Miles Ahead (film)

Miles Ahead
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDon Cheadle
Screenplay bySteven Baigelman
Don Cheadle
Story bySteven Baigleman
Don Cheadle
Stephen J. Rivele
Christopher Wilkinson
Produced byDarryl Porter
Vince Wilburn
Daniel Wagner
Robert Ogden Barnum
Don Cheadle
Pamela Hirsch
Lenore Zerman
StarringDon Cheadle
Ewan McGregor
Emayatzy Corinealdi
Lakeith Stanfield
Michael Stuhlbarg
CinematographyRoberto Schaefer
Edited byJohn Axelrad
Kayla M. Emter
Music byRobert Glasper
Production
companies
Bifrost Pictures
Miles Davis Properties, LLC
IM Global
Sobini Films
Yellowsaw Productions Limited
Crescendo Productions
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • October 11, 2015 (2015-10-11) (NYFF)
  • April 1, 2016 (2016-04-01) (United States)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$5.1 million[1]

Miles Ahead is a 2015 American biographical-drama film directed by Don Cheadle in his feature directorial debut, which Cheadle co-wrote with Steven Baigelman, Stephen J. Rivele, and Christopher Wilkinson, which interprets the life and compositions of jazz musician Miles Davis. The film stars Cheadle, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Ewan McGregor, and closed the New York Film Festival on October 11, 2015.[2] The film takes its title from Davis's 1957 album.

Cheadle took a free-form approach to the film's narrative. Skipping around in time, it depicts Davis' attempts to get his career back on track following a period of inactivity and drug addiction in the 1970s, fictional adventures with a journalist (played by McGregor) who wants to profile him, and his troubled marriage to a former dancer (Corinealdi).[3] The film's score covers, in non-linear fashion, Davis' actual recordings throughout his career, beginning with Agharta (1975) before jumping back and forth in scenes featuring Kind of Blue (1959), Someday My Prince Will Come (1961), Bitches Brew (1970), and We Want Miles (1981), among others.[4]

Miles Ahead received mostly positive reviews from critics. Reviewers generally praised Cheadle's direction and performance, although some were critical of the plot. The film has grossed over $5 million.

  1. ^ "Miles Ahead (2016)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  2. ^ McNary, Dave (July 22, 2015). "Don Cheadle's 'Miles Ahead' to Close New York Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Miles Ahead (2016) Synopsis - Plot Summary". Fandango. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ennis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).