Title: Blue Like Jazz
Director: Steve Taylor
Cast: Marshall Allman, Claire Holt & Tania Raymonde
106 Min./ USA /Comedy- Drama

Reviewed by: Sieto Kooijker

Blue Like Jazz is an adaptation of the eponymous autobiographical bestseller by Donald Miller. Director Steve Taylor, who in the 80s and 90s was quite successful as a musician, wanted to film this book for quite some time. Unfortunately, due to lack of investors the project never got off the ground. When Steve Taylor finally was about to pull the plug, two fans started a Kickstarter campaign called ‘Save Blue Like Jazz ‘. The Kickstarter campaign saved the project and Blue Like Jazz got released.

Blue Like Jazz tells the story of the young Don Miller. He comes from a conservative christian Texan family. His life takes place in a Christian environment until he is confronted with hypocrisy in the church. He has just completed high school and decides to take his fathers offer to go and study at the progressive, liberal and dissolute Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

At first life as a student seems a little awkward, but soon he manages to find his place in the turbulent eccentric student life at Reed College. Due to this new lifestyle Don is also forced to discover who he is and what his beliefs are.

Don: ‘What if God is trying to compose something? What if all these stars are notes on a page of music…swirling in the blue like jazz?’

Steve Taylor shows that Christians can make good films. The movie makes you think, which is a good thing. The film is not a cliché story with a thin script. The story is well structured in clear chapters. The acting and directing are excellent. At the end of the film I actually wanted to watch the DVD again.

Rating 3.5 out of 5
Reviewed by: Sieto Kooijker

Blue Like Jazz – Official Trailer HD

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