Despite giving the story a big, glossy production, that diminutive dynamo Spike Lee doesn't quite do the right thing by the jazz world here. The film opens brilliantly, giving rise to hopes that it will open out into a gritty social drama in the 'Bird' tradition, giving us insight into a jazzman's life. Instead, the film is soon marching to the beat of a different drum, with Denzel Washington providing star presence, but not enough depth, as the selfish New York horn player who freezes everyone out of his life. Even with prickingly individual supporting work from Lee himself, Wesley Snipes, Samuel L Jackson, Giancarlo Esposito (as the delightfully named Left Hand Lacey) and Ruben Blades (as Lee's Spanish-speaking bookie), plus some enticing love scenes and witty dialogue, this is a 'Bird' that never quite takes wing.


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