In what is obviously a passion project for the Oscar nominated actor Don Cheadle in this his movie directorial debut, he chose to co-write and star in this feature based on the life on the jazz trumpeter Miles Davis who is widely considered to be one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century. It is not a biopic as such as it focuses on a brief and somewhat troubled period in Davis’s life in the late 1970’s when he was in-between wives and also seemingly spiraling out of control surviving on a diet of just drugs and alcohol. He has been working on a new album in his home studio for at least a year and although he adamantly refuses to let the head of Columbia records listen to even a track, he still insists that that the Studio Boss sends him a monthly ‘expenses’ check of $20000.
The failure of the check to arrive one particular month coincides with a reporter from Rolling Stone Magazine called Dave Braden (Ewan McGregor) turning up on his doorstep claiming that he had been commissioned to write a feature article to celebrate this ‘comeback’ album. Davis resents the intrusion and the two men get off to a bad start and get into a brawl, and Davis punches the journalist in the face. However when Davis then finally reaches the Columbia boss on the phone and is told by him that he will not send a check without sight of the overdue album, Davis reluctantly recruits Braden into driving him to the record company’s downtown offices so that he can confront them in person.
Davis is intent on bullying the Executive who is somewhat scared of his larger-than life star, but the showdown doesn’t quite turn out as Davis expects and he ends up randomly shooting at an arrogant A & R man who annoys him. He also is very dismissive with Junior (Lakeith Lee Stanfield) a newbie jazz trumpeter and a big fan of Davie who is there trying to get his own record deal. Harper (Michael Stuhlbarg) his producer is also anxious to impress Davis and so declares that he wants to help him rediscover his former glory. What Harper really wants is the same as everyone else, including Braden who is not who he claims, and that is to get his hands on Davis’ new session tapes that are potentially worth a great deal of money.
After they leave the Office what follows later is a rather manic plot when Harper and his henchmen contrive to steal the tape out from under Braden who has the same idea. When Davis discovers it has been stolen he insists that Braden immediately helps him set about stealing it back. The rather frenetic action packed drama is littered with some chaotic car chases through New York with lots of gun fire which only seems to stop so that they can get another hit of drugs to keep them manically high.
In between all this action there are flashbacks to happier times when Davis met Broadway dancer Frances Taylor (a rather breathtaking Emayatzy Corinealdi) who he romanced into giving up her own very successful carer to become his second wife. He was however unable to keep up the charm for long and tried to control her in the way he did with everything in his life, and she just walked out in the end.
Cheadle’s powerful portrayal of this troubled genius and very difficult man is electrifying, and the chemistry between him and McEwan’s lying reporter makes this fast paced and slightly uneven drama so highly enjoyable. He ensures that it is a great period piece with superb outrageous colorful costumes and highly stylized sets which are pitched perfectly. And then of course there is the music which serves to remind everyone why Davis got away with all his high jinks and rather atrocious behavior.
