Blue Like JazzMovie Reviews

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Must Go! Based on 244 reviews
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Must Go!
Written April 13, 2012
A Challenge and a Heart Tug

by edunn7

This movie will make you laugh. It will make you wonder if the producers really WERE Christians. It might make you tear up (it made me cry, but I'm known to do that). But it most certainly will challenge you and tug at your heart.

It will challenge the ideas about God you have, the ideas about Christianity you have. It will leave you wondering.

It will tug at that part of you that got lost when you went off to college--or maybe not lost, just confused. And it may even provide some clarity.

See it.
- 18 out of 19 found this review helpful.
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Go
Written April 13, 2012
Laugh out loud if you grew up in church! Real, provocative, entertaining

by johnthetoolman

Does the reality of God really make a difference in my life? Can I follow Jesus and not have it all figured out? Is Christianity a journey or a destination?

Donald Miller?s provocative style in exploring faith, Jesus, and the Church is raw, real, and still so needed. The book behind this movie was instrumental in creating a new culture within the church. The movie gives voice to ten of thousands of spiritually bi-polar Christians who were tired of living two separate lives- church and the rest of life. Many young people want to be true to their faith and true to Christ, but they don?t have it all together. Nor do they want to if that means conformity to the religious Christian sub-culture. Life, cfamilies, relationships, and even faith are messy sometimes and we find out selves in places we never intended, yet, we did. Thankfully, God still pursues us in our unloveliness, pride, and selfishness. The movie explores this and you will come away wanting to talk about this movie.
- 23 out of 33 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Thank You

by StefanieLindholm

It is very refreshing to see a film that is true to life. I cannot imagine someone not being able to relate to one of the characters or the diverse situation they find themselves in. Each character was well developed and I wanted more!! I wanted to hang out with Lauren, be apart of Civil Disobedience with Penny and weld a tall bike with Don. BLJ is a great film for teens and adults, leaves you with plenty to think about and a desire to be true to yourself.
- 15 out of 22 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 13, 2012
Brilliance.

by

I am an avid fan of the book Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller, so admittedly, I went into the movie expecting to be somewhat disappointed, as most fan-of-the-book-before-the-movie-was-created folks are. However, I was so, incredibly pleasantly surprised. The relevancy of this movie to our culture is undeniable. Blue Like Jazz cuts deep to the heart and unabashedly does so. It is raw and emotion evoking, while maintaining a steady pace in humor. Goodness, I just love this movie so much. For a film to make you think, laugh, and feel, I urge you to see Blue Like Jazz.
- 18 out of 28 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 15, 2012
A refreshingly real film about Christianity

by beckyreneedavis

FINALLY, a film that addresses Christianity without being too concerned with neatness to depict real life! Blue Like Jazz is a film about me, you, and everyone else who lives in the real world. A world where the message is not always so single layered, and solutions are not so cookie cutter perfect. It represents the Christian message well, but doesn?t get so tangled up in delivering a clean and picture-perfect message that it forgets to tell a story that is still true to life. Instead it deals with raw human emotion, which is hardly ever neat and tidy. Don struggles with things that people really struggle with. He has doubts that people like me and you really have; and he has to find his way through the external religion of Christianity to the power of a personal relationship with Christ, just like all believers have had to do. This film is going to create a new kind of discussion about faith, and one that I think is necessary.
- 12 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Saw it Twice!

by Go_Movie_Movie

This is a movie you can see more than once. Based on a memoir, it strays from the book in ways that make for a better movie, but keeps the elements of the story intact. It is quirky, thoughtful, and refreshing. I recommend it for teens and adults.
- 13 out of 19 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Blue Like Jazz

by

A friend gave me the NY Times best-selling book that the movie was based on a few years ago, which was a life-line for me during a dark time. So I was more than bit concerned that they took too many liberties while making this movie. Still, I dragged friends across the Bay Bridge to see it. They literally laughed and cried and said they liked the movie as the credits rolled, no, they LOVED it! I loved it too. Blue Like Jazz is true to the spirit of the book and is its own poetic, cinematic masterpiece. The music, acting, directing, and screenplay all came together . . . like jazz. Whether you have faith, are struggling with faith, or have no faith at all; Blue Like Jazz will entertain and make you think (in a good way).
- 14 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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I'm In
Written April 14, 2012
2nd time was even better! (Don't Miss it!)

by uthmanjw

I just saw it for my 2nd time with 12 friends and it was even better. There was so much that I missed the first time. The one-liners, both hilarious and thought-provoking, jumped out at me so much more the 2nd time. I'll probably be getting another group of friends together and go another time. I know that some will find it hard to swallow, but it is a message that the church needs to hear. Thanks to everyone involved! Great flick!
- 12 out of 18 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 13, 2012
A First?

by

A smart, funny, edgy comedy that tackles the BIG third-rail issue of faith in a way that is compltely non-religious and yet fully Christian? Wow. If you grew up in the church, feel burned by the church, never really understood the church or just wonder what it would be like for a Southern Baptist kid to be thrust into the wiles and wilds of "the most liberal college in America," then this is for you. I've seen it at South By Southwest in a room full of filmies and rock and rollers and everyone loved it.

Probably too legit for the mainstream church and too spiritual for mainstream Hollywood so get out to see it this weekend while you can. It has enemies on all sides which makes me all the more excited to see how it does.
- 13 out of 20 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Absolutely. Go.

by makeshiftbelle

I was talking to a friend who'd walked out of the showing right before mine, I ask him how it was he said he'd liked it but preferred more heavy, heady apologetics etc.

As I watched the movie I thought to myself...what good would heady, heavy apologetics do if a heart was never moved. If it were never personal but rather an argument to be won or lost.

I understand and admire even the individual who can keep pace in crazy complicated debating and maybe some people need that first but we all need heart review, I'd argue that it is actually more necessary than the former. And I believe this movie candidly and with great humor and sincerity hits that button. I guarantee you whether you say it out loud to anyone else or not some part of this movie will strike a chord in you, believer or not, and you'll be better for it, if you don't ignore it. A must see.
- 13 out of 20 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
The Other Side of Sunday

by jacklodi

A movie about the "other side of Sunday". A provocative and edgy poking at religion. (the underside of Sunday). Questioning what happens to my religion when I go to work, school, culture (the Monday side of Sunday). Asking what more was there than my fun? (the Saturday side of Sunday). And perhaps a peak at (the upside of Sunday). Guarantee you will have lots to talk about and... resolve...
- 12 out of 18 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Make time for this gem.

by Rodondoe

Whether or not you laughed and cried your way through Miller's glorious book, the sheer depth of the characters in this movie are worth experiencing on the big(ger) screen. The struggle of faith is something we all relate to and it binds us together through our ridiculous humanity and shortcomings. We are loved in spite of ourselves by a loving God whose sense of humour is celebrated in this film. The team behind this tapped into a deep sense of the Father's heart for his people and this movie beautifully captures that very pursuit of His love regardless of our human state. In a superb, truly Hollywood worthy delivery, the mystery of His presence and how all we need to experience this love is to be aware of it, that it's always been there, is played out. The journey of that awareness is tough. Through Don's story it reminds us that God is not "out there." It's a testimony to what D'arcy said. "He comes to us disguised as our life." Do your soul a favor and see this movie now.
- 14 out of 22 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 14, 2012
Honest look at growing into YOUR faith and becoming who you are meant to be!

by mdortch

Another Christian movie with ho-hum music, campy catch lines and an "I totally saw that coming" ending? Nope. You'll have to look elsewhere if that is what you want from this book-to-movie memoir by best-selling author Donald Miller.

This movie will likely divide those with dogmatic faith down the middle, but maybe those folks aren't the intended audience. What Blue Like Jazz does is reel viewers in with shockingly honest, if sometimes uncomfortable, truths that both Christians and non-Christians alike can relate to.

When Don (played by Marshall Allman) leaves Houston and his Baptist bubble upbringing for the liberal coffee culture of Portland, he is forced to decide what kind of person he wants to be.

The film stands out because it portrays the incompatible conflict that exists when human nature longs for acceptance at the expense of truth.
- 13 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 13, 2012
Blue Like Jazz Doesn't Disappoint

by kelly_twloha

Blue Like Jazz is by far one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life. It's truly hard to compare to any other movie out there, because it's so different from anything that's ever been made. The actors cast for the movie were brilliant, creating characters that I felt connected to. The quirky animation in some parts did a good job of bringing Don Miller's book through, and the music was constantly exciting. As a fan of the book, I was a bit skeptical when the movie was announced - how could a book like that be translated into a screenplay? Regardless, I jumped into the support wagon with little hesitation, and I'm glad I did. This movie NEEDED to be made, because it tells a bit of everyone's story. We all have a bit of those loveable characters in us, and we all share their story. Though it deals with Christianity, a person of any faith will enjoy it, and get something out of it. I'm recommending it to all of my friends. Parents - please keep in mind, it's rated PG-13 for a reason!
- 13 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written April 15, 2012
Thought provoking, funny, disturbing & refreshing

by

Blue Like Jazz follows one man on a journey to find meaning and tackles the questions we are often afraid to ask, and refuses to give tidy, easy answers. The last eight minute say what I?ve always wanted to say, but never knew how.

When I read a movie review, the question that I?m trying to answer is ?do I want to see this movie?? With Blue Like Jazz, that answer depends on you. If you are looking for a movie that will make you laugh, cry, but most of all, will make you think, see Blue Like Jazz. If you have ever wondered whether or not God exists, or if that question even matters, see Blue Like Jazz.

If you want your movies to have easy answers, if you can?t consider the possibility of flaws in yourself whether you call yourself a Christian or not, don?t see this movie.
Most of all, if you want Christianity locked away in its own little subculture bubble, don?t see this movie.
- 11 out of 17 found this review helpful.
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