Chet Baker was one of my dad's favorites and during my teenage in the seventies I felt why. So that's the reason why I wanted to see the movie. I wanted to learn more about Chet Baker and I wanted to listen to his performances. As soon as the trumpet was played I could even more appreciate Chet's style than I did during the seventies.
BUT, after watching this movie I found out that actually the following applies to it: "Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental in this movie".
Still, it's great story telling which has been depicted in an excellent fashion for cinema. Ethan Hawk AGAIN gave a great performance! (he's one of my most favorite actors).
I fell in love with the interpretation of "Jane Azuka" by Carmen Ejogo ... and this is where I got disappointed.
At the end of the movie I watch the closing credits as well, especially when I loved the movie. I do that to feel my sincere appreciation for the makers and to possibly send that to them, through some medium that still has to be discovered.
After the closing credits, I immediately started looking for the actual "Jane Azuka" on the internet. Then I found out it was a factitious character!
I felt somewhat betrayed. Luckily I also found "Let's get lost" from 1988 (that was released a couple of months after Chet's death). That gave a far more intense and accurate display of who he was and how he lived and ... with whom he "shared" his life. I can recommend that documentary film!
BUT, I can also still recommend "Born to be blue", but not as a biography. It's more like an impressionist's view of Chet Baker, which in combination with "Let's get lost" provides an interesting view on how true talent consumes.
Review of Born to Be Blue
