Review of Blue Like Jazz (2012) by John P — 28 Apr 2012

I loved the book Blue Like Jazz -- it was written so honestly and creatively, with a really fresh perspective and thought-provoking analogies of spiritual truths. Unfortunately, there was almost none of the charm of the book in the movie.

Plus, virtually every philosophy and life choice laid out there by the Reed College students and the church members in this film was not answered through the lens of "Christian spirituallity", as Donald Miller puts it so many times in each chapter of his book.

And then the scriptwriters (including Miller himself) decided to twist the story in ways that were terribly distasteful, offensive, obnoxious, twisted, and celebratory of a lost way of life that weren't even necessary.

Sad. It seems that the highest priority was portraying Reed in all its glory instead of God in all His glory. Then, just when the movie started to turn the corner toward a much-needed resolution with a powerful scene and Truth revealed .

. . the credits started rolling. Klunk. I guess they did that to fit the story of the title -- this film doesn't resolve. It could have been so much better. I really like Donald Miller and Steve Taylor, though -- try it again, boys, with another movie concept, make it so that teens can see it with their parents without blushing and sweating, and I bet it will be phenomenally innovative, rewarding, and inspiring -- much like the book Blue Like Jazz!