MILES AHEAD Review

The title of this latest music biopic suggests that Miles Davis was a man ahead of his time and many would agree when speaking about his musical talents, but Don Cheadle's first directorial effort, Miles Ahead, isn't introspective enough to put on display why this particular individual was allowed insight into music others hadn't yet tapped into, but rather it's about how Davis was very much a product of his time. In his actions and his views in his personal life Davis was very much of the state of mind that society should function a specific way, especially in regards to how he was allowed to treat the opposite sex and how they weren't allowed to treat him. One can only imagine Cheadle and screenwriter Steven Baigelman (who also worked on Get on Up) decided to come at Davis' story from a more personal angle due to how destructive he needed to be in order to be inspired enough to create what would become his legacy. Of course, that leaves audiences, or more appropriately Davis himself, to deal with the bigger question of what is worth more in the long run-his present prize or his potential imprint he could leave on culture? In Miles Ahead, Cheadle shows us how one drove the other-how life goes on for Davis long after the thrill of living is gone (one can learn a lot from John Cougar Mellencamp). What was the thrill though? The music or the indisputable love of his life, Frances Taylor (Emayatzy Corinealdi)? The even bigger question is does Davis ever figure this out for himself? Sure, he is now the subject of a motion picture and regarded as one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century, but how often did he think of Frances and the times they could have shared, the memories they could have potentially made while grappling with a reputation that could go either way? Miles Davis, the man, would have you believe that he didn't grapple with anything as one of his most famous quotes states, "do not fear mistakes. There are none," but it's hard to believe given Cheadle's interpretation that being one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century came with a price Davis wasn't always sure he wanted to pay.

First Trailer for Don Cheadle's MILES AHEAD

It seems as if Don Cheadle has been working on his Miles Davis biopic for years now, and it's true that the film is something of a passion project for him, but given we now have the first trailer for the film it seems both the time and passion may have paid off in big and interesting ways. If you're familiar with the name, but not sure what role Davis played on the musical scene he was a jazz musician and composer, known mainly for his trumpet skills among many other titles, who is widely considered one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. As a lover of musical biopics, but someone who recognizes that the formula has become a bit stale in recent years (thank you, Love & Mercy-I'm looking at you, I Saw the Light) what is most exciting about this project is that Cheadle seems to have embraced telling the story of Davis with as much attitude as the real Davis sported himself. While the number one issue artists who decide to tackle stories of other artists lives run into is their attempt to tell a cradle to grave story it seems Cheadle has already foregone that trope by focusing on the plight of Davis to own all the rights to his music and the end of the six-year sabbatical he took in the late seventies that's jump-started by an interview with David Brill (Ewan McGregor). The trailer promises a movie that is as improvisational as Davis' musical stylings and for this attempt alone I look forward to seeing the big picture. The film closed the New York Film Festival in October of last year to generally good reviews and will open in theaters on April 1st, 2016. Miles Ahead also stars Michael Stuhlbarg, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Keith Stanfield, Austin Lyon, Morgan Wolk, Chris Hahn, Nina Smilow, and Jeffrey Grover.