writers_reign It's difficult to believe that the heart of this great movie didn't influence a later equally fine paean to friendship Il Postino. This one was almost true celebrating as it does the friendship between pianist Bud Powell and a young French admirer whilst Il Postino was based on the real friendship of the very real Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and the ingenuous young Italian who delivered his mail whilst he was in exile in Italy. Though Round Midnight was marketed as a film about Jazz, specifically what at the time (the late fifties) was known as 'modern' jazz and which had in turn evolved from Be-Bop it is much, much more a film about friendship and redemption. If you are a Jazz buff - and I am - then the Jazz is merely a bonus, albeit a terrific bonus but Francois Cluzet and Dexter Gordon deserve all the accolades available as does Bertrand Tavernier, who, not content with making the definitive jazz movie went on to do the same for the Occupation in Laissez-passer. A truly outstanding movie. Ten stars going away.

clotblaster This movie is about an aging, venerable jazz musician and composer, but it could be about any artist, particularly a musician, be he a classical, country western or blues artist. But the real star of the movie is the performing of the music--how it makes ineffable beauty, brings people together, touches the individual soul, creates love. The story shows how jazz and, in particular, this jazz musician (a composite of real jazz musicians and composers) inspires a young Frenchman whose life has been changed by this jazz artist's music. The plot is simple and transparent, but digs deep into the soul of a viewer who yields himself up to the movie, whether he likes jazz or not. I highly recommend this movie that shows the ups and downs of life in several aspects, but is really a tribute not merely to jazz musicians, but actually to the beauty of life that is found in personal experience and, more importantly, in inspiring works of art. The director Bertrand Tavernier is French and has made many movies, on a wide variety of subjects. This film is almost all in English, but his French films are well worth watching, even if you have issues with subtitles. This film made me cry and other of his films have similarly moved me. I hope readers will see this film and perhaps venture to watch some other films by director Tavernier. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

hbbio This movie should have been a jazz documentary. The music is excellent but the acting and the script are disappointing. Overlong, unnecessary characters (Francis' daughter, parents). Buy the soundtrack and listen to it but you might skip this movie.

Mike-835 While not particularly fast moving, the strength of this movie is the way it portrays and captures the atmosphere of the authentic jazz scene. Very enjoyable, and music is good too.