Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Round Midnight (1986)

Director: Bertrand Tavernier                             Writers: David Rayfiel & Bertrand Tavernier
Music Arranger: Herbie Hancock                      Cinematography: Bruno de Keyzer
Starring: Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, Herbie Hancock and Gabrielle Haker

The 1980s are tough. Most of the films made during that decade don’t hold up well. Maybe it’s the synthesized soundtracks, or a dearth of good writing, or the rise of Touchstone and Top Gun. Whatever the reason, there are very few 80s films on the lists of great movies of all times. Round Midnight, however, is one of those few. Made with a deft hand by director Bertrand Tavernier, it’s also one of the best fictional films on jazz ever made.

1959 was one of the all-time great years for jazz. Not only had hard bop become firmly established as the new style for cutting-edge jazz, but there were still lots of musicians of other styles plying their trade. Musicians of traditional jazz, swing and small group, as well as vocalists, pianists and beboppers, were all still having productive careers. Evidence of this can be seen in the photograph that is the basis for the documentary A Great Day in Harlem as well as the Tom Hanks film The Terminal. It’s this time period that the film captures, both in Paris and New York City as we follow the last year in the fictional life of saxophonist Dale Turner.

Tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Turner, a fictional combination of pianist Bud Powell and tenor saxophonist Lester Young. The years don’t quite work out though, as the 63 year-old Gordon--at the time--would have certainly grown up playing swing, or even tradition jazz, instead of bebop in the time frame of the film. And yet no one really cares. His mirroring of Bud Powell’s final year in Paris is beautifully done, and grafting on the unique jargon of Lester Young is no less inspiring. The sets, alternating between studio and actual exteriors is nicely done and captures the period in a great way.

Ultimately, it is the music itself that is so captivating. The aging Gordon, like his real-life film inspirations, was nearing the end of his storied career, and it showed. And so for fans wanting to hear some great jazz, the Round Midnight soundtrack is not the best way to go. To hear Dexter Gordon in his later prime, you need to get his last truly great album, recorded in 1980, Gotham City. Still, the music in the film is great to hear, as he essays some of his classic compositions, standards not ordinarily heard, like "As Time Goes By," as well as bebop chestnuts and some rare soprano work. Ultimately, what make Gordon so great in his younger days was still there, and so the appreciation of the fans in the film is justified.

But Gordon didn’t do it alone, and the supporting cast is excellent. François Cluzet is outstanding as the obsessed French fan who finally takes the saxophonist in to live with him and his daughter. Gordon’s on-stage band mates include Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shoter, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard and Billy Higgins, all of whom recorded with Gordon for Blue Note back in the early sixties. Plus, there is a cameo by Martin Scorsese as Gordon’s New York Agent that is terrific. Round Midnight is a period piece that captures the mood and the spirit of jazz better than any fictional film yet. It’s just a wonderful film as well as being an enjoyable piece of history.

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