I am not now, nor have I ever been a big Ethan Hawke fan. I’ve found most of his work, even in excellent films, such as Training Day, overrated.
But as a Jazzophile, I took the plunge on this film when it came out and was blown away. In my opinion Hawke really inhabits this character.
Steve Cosens’s cinematography is very tender in this film that deals with the period of Baker’s career in the late 60s where he lost his chops and regained them, and then went on to even greater success than before, when as a bright young talent in the 50s his career kind of stalled and teetered due to heroin addiction.
But that’s just the basic plot. The film explores deeper themes, and Robert Budreau’s script and direction are magnificent and allow this to be gleaned via the performances. You aren’t hit over the head with the themes; they present organically. Is an artist inherently selfish? To be a great artist must everything be sacrificed in the name of that art? If the artist is a junkie can he make art without the addiction? Is all that worth it? There haven’t been many films since 2010 I have seen more than once, let alone 4 or more times. The same goes for post-2000. This is one.
Now, being a Jazzophile, but not a hardcore Bakerite there was some criticism in those circles in having Hawke do his own vocals in the film. I think it was absolutely the correct choice. Of course Baker’s real work is better.
https://youtu.be/jvXywhJpOKs
But the performance is what is important here - the rawness, vulnerability, confidence and fear displayed alternatively and simultaneously in all the performance scenes. To create the impacts of those for the audience, the actor had to sing. Period.
Speaking of period, the film is also an impeccable period piece, allowing suspension of disbelief in that regard. 50s Birdland and 60s California, Oklahoma and New York all all on display.
The Forty:
The Sixty:
The Eighty:
“My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you’re my favorite work of art, @aeneas”
