10 jazz-themed movies introduced with their directors, lead actors, music composers, and the most famous OSTs.

Here are the jazz-themed movies introduced with their directors, lead actors, music composers, and the most famous OSTs.

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1. Whiplash

• Director: Damien Chazelle
• Main Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons
• Music Composer: Justin Hurwitz
• Famous OST: "Caravan" – This intense drum solo scene is a defining moment in the film, showcasing the protagonist's relentless pursuit of perfection.
• https://youtu.be/ZZY-Ytrw2co?si=9JI4SPZ8IcmRvd5r

 

2. La La Land

• Director: Damien Chazelle
• Main Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone
• Music Composer: Justin Hurwitz
• Famous OST: "City of Stars" – A dreamy, reflective song about love and ambition that won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• https://youtu.be/cZAw8qxn0ZE?si=GzYb-fn_qzNOsu2I

 

3. Bird

• Director: Clint Eastwood
• Main Cast: Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora
• Music Composer: Lennie Niehaus (featuring Charlie Parker’s original recordings)
• Famous OST: "Ornithology" – One of Charlie Parker's signature pieces, this track captures the essence of his revolutionary jazz style.
• https://youtu.be/toWY4j4jOOw?si=r8QtPg4fMustJRuT

 

4. Round Midnight

• Director: Bertrand Tavernier
• Main Cast: Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet
• Music Composer: Herbie Hancock
• Famous OST: "Round Midnight" – A haunting ballad that has become one of jazz’s most enduring standards, capturing the melancholy of the film's lead character.
• https://youtu.be/CrUThz7anB0?si=4xJmkHfK7JsIPCII

 

5. Mo' Better Blues

• Director: Spike Lee
• Main Cast: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee
• Music Composer: Bill Lee
• Famous OST: "Mo' Better Blues" – This theme song, performed by Branford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard, captures the film’s romantic and dramatic essence.
• https://youtu.be/Oa8cNnzJYus?si=c1znXRXFlRFyW_iv

 

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6. Kansas City

• Director: Robert Altman
• Main Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Harry Belafonte
• Music Composer: Hal Willner (with performances by contemporary jazz musicians)
• Famous OST: "Blues in the Dark" – A piece that encapsulates the mood of 1930s Kansas City jazz clubs, bringing the era to life.
• https://youtu.be/EKMB9nP6_gw?si=l0Zxbs1imhytrm6f

 

7. The Cotton Club

• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Main Cast: Richard Gere, Diane Lane
• Music Composer: John Barry
• Famous OST: "Creole Love Call" – This Duke Ellington classic embodies the vibrant atmosphere of the Cotton Club in the film.
• https://youtu.be/-OPeRFnHaoQ?si=DsFsWKDN4-25XrJM

 

8. Born to Be Blue

• Director: Robert Budreau
• Main Cast: Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo
• Music Composer: David Braid (with Chet Baker's music)
• Famous OST: "My Funny Valentine" – This haunting rendition captures Baker’s vulnerability and emotional depth, pivotal to the film’s narrative.
• https://youtu.be/n3dxVnEBoxQ?si=yZmUW5Bp3u9hEHJD

 

9. All That Jazz

• Director: Bob Fosse
• Main Cast: Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange
• Music Composer: Ralph Burns
• Famous OST: "On Broadway" – A lively rendition of this classic highlights the film’s theatrical energy and protagonist’s artistic vision.
• https://youtu.be/eA7eUmI35xI?si=2LDjBGXary18yw-Y

 

10. Sweet and Lowdown

• Director: Woody Allen
• Main Cast: Sean Penn, Samantha Morton
• Music Composer: Dick Hyman
• Famous OST: "I'll See You in My Dreams" – This nostalgic song epitomizes the melancholy and beauty of jazz guitar, reflecting the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
• https://youtu.be/T2Cevs81C2g?si=jg8xeUG1G1a1bQZV

 

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These films showcase jazz as a powerful narrative force, elevating the stories with each carefully selected soundtrack.