B.B. King: The Life of Riley

May. 21,2014      NR
Rating:
7.4
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Trailer Synopsis Cast

Documentary charting the life of blues guitarist B.B. King, with contributions from fellow musicians.

B.B. King as  Self
Morgan Freeman as  Narrator (voice)
Bono as  Self
Eric Clapton as  Self
Carlos Santana as  Self
Bruce Willis as  Self
Bonnie Raitt as  Self
John Mayer as  Self
Bill Cosby as  Self

Reviews

Kattiera Nana
2014/05/21

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Derrick Gibbons
2014/05/22

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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Zlatica
2014/05/23

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

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Ginger
2014/05/24

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

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a_baron
2014/05/25

The legendary B.B. King - one of the last Mississippi bluesmen - died in May 2015 at the age of 89. This documentary was screened in 2012, and as far as possible in the time allotted takes a comprehensive look back at his life. It includes archive footage, and contributions from numerous contemporaries - musicians and others - including the man himself.King visits his birthplace, reminisces about his childhood, and tells us a few things we might not have known including how he developed his particular guitar sound, that he once worked as a disc jockey, and that he broke into radio by writing a jingle for Pep-ti-kon.All in all this is a well rounded documentary, what shines through most is his humility, something for which certain musicians are not exactly renowned.

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Larry Silverstein
2014/05/26

This detailed documentary, directed by Jon Brewer, chronicles the life and career of B.B. King, now 89-years-old, the legendary guitarist and blues singer. The film traces his life from his birth (as Riley B. King) to impoverished sharecropper parents, in Mississippi, to his very early love of the guitar and music, through his hard labor on Mississippi farms, to his eventually leaving the state to try and begin his musical career in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee.King would slowly establish himself in the record business and eventually begin to tour across America on what was known then as the "chitlin' circuit", which during strict segregation at the time provided black entertainers venues in theaters and clubs. He would gain more and more notoriety, as his talents were noticed, and with his million seller hit record "3 O'clock Blues", he would cross over and be able to perform in any venue and on national television.What struck me the most, while viewing this movie, was the strength of character and genuineness of King, as well his sense of fairness despite all of the hardships he had endured. This often would be expressed with his quiet sense of humor, as well, of course through his soulful and legendary music.Just to note, I thought the documentary could have been a little better edited, running near two hours with some areas being repetitive. Also, at first, it was hard to understand some of what the interviewees had to say. with their deep Southern accents and drawls.However, overall I found this film to be very informative and interesting, and it also was filled with historic film clips and photos as well as good music.

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