Lush Life *** (1993, Jeff Goldblum, Forest Whitaker, Kathy Baker, Don Cheadle, Lois Chiles) – Classic Movie Review 2893

Jeff Goldblum and Forest Whitaker star as life-long best buddies who play jazz in New York clubs in writer-director Michael Elias’s atmospheric, stirring, emotion-packed 1993 drama, as seen though clouds of alcohol and cigarette smoke.

Though not very cheery, it is good-hearted and totally credible, and Goldblum and Whitaker are first rate, and so is Kathy Baker. Lennie Niehaus’s score is a jazz triumph. In Britain it was rescued from oblivion by the National Film Theatre, which gave it an extended run UK premiere screening.

Also in the cast are Don Cheadle, Lois Chiles, Buddy Arnold, Perry Moore, Lee Weaver, Jack Sheldon, Tom La Grua and Nita Whitaker.

The title comes from a tune by Billy Strayhorn. The musicians are members of the Hollywood Studio Symphony orchestra, who perform and record film scores. Baker’s singing is dubbed by Sue Raney.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2893

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