Bolden

{{for|the name|Bolden (name)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Bolden | image = BoldenFilmPoster.jpg | alt = | caption = Film poster | director = [[Daniel Pritzker|Dan Pritzker]] | producer = Jonathan Cornick Michele Tayler | writer = Daniel Pritzker David N. Rothschild | starring = [[Gary Carr (actor)|Gary Carr]] [[Erik LaRay Harvey]] [[Ian McShane]] [[Michael Rooker]] [[Yaya DaCosta]] [[Reno Wilson]] [[Robert Ri'chard]] Breon Pugh | music = [[Wynton Marsalis]] [[Mark Isham]] Scott Steiner | cinematography = Neal Norton | editing = Thomas J. Nordberg Chris Steele-Nicholson | studio = King Bolden LLC | distributor = Abramorama | released = {{Film date|2019|05|03}} | runtime = 101 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross =  }}

'''''Bolden''''' is a 2019 American [[drama film]] based on the life of [[cornet]]ist [[Buddy Bolden]] (1877–1931). One of the seminal figures in jazz history, Bolden left no surviving recordings, having been committed in 1907 at age 30 to the Louisiana State Insane Asylum, where he spent the rest of his life after a diagnosis of [[schizophrenia|acute alcoholic psychosis]].<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17260407 "Two Films Unveil a Lost Jazz Legend"], National Public Radio, December 15, 2007. "By most accounts, a mix of alcohol and mental illness sent Bolden into an asylum in 1907; he stayed there until his death in 1931."</ref>

The musical drama is directed by [[Daniel Pritzker]], and features original music written, arranged and performed by [[Wynton Marsalis]].<ref>[https://wyntonmarsalis.org/discography/title/bolden ''Bolden (Original Soundtrack)'', at WyntonMarsalis.org]</ref> The film stars [[Gary Carr (actor)|Gary Carr]] as Bolden, and co-stars [[Erik LaRay Harvey]], [[Reno Wilson]], [[Yaya DaCosta]], [[Ian McShane]] and [[Michael Rooker]].

The score by Marsalis includes vocalists [[Catherine Russell (singer)|Catherine Russell]], [[Brianna Thomas]], Don Vappie, and instrumentalists including [[Wycliffe Gordon]], [[Victor Goines]], [[Marcus Printup]], and others.<ref>[https://www.jazz.org/press/bolden-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-featuring-music-composed-performed-and-arranged-by-wynton-marsalis-available-on-cd-and-digitally-on-april-19-2019-from-blue-engine-records/ "Jazz at Lincoln Center Press Release: Tuesday, March 5th, 2019"]</ref> The film contains performances by [[Reno Wilson]] playing Louis Armstrong (acting and singing).<ref>[https://theshadowleague.com/reno-wilson-channels-louis-armstrong-in-bolden/ "Reno Wilson Channels Louis Armstrong In 'Bolden'"]</ref>

''Bolden'' was released in theaters on May 3, 2019, by Abramorama.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://boldenmovie.com | title = Bolden movie official website}}</ref>

==Cast== * [[Gary Carr (actor)|Gary Carr]] as Charles "Buddy" Bolden * [[Erik LaRay Harvey]] as Bartley * [[Ian McShane]] as Judge Leander Perry * [[Michael Rooker]] as Pat McMurphy * [[Yaya DaCosta]] as Nora Bolden * [[Reno Wilson]] as [[Louis Armstrong]] * [[Robert Ri'chard]] as [[George Baquet]] * [[Karimah Westbrook]] as Alice Bolden * Breon Pugh as Willie Warner * [[Ser'Darius Blain]] as [[Willie Cornish]]

==Reception== On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bolden|title=Bolden|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 50 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bolden | title=Bolden | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.boldenmovie.com}} * {{IMDb title|0858419}}

[[Category:2019 films]] [[Category:African-American biographical dramas]] [[Category:African-American drama films]] [[Category:Films shot in New Orleans]] [[Category:Films shot in North Carolina]] [[Category:Films scored by Mark Isham]] [[Category:Films scored by Wynton Marsalis]] [[Category:2019 English-language films]] [[Category:2019 American films]] [[Category:Biographical films about musicians]] [[Category:English-language biographical drama films]]