Ethan Hawke channels Chet Baker in 'Born To Be Blue'

In the new movie "Born to Be Blue", Ethan Hawke plays Chet Baker at a pivotal moment. He's in his 40s and trying to get clean so he can focus on making music again. Hawke and Canadian director Robert Budreau join Shad in studio q to talk about Born to Be Blue, the nature of addiction, and the points of tension between Baker's difficult life and beautiful music.
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[@laslatty1016]

I met him at El Camino College way back in the 50s........he taught me everything I know about music. He also got me my first gig with the Shelly Manne band in North Hollywood. I cannot read a note of music but he taught me that love and passion for music can overcome everything. I have not played a note since 1988 ...the day he died. I walked away from it all.......but I now do radio .....and iplay his music and play the music of artist which Chet would have loved. We played the last concert in Toronto before he died and he said to me he would be back in TO to meet up with me soon......he never made it. .......but I still am influenced by him some 30 years later.

[@shable1436]

Wow crazy story

[@obbzerver]

What did you play?

[@darzil007]

Wow,that’s great , you played Shelly man ,the master . One of my fav drummers

[@LordGreystoke]

Excellent movie and excellent acting. Ethan was cast perfectly.

[@mjcruiser4238]

I saw Baker in 1962 in a cave club in Paris. His horn looked as though it had been through a war. Just as he was about to start playing- someone came down the steps to enter the room; he stopped and did not play until they were seated and the room was totally quiet. The music was phenomenal!

[@istvantoth7431]

I am very glad that it was eventually Ethan who played Baker and not Pitt. His performance in this movie has been criminally underrated still.

[@alankirkby465]

There was a Chet Baker documentary film some years ago, entitled : Let's get lost. In this film every thing on screen is Chet himself. I saw this film in City of Bath, UK.

[@johntechwriter]

Yeah, for those curious about Baker, this is the one to watch.

[@jjthor407]

Hawke hit the nail right on the head . It is not the love of the drud that makes an addict . There is a underlying deep hurt that comes out in later life that draws a perso to self medicate and lose control to their addiction . Some people make it out , some don't .

[@kmvenezia4337]

Love Chet. Thanx Ethan and all involved making a good movie

[@cristianmicu]

ethan hawke is a wonderful actor

[@mikemaselli1568]

A wonderful and powerful movie! This is what movie making and jazz music is all about. Pleasure, pain, fun, and most of all..The Music....

[@beatvampire]

I get the feeling Ethans life is not "that together' after watching this, feel like he's about to burst into tears or laughter

[@mvdsanden]

Excellent interviewing while he seems modest and lets the guest direct how things go.

[@spacejesusadventure]

I almost prefer Ethan Hawke's interviews to his movies.

[@roma1579]

i think so too. It's just so hard to make this kind of movie. Something huge is missing but i don't know what yet...

[@angiep5514]

The long version..haha. Love Ethan ❤

[@jeansmith8969]

Good interview and I've come to admire Ethan Hawke since the movie. I have looked at four or five different interviews and it's interesting how no one has even acknowledged Carmen Ejogo's performance. Granted, the movie was about Chet Baker's life, how do you not mention the other character that had such a pivotal role in the movie.

[@makurradoshi4498]

Wow! Been listening to a lot of Chet Baker lately, can't believe I hadn't heard him sooner! Ethan Hawke is actually great casting, I can see him do Chet really well. I'm gonna check out this movie now! Haven't been able to find a lot of good Jazz biopics, or music films in general, and this sounds great

[@alankirkby465]

There was a Chet Baker documentary film some years ago entitled : Let's get lost. I saw this film in the city of Bath, UK. Obviously all the stuff on scene is Chet himself.

[@EdwinVazquezMusica]

Ethan Hawke really rocked it! Good job Ethan! +E

[@MJLeger-yj1ww]

Ethan is certainly accurate in how he describes what there must be with an artist of any type, music, acting, painting - ANY level -- it requires focus, long hours, can produce confidence while it can breed insecurities among other feelings. Sensitive people can be induced to try drugs to try to better their performances, get away from the emotions and "chill out" on downers or use uppers before a performance. It's a very dangerous game. The worst thing being, drugs ARE addictive physically AND mentally and once you start, it's very difficult to stop. You reach a level where you cannot stop on your own and require assistance. I don't think Chet really sought out assistance, although he was on methadone at one point so he did try. Relapse is common, and usually deadly. One thing that was sad to me was how badly Chet aged in his 30 years on drugs -- it was so evident in his face, wrinkled and sunken-in cheeks at the end. Heart-breaking. I have NOT seen the movie but I'll bet Ethan didn't look like that at the end of the movie. Good casting though.

[@ninakim7282]

You did a good job.

[@1SUNGODELBASIR]

Great interview

[@mathewtomy8664]

One of the greatest man loved him

[@axiomist1076]

Gotta see the film. Didnt know it exists. Amazon, here I come.

[@laraoneal7284]

Omg I have to find this movie. Where do I find it. I love Ethan Hawke. I've wondered why hasn't a movie about Chet Baker.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

It's ALL lies! Read Artt Frank's book for the truth.

[@laslatty1016]

ignorecorporatenews y

[@mbernier59]

They delivered!

[@darzil007]

Diditscreen after all ? Where can I find to watch it

[@juliazingale1457]

Should have used lip sync; Ethan could not capture Chet's tone and phrasing.

[@johntechwriter]

Ethan is a good looking guy, but Baker was an Adonis.

[@meharidesta2708]

its sad to see a lot of rare talented person are very stupid bad person even they deserve death / chet baker was big example GOD gave him second chance and he blow it again and again feel very sorry for his soul / but i love his jazz gives a feeling of everything to the death

[@ronrobbins2737]

Big fan of both Ethan AND Chet, but unfortunately the movie was, how do you say, "awful" in its very limited (and low-budget-looking) view of Baker's life. Sad too was Ethan's apparent lack of ANY trumpet-technique prep that would have at least added some much-needed authenticity to his portrayal. Not one correct fingering or even "setting the lips" to match the soundtrack. They would have literally been better-off hiring an unknown young trumpeter who can act, then aging him well for Chet's brutal "maturing"-process. And to not show Chet's youth, how the unlikely "farmer's son" reached worldwide jazz-musician/jazz-vocalist/Italian-speaking international film-star status, was such a shame, folks!

[@5863gg]

와우 ㅋㅋㅋ

[@chuckunplugged]

No

[@obbzerver]

Some of the most unconvincing fake playing.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

FUCKING MOVIE SUCKS - IT's MINIMUM 95% lies and bullshit. WTF? REALLY pisses me off! PEOPLE PLEASE Read Artt Frank's book for the true story about Chet and this period of Chet's life.

[@MJLeger-yj1ww]

By the very name you chose for your remark, it shows you do not have an open mind but would rather "ignore." You need to, for one thing, broaden your vocabulary so you can omit the unnecessary four-letter words. But also, realize that this movie does NOT cover Chet's whole life, it deals with a certain phase in it. It is not "95% lies" here unless you wish to DENY drug use at all. It's a REAL problem, one you cannot close your eyes to unless you don't care if you die! Chet was exposed to drugs in the music field, probably for more than the 30 years he used. It was inevitable that he would die from them somehow, although he DID try to quit, he was on methadone at one point. Most drug users OD, Chet probably was careful to a point, he mostly used heroin AFTER a gig, nonetheless, he did it one night after the gig and probably nodded off and fell out a high window on a warm night in May and it killed him. Heroin and cocaine were both found in his bloodstream at autopsy. HUGE loss in the music industry. You must realize that sensationalism sells movies, so they often embellish a fact in them. Whatever -- it's sad.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

M. J. Leger get your head out of your ass and read Artt Frank's book. The time line of the book is the same time line as the movie, and, therefore, the movie is 95% wrong. btw Chet's son is trying to sue Hawke and the film makers, writer, director, etc.

[@juan54321]

the movie sucks, it really does. thanks ethan