Bolden (2019) Reviews

• All the potential with no substance.

  tonyulesich2019-05-08

  I want to start by stating that the music by Wynton Marsalis is really well researched and played. The costumes were also very well crafted, and true to the period. The acting was suitable, even though the actors said next to nothing. In one of the opening scenes, the audience sees Buddy get thrown out of a hot air balloon, and parachute to the ground while playing his cornet to a cheering audience. I thought, wow this is going to be a creative and fun take on his life. Yeah, I was wrong. That was the best thing in the whole movie. As far as the story, it goes in a couple of different directions. Time jumps around from Buddy's life as a child, as a budding talent, and his final years in a turn of the century institution. The story is shown in Buddy Bolden's disordered flashbacks of his life. Buddy Bolden's character is an enigma, and the supporting characters are underdeveloped. It's like shaking your keys at a baby to keep them from crying. The writer was hoping the audience is so distracted by all the nudity and violence, they won't care that there isn't a story There were lots of interesting settings, but nothing happens. Any detail about Bolden's relationships with his many partners are just lust filled scenes of lust. I thought for a second that this thing should be on skin-a-max, probably will be. The movie was a long time in the making, a total of eleven years. Multiple reshoots, and at one point got an entirely new cast. All and all, they spent a lot of money on a dud.

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• Confusing

  segaltoons2019-05-03

  I knew nothing about Buddy Bolden before seeing this film and after seeing it I know even less. This film is put together like a two hour trailer, the scenes jump around in time and never seem to build to a satisfying emotional conclusion. There are individual shots that promise something interesting, but never seem to finish. Even the jazz numbers which are well arranged by Wynton Marsalis, do not get to finish. And most music varies in fidelity and we move thru time and space. The period details are perfect as is the music, sounding like it's played on period instruments. The performances are believable especially Gary Carr as Buddy Bolden who presents a broad range of emotions. He can be exhibiting a youthful energy exploring the nascent possibilities of jazz, or suffering trough rough parts of his life. The most familiar face in the cast is Ian McShane, but his charter is presented in such a choppy way, I have no idea who his character was or how he figured in Bolden's life. I saw this at a special screening with the writer director Dan Pritzker in attendance, and he acknowledged that no recording of Bolden exists and so little is known about Bolden that he has no idea if he invented jazz or not, he just thought it was a good tag line.

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• Where's Jelly Roll Morton?

  jimmylohman2019-05-05

  I look forward to seeing this movie and have long thought Buddy Bolden would be an ideal subject. But where is Jelly Roll Morton -- and how could anyone miss an opportunity to depict this amazing character!

• "Bolden" is a different approach to the drama biopic.

  SnobReviews2019-05-13

  "Bolden" will transcend you into a hallucinogenic state and is an interesting approach to the conventional biopic. In this drama based on a true story, although much of his life remains a mystery, Buddy Bolden becomes the first cornet king of New Orleans. Overall, "Bolden" isn't for everyone. The film features solid performances from its cast, an excellent score by Wynton Marsalis, but the story can become confusing to viewers. I understand that much of Bolden's life is almost of myth, which is why writer/director Dan Pritzker took the approach he did. A vision of a life that will be underrated, but if you enjoy jazz music and a fresh take on the biopic drama, check out "Bolden". Go see it or wait to see it at home.

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• choppy

  eddiekennedy-752872019-05-13

  As other reviewers previously mentioned ,I was probably more confused about the life of Buddy Bolden after watching this movie than before. It jumps way too much between timelines ,which usually works when used in moderation ( think " Get On Up " , "Ray " , " Miles Ahead " etc.) In the filmmakers' defense ,I think this is meant to convey the choppy memories of a schizophrenic looking back on his life ,while listening to a radio concert of Louis Armstrong. A good enough Idea ,but dragged out over a couple of hours ,it just tends to get confusing ,and frankly ,annoying. There are a couple of good fantasy(ish) scenes. The scene of when he was a young boy at his mother's workplace was brilliant ,and the parachute scene was just ,well ,bizarre! I had to google the history of the parachute ,just to be sure! All in all ,the acting was okay with what little dialogue there was ,the music was brilliant ,but maybe could have flowed a bit better. Overall ,maybe worth killing a couple of hours if you're interested in the history of jazz ,but I don't believe this movie will be a classic in years to come ,like some other musical biopics.

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