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Lush Life (1993) Online

Lush Life (1993) Online
1993 Ernie Andrews Jeff Goldblum Buddy Arnold Michael Elias
Original Title :
Lush Life
Genre :
Movie / Drama
Year :
1993
Directror :
Michael Elias
Cast :
Ernie Andrews,Jeff Goldblum,Buddy Arnold
Writer :
Michael Elias
Type :
Movie
Time :
1h 46min
Rating :
6.7/10

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Two best friends play jazz in nightclubs.

Lush Life (1993) Online

Two best friends play jazz in nightclubs.
Cast overview, first billed only:
Ernie Andrews Ernie Andrews - Himself
Jeff Goldblum Jeff Goldblum - Al Gorky
Buddy Arnold Buddy Arnold - Benny
Forest Whitaker Forest Whitaker - Buddy Chester
Kathy Baker Kathy Baker - Janice Oliver
Valerie Bickford Valerie Bickford - Singer
Frank Cavestani Frank Cavestani - Trombone #1
Don Cheadle Don Cheadle - Jack
Lois Chiles Lois Chiles - Lucy
Alex Désert Alex Désert - Lester (as Alex Desert)
Pat Distefano Pat Distefano - Waiter
Everette Harp Everette Harp - Session Leader
Charlie Heath Charlie Heath - Young Man
Tom La Grua Tom La Grua - Howard (as Tom LaGrua)
Laraine Mestman Laraine Mestman - Party Guest #1

The musicians seen on screen throughout the film are actual Los Angeles musicians who perform and record film scores, with the exception of actors Don Cheadle and 'Alex Desert'.

Kathy Baker's singing in the film was dubbed by Sue Raney.

The musicians featured throughout the film are members of the Hollywood Studio Symphony orchestra.

The title for the film comes from a famous tune written by Billy Strayhorn.

The little container that contained Forest Whitaker's "suicide pills" was actually an empty camera film holder.

Everette Harp seen early in the film at a recording session is an actual jazz saxophonist with a complete discography and was a recording artist for Blue Note Records.

Forest Whitaker also starred in another film based on jazz, "Bird" in which he played late jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker who is referenced in this film several times and plays the trumpet in reference to another great jazz musician, Clifford Brown.

Lennie Niehaus, the film's composer and arranger's voice can be heard counting down the orchestra in the opening recording session that Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker open the film with.

Jack Sheldon who plays Norman the conductor, was a jazz trumpet player performing with the likes of Johnny Mandel and Stan Getz.

Lennie Niehaus who wrote the original score for this film as well as the arrangement of the jazz music used in the film is also a pure jazz artist with his own discography.

This is the second film that composer Lennie Niehaus wrote the original score and did musical arrangements on that is based on jazz or jazz musicians. The other film was Bird, Directed by Oscar Winner Clint Eastwood, who Niehaus was his regular composer, orchestrator and arranger as well as personal best friends for more than 40 years. Forest Whitaker was the star of that film and co-star in this film.

The film would feature one Oscar Winner, Forest Whitaker and three Oscar Nominees Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Baker and Don Cheadle.

The after hours party, which Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker's character attend is basically an unsanctioned gig for union musicians working in a city such as New York or Los Angeles considering the time that it took place (after two in the morning) which if it was a union job, would be considered "golden platinum barillium overtime" as Whitaker character's states which would stretch the rules limits.

Shot on location in New York with the exception of the Wedding Reception late night party and Buddy's final bash in the same place which was filmed in Los Angeles.

In the after hours Wedding reception party, there are twelve musicians playing (four saxophonists including Jeff Goldblum, two trumpets including Forest Whitaker, piano, bass, drummer and two trombonists) playing the music. When Whitaker was explaining the union rules and negotiating for the guys to play, he mentions the sum of "$1000 dollars a man" in which he groom agrees to. So in the end, it cost twelve-thousand dollars for the rest of the night.

The song that Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker are playing during the Wedding Reception is "All The Things You Are". The first version played was sung by the late Bobby Short and then they play the same song sooner after in a big band version and then at the after hours Wedding Reception on Park Avenue.

Buddy does die at the end of the movie. It is not specified how or when, but one will assume that it was the pills that he was taking that he kept telling Jeff Goldblum after his diagnosis.

Buddy is diagnosed with a brain tumor that eventually would make him a vegetable which includes hearing loss, loss of speech, lost of motor skills and memory loss. He starts to exhibit most of these symptoms towards the latter half of the movie.

The song played in Al's nightmare where Buddy appears like Wolfgang Amadus Mozart is Cherokee, which Al becomes obsessed with perfecting to play for the final duet with Buddy at his party after Al surprises him with the late jazz legend Clifford Brown's trumpet.


User reviews

Dori

Dori

This is a real modern jazz movie; there are precious few of those, notwithstanding the efforts of those who have gone before or since. The "buddy" aspect, ala "Brian's Song" is well done, but for me, the energy is in the music, which is given as much rein as a drama from Hollywood permits.This music is mainstream hard bop, superbly performed by Chuck Findlay (trumpet) among others.I believed in the musicians' love of the music for its own sake.

I think it very strange that in the entire history of "modern" jazz, which for most musicologists occupies the period 1942-present, only "Round Midnight" and "Bird" and (maybe)"Giant Steps" address the music in a meaningful way on a par with this film, documentaries and concert films excluded.

One sees clearly that "Lush Life" is a labor born of love, destined to be a largely overlooked made for TV film.
Shaktizragore

Shaktizragore

I really enjoyed this movie. You could call this a "slice-of-life" movie, the kind of movie that I usually hate, so why did this one work?

Reason one: Great stars. The three leads, Jeff Goldblum, Forest Whitaker, and Kathy Baker are three of my favorites. I've seen Jeff and Forest mis-cast in some bad movies, so it does my heart good to see them in roles where they seem to slip into their characters so easily. Forest's earlier experience in Clint Eastwood's Bird (a movie I did not enjoy) may have been useful here. The shots of Goldblum playing the sax made it look like he was really playing it. Kathy Baker can do it all. Her natural sweetness comes through in every performance. The script was probably written with younger actors in mind, and would have worked better, but Goldblum here at 41 and Baker at 43, manage to convince us they are a thirty-something Bohemian couple still working out their life plan.

Reason two: Great supporting cast. Don Cheadle and Lois Chiles head a supporting cast where all the performances are spot-on.

Reason three: Great music.

Reason four: good dialog.

This is a low-key, warm and fuzzy movie you don't have to think too hard about.
Blackworm

Blackworm

"Lush Life" is a film that shows the world of jazz musicians with accuracy, something other films have tried, but failed to do. Thanks to director Michael Elias we are presented a realistic film with some of the best music heard in this type of movies. Mr. Elias must know this milieu well, judging what one sees in the picture.

The three principals, Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Baker and Forest Whitaker do good work together. Best of all, the characters they are playing appear to be real. We watch as these musicians struggle to make a living going from gig to gig in order to make ends meet. Their world is all about music and the pleasure they get from playing together. The surprise was Kathy Baker singing a jazz standard with great style and voice.

The story of Buddy's illness is not exploited to make the viewer feel sorry for the man. In fact, Buddy doesn't want anyone's pity as he faces a horrible end.

The supporting cast is excellent in conveying the atmosphere of the world of jazz in New York.
Doktilar

Doktilar

My brother turned me on to this movie and I've about worn out my VHS copy of it. A lot of jazz movies suffer from "short attention span camera syndrome"... i.e., once the music starts, after a bit, the camera wanders away and busies itself with some irrelevant bit of drama or dialog. "Lush Life" suffers from this problem only slightly, I'm happy to say. I was particularly impressed with how believable the actors look when they're playing their instruments. I do have one criticism of this movie, however, and it's a doze as far as I'm concerned: why, why, why, didn't they release a soundtrack album? I would have bought it in a heartbeat and I'll bet most of the other people who saw this movie would have, too. In an age when the soundtrack album is all but ubiquitous, to have a movie that does not have one -- when the movie is ABOUT MUSIC -- is beyond understanding.
Xanzay

Xanzay

Lush Life is a fairly standard buddy movie (with Forest Whitaker and Jeff Goldblum), but this time the buddies are interesting people and have talent. There's also a slight "cherchez la femme" subplot, but it adds to the story instead of distracting from it. Kathy Baker does a wonderful job of proving her character's importance to the story without taking (too much) away from the interactions between Goldblum and Whitaker, two jazz musicians each facing their share of turning points in each of their lives.

The music is what kept me interested. Each of the principals has a big-name jazz stand-in, and the voice and virtuoso playing of the stand-ins practically steal the movie. I love classic jazz; if you do, too, see -- and, more important, listen to -- Lush Life.

P.S. If anyone knows whether a soundtrack album exists, or even a few CDs where I can find the tunes, please let me know.
Thetath

Thetath

Here is another movie that will never turn a profit. The reason is quite apparent. There are no sex scenes, no nude scenes, no foul language to speak of, no explosions or idiotic car chases. Also, there really isn't much of a story line. But on the other hand,,,,,,,for those of us who have lived through that era of small sleazy night clubs (and big ones too), supper clubs, piano bars, and many other neighborhood "show" bars, and thrived on the music and excitement of small jazz groups, this modest little movie was an epiphany. It was a throw back to the times when, if you had the right contacts, you were invited to stay in an "after hours" joint and listen to some great talent "jam' until dawn for no other reason than the thrill of the music that those musicians loved to play.

We know the plot of the movie because we lived it, if only vicariously. I call it a "bomb" because that is what it takes to keep me awake throughout a movie, without looking at my watch. It was in fact, a serendipity. I give it an unqualified "10." Thank goodness some movie producers send us a crumb, now and then, that we can much on,,,without getting indigestion.
Ubrise

Ubrise

I remember seeing this years ago and besides Forest Whitaker and Jeff Goldblum having the major roles in this movie the thing I was impressed with was the music. So much so that I wondered all this time if there is a soundtrack available. This is the second time in several years that I've searched for this movie for the same reason, only I forgot the name of it but always recall the two major actors so I knew I could find it again. I didn't realize that this was a made for TV movie, I don't recall what the plot was but I do recall FW and JG and foremost was the Big Band sound that blew my mind. I gave it an eight mainly because I don't really remember it but that it was a mishmash of what I can recall of it and that I would very much like to get the music. I'm a Blues and Rock and Roll lover and the only place I've seen Big Band stuff is on TV and the only mike was just for the singer. I imagine the whole venue grooving to it's natural vibe.
Xinetan

Xinetan

I'd say the strongest point is the music by Lennie Niehaus. He also did the music for all of Clint Eastwood's movies. The acting is really terrific, and the story is an accurate portrayal of the Bohemian life style of New York jazz musicians.

One error in some of the reviews: Kathy Baker did NOT sing the songs, Sue Raney did. This was apparently a lip-sync by Raney, who is a well-known and respected vocalist here in southern California.

The producer was generous in letting real musicians have some of the acting roles. For example, Jack Sheldon had a cameo role as one of the musicians, and the obnoxious booking agent was played by Buddy Arnold, a long-time jazz reed player on the west coast.
Banal

Banal

One of the best movies about jazz musicians out there. And jazz musicians make a movie so good. Whitaker is a particular talent. The bromance was real fine. The relationship between the three of them was fine too. Bringing in real musicians toward the end made it live and breathe.

Problem: Can't get hold of the movie. Got a video tape after much searching. Where did you guys access it?
Kriau

Kriau

I found this movie to be esoteric and not available to the human condition of love and relationships. It is involved with ego, only. Tell this writer to get a grip on reality and relationships. a dying musician is all the heart this movie has. I feel nothing. The cast can be stellar, but not in this movie. I think that don cheadle is fantastic as are the other stars. They did the best they could under the circumstances. The producer was great, the writing less than agreeable. Was something missing? Perhaps the heart and soul of the writer?

Really great producing and acting, but the story leaves a lot to be desired. a bomb.