Product Details

• Actors: Kathy Baker, Jeff Goldblum, Forest Whitaker
• Directors: Michael Elias
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Columbia-Tristar Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303191967
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,094 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a "must" for anyone who plays &/or loves jazz music!, March 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lush Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Lush Life" is an outstanding and very "hip" portrayal of two jazz musicians making a living in the New York scene. Buddy and Al set the tone for the movie from the opening scene with a confident, but arrogant, statement of their musical abilities.

Anyone who has performed or hung out with musicians will definitely relate to Buddy and Al on a much higher level. Many times I found myself saying, "Yeah, I've been there!" throughout their hilarious and crazy musical quips and trips. Mr. Goldblum and Mr. Whitaker also do one of the best acting jobs "faking it" on their respective musical instruments (tenor sax and trumpet).

However, the movie takes on the dark side of the mortality issue with the realization that if you cannot do what you are the best at and love the most, then there is no reason for living. The ending takes on a very surrealistic edge.

The musical score (by Lennie Niehaus)is terrific! I just wish the credits listed the song titles and that there was a soundtrack.

If you love jazz music and musicians - buy this video!!! If you ARE a musician - buy this video!!! You won't regret it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable comedy / drama with New York ambiance., May 4, 1999

By 

D. Deitch "books_n_music" (WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lush Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie has some great comedy lines, as well as thought-provoking drama. It focuses on the relationships of Al and Buddy, two musicians, and Al's wife. I've watched it many times; every time I watch it, I get something new out of it. Highly recommended for anyone who likes comedy, music, New York, or movies about relationships.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz life with great music, May 17, 2011

By 

D. Bakish "ProfDave" (New York City and Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lush Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

LUSH LIFE (1993) is a made-for-tv, Showtime, movie I did not know before seeing it on Flix, a Showtime channel, in 2009. As a longtime jazz fan I was blown away by the music composed, orchestrated and conducted by Lennie Niehaus. If you too are a jazz fan give it a shot and hope that someday the soundtrack music will appear on CD.
The film stars Jeff Goldblum (his tenor sax played by Bob Cooper), Forest Whitaker (his trumpet by Chuck Findley), and Kathy Baker, with Tracey Needham, Lois Chiles, Zack Norman, Don Cheadle, and Alex Desert. The music played: Misterioso (the famous Monk composition); Cherokee (Ray Noble); Walkin' (Richard Carpenter); Up Jumped Spring (Freddie Hubbard, sung by Sue Raney); All the Things You Are (Kern-Hammerstein II, sung by Ernie Andrews); I'm Old-Fashioned (Kern-Mercer, sung by Sue Raney). Among the musicans is Bill Watrous.