Pick a tune and get in the mood.
So what is this, a biopic about Miles Davis?
No, not really. The movie actually introduces several fictional characters and a fictional event that act as the main plot of the movie, while providing flashbacks that give you a glimpse into the life of Miles Davis. Here was the thought process behind making the film from first time director Don Cheadle himself.
Don Cheadle said:
Staring:
Apart from staring in this movie, Don Cheadle also directed, produced and co-wrote this movie. Don Cheadle is an Oscar nominated, Golden Globe winner who has been described as the "Donald Trump of black humorists." Cheadle had been trying to make this movie for about 10 years but kept having trouble getting the money to make it. He eventually got help from Indiegogo to finish it up. However, it was the casting of Ewan McGreggor that really helped this film finally see the light of day.
Ewan McGregor plays a fictional Rolling Stones reporter who accompanies Miles on his fictional journey. Ewan's casting was actually integral to getting this movie financed. As Don Cheadle told Rolling Stone's David Fear: "To get this film financed, we needed a white co-star. These are issues that come into play. And until Ewan came on, until we had cast the proper white co-star, there was no Miles Davis movie. There was no Miles Ahead. The family had been trying to make this movie for years, and we straight-up told them, 'We need a white co-star. We need to tell this story, in order to get this money, with a white male lead.' That means something."
Emayatzy Corinealdi plays Frances Taylor, the first wife of Miles Davis. Frances was featured on the cover of the album Someday My Prince Will Come. The love scenes between her and Miles in the film are "factually based." According to Frances Taylor, she "gave (Cheadle) a LOT of information" about [her] intimate relationship with Miles."
71% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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