Dir: Don Cheadle / 2016 / US / 100 min / DCP

Miles Ahead is a wildly entertaining, no-holds-barred portrait of one of the 20th century’s creative geniuses, Miles Davis, featuring a career-defining performance by Oscar nominee Don Cheadle in the title role. In the midst of a dazzling and prolific career at the forefront of modern jazz innovation, Miles Davis virtually disappears from public view for a period of five years in the late 1970s. A wily music reporter (Ewan McGregor) forces his way into Davis’ house and, over the next couple of days, the two men unwittingly embark on a riotous adventure to recover a stolen tape of the musician’s latest compositions. “Anyone who wants to get a jump start on possible Oscar nominees for 2017 should check out Miles Ahead.” — A.O. Scott, The New York Times