Anthony Thomas - Joe
- Jelani Asar Snipes - Miles, Age 1
- Scot Anthony Robinson - Cooley
- Darryl M. Wonge, Jr. - Miles at Birth
- Leon Addison Brown - Smith
- Angela Hall - Cora
- Arnold Cromer - Miles, Age 5
- Raye Dowell - Rita
- Spike Lee - Giant
- Joie Lee - Indigo Downes
- Giancarlo Esposito - Left Hand Lacey
- Bill Nunn - Bottom Hammer
- Rubén Blades - Petey
- Nicholas Turturro - Josh Flatbush
- Linda Hawkins - Jeanne
- Bill Lee - Father of the Bride
- Samuel L. Jackson - Madlock
- Charlie Murphy - Eggy
- Joe Seneca - Big Stop's Friend
- John Canada Terrell
- Mamie Louise Anderson - Club Patron
- Robi Reed
- Glenn Williams III - Miles, Age 3
- Sheldon Turnipseed - Benny
- John Sobestanovich - Taxi Driver
- Christopher Skeffrey - Louis
- Deon Richmond - Tyrone
- Terrence Williams - Sam
- Anaysha Figueroa - Shanika
- Flavor Flav - Impatient Movie Patron
- Herbert Daughtry - Minister
- Director(s):
- Spike Lee
- Writer(s):
- Spike Lee
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Not For Children, Adult Situations, Nudity, Violence, Profanity, Strong Sexual Content)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions








