AllMovie

A force to be reckoned with, Miles Davis is one of the most acclaimed figures in jazz. He is a bandleader, trumpeter, composer, and most of all, cool. In Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, director Stanley Nelson captures his essence through an array of archival materials: his manuscripts, original paintings, photos, and home videos shot by Davis himself. Interviews with his closest friends, ex-lovers, and fellow icons also reveal what makes Davis an enduring figure in music.