Blue Like Jazz

2012 "Everybody belongs somewhere"
5.8| 1h46m| PG-13| en
Details

A young man must find his own way as his Southern Baptist roots don't seem to be acceptable at his new liberal arts college.

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Clips

Reviews

KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?
Diagonaldi Very well executed
StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
TxMike This is a curious movie, not "Christian" in the usual cinema sense, but it features a character who was raised as a devout Christian then has all his beliefs challenged when he goes to college in about the most hedonistic place possible.In a "making of" extra on the DVD, the director is talking to cast members and extras and explains, a story of ordinary people in usual situations just doesn't make a very interesting movie. So in this movie the lead character, Don, must come from the most conservative Christian background possible, and he must go to college in the most liberal situation possible, to be able to draw out the contrast. It is a concept most us us realize intuitively, but is rarely stated so clearly by filmmakers.So here we have Marshall Allman as Donald Miller , a young Christian man in Houston, your typical very conservative Southern Baptist. He aspires to be a writer, so his not-so-conservative dad arranges for him to enroll in a college in Oregon known for its writing program. He arrives and finds a world that he never even imagined existed. Of course what we see is impossible to find on any college campus, but as was explained this draws the contrasts that results in Don rethinking everything he thought he knew.The movie is loosely based on the real life of author Donald Miller, who really was from Houston, and really did wander up to Oregon. But he was not a college student there, so the main of the story was simply created to make the movie.I can't say I would recommend this movie to anyone, I enjoyed seeing it for its quirkiness, but all in all it isn't an outstanding movie.
nurseminister I had never read the book, however it is on my ever growing list. I had heard people discuss the book, seen it in the book stores etc but for some reason never read it. I was on a business trip in Westminster CO. and happen to be staying across the road from a Theater playing this movie. While my wife was in meetings I went to the movie.There is a wide amount of reasons why the movie was not more successful on paper. One being it was on a very limited number of screens. I am from the Tampa area, and do not think it was on any screen in this area that I could find. I think the reason many Christian people may not have embraced the movie is they possibly are confronted with pieces of themselves through the characters in the movie. When we are confronted with some of the idiot things we have done in the name of ministry, it is easy to see that some of them are on the same level as hitting a cross piñata, and having the prize be communion cuts. We could be confronted with the many times we failed in our walk and maybe hurt someone to the point that we caused them to Lose their faith. We are confronted with living in single parent households and the disappointment we felt when our parents our heroes fall to their demons and we realize they are not our saviors after all. Yet the movie takes us on a very hard, harsh journey and ask the question, where is, who is, when is, and what is God. And if we really seek Him as we walk this dangerous journey we call life, God will reveal Himself to us and ultimately restore us. I would recommend watching the movie not just as you would something like the Dark Knight or the Avengers, but as if you were looking into a foggy mirror looking for glimpse of yourself and what that means to you and your relationship with God. This is now my favorite movie!
Ray Smalley "Blue Like Jazz" i'll start off by saying, don't expect a typical Christian movie. Blue Like Jazz vividly echoed the same adventurous, self-discovery notes as the book. The Movie was stupendous one of the few (key-word, FEW) Christian movies I would recommend to the average person. It was sincere, thought provoking, gritty, and explicit, however, it did not hide the fact that it was the story of a boy (Donnald Miller) losing and re-finding his faith during his journey through college (and the associated lifestyle). It's a must see for anyone dabbling in a "quater life crisis" during the college years, and for a parent, a great eye opener into the re-education put forth by a majority of secular institutions. Again, i must say, do not expect a "Ned Flanders- like movie" (Simpson reference), there is cursing, struggles with sexuality, morality, and spirituality, but all in all, depicts the grittiness and growing pains of "real" life. I'd say with full confidence invite a friend, this is one you won't regret or be embarrassed of.
bill60010 As I watched the previews before Blue Like Jazz, I was worried that the writers had sold out and made a Christian college romance, but the movie stayed true to the book while being original. Another fear that was quelled was that this would be another Christian movie that inspired me but would be somewhat embarrassing to show to my friends. Instead, I would feel comfortable watching this with nearly anyone I know and was pleased with this honest and refreshing story of a young man dealing with many issues I have dealt with in the past and still deal with.The movie follows the character Don (Marshall Allman) who grew up with a fundamentalist church background whose faith is shattered by hypocrites. To escape, he chooses to attend liberal Reed College and to fit in, he hides his upbringing. He befriends a number of other students who help him to adjust to this new life: the activist Penny (Claire Holt), the liberal critic known as the Pope (Justin Welborn), and a savvy lesbian (Tania Raymonde). He deals with a new environment while trying to understand what he values and to find meaning in life. His struggles are realistic and his weaving through it all is genuine and enjoyable.The movie, like the book, offers many things to ponder about in dealing with faith, people, and who one is - without being preachy at all. The acting and screenplay were excellent and kept me interested throughout. I would encourage anyone to see it who has really thought about his life and how it relates to those around him.