"Born to be Blue" is a biopic steeped in the world of entertainment, the music recording business and jazz concerts.

The film is about the jazz trumpet player Chet Baker, whose rendition of "Born to be Blue," which became one of his better-known recordings (surpassed only by "My Funny Valentine"), gives the film its title.Baker (Ethan Hawke) was a drug addict. The film, directed by Robert Budreau, who wrote the screenplay (director, the short, "The Deaths of Chet Baker," 2009; the feature, "That Beautiful Somewhere," 2006), makes few apologies. Baker apparently tried to kick the heroin habit, but didn't want to, or couldn't.For Baker (born Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr., 1929-1988), drug addiction was an artistic choice. While one can doubt the wisdom of that decision, Baker apparently felt he couldn't reach the highs (pun intended) of his craft without using heroin, as well as, it seems, marijuana and alcohol.One can imagine what Baker could have achieved without use of his psychological props, and yet, as with author William S. Burroughs, Hunter Thompson, Jack Kerouac and other creatives of the beat, or beatnik, era, use of mind-altering substances seemed to go hand-in-hand with pen, typewriter and musical instrument.While I'm no psychologist, nor do I play one on TV, "Born to be Blue" presents Baker as having deep-seated insecurities that go back to a hardscrabble Oklahoma childhood.A portion of the film skims the surface of this when Baker and his girlfriend (Carmen Ejogo, "Selma," 2014) visit Baker's parents (Janet-Laine Green, Stephen McHattie) during one of Baker's court-mandated dryouts.What haunted Baker was a lack of confidence and problems of abandonment. A chemical-laden confidence became his preferred reality. His manager (Callum Keith Rennie) tries to keep him straight, as does his parole officer (Tony Nappo)."Born to be Blue" mainly takes place circa 1966 when Baker was in a methadone program for his addiction and launched a comeback that resulted in a new record album and a return to Birdland, the New York City jazz club where he came to critical and public acclaim circa 1954.The film flashbacks from the color present to Baker's black and white past. The contrast is effective and evocative. The film has memorable visuals, including Baker playing his trumpet against the crashing Pacific Ocean surf and along the Santa Monica promenade.Baker was a progenitor of West Coast Swing or "cool jazz." He had a competitive beef with jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. Baker's style was more that of a laid-back, low-key, straight-ahead player. Ironically, perhaps, Baker's biggest hit, "My Funny Valentine," was typified by his tart vocals.The filming and organization of "Born to be Blue" is that of a typical biopic. Information about Baker is sprinkled awkwardly throughout the dialogue, which also includes attempts at philosophizing.The film is self-conscious in its storytelling, holds few surprises and offers few revelations. It tells Baker's story in fits and starts as if the director wants to impart a drug-induced experience. Events in Baker's life are conflated, including his losing his front teeth when beat up and his struggle to find his embouchure.The director seems preoccupied with keeping the viewer informed as when a lower-thirds title states "New York City" over an image of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline. It's revealing the obvious (although it might be necessary for international audiences).Ethan Hawke (Oscar actor nominee, "Boyhood," 2014) raises the level of "Born to be Blue." Hawke, with a slow, steady gait, ramrod straight as if in a bodybrace, a 50-mile stare and left-sided twist to his lips, embodies Baker. Hawke captures the soft-spoken, whispery, Michael Jacksonesque speaking voice of Baker as well as his singing vocals, which border on that of a falsetto intonation.The art direction and production design of "Born to be Blue" is a pleasure, with midcentury modern blond furniture, bullet shade desk lamps, yellow Princess telephones and cool Chrysler, Thunderbird and other rides (a VW microbes, in which Baker apparently lived with his girlfriend on the California beach).While one might think "Born to be Blue" is a film of redemption and reinvention, it is not. Like Chet Baker's music, the film is lean and spare.If you're a fan of Baker, or want to know more about him, "Born to be Blue" will be of interest. A documentary about Baker, "Let's Get Lost" (1988), is more to the point."Born to Be Blue,"MPAA Rated R (Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian.) for drug use, language, some sexuality and brief violence; Genre: Biography, Drama, Music; Run Time: 1 hr., 37 min.; Distributed by IFC Films.Credit Readers Anonymous:Ethan Hawke sings in his role as Chet Baker, while the trumpet playing of Baker is provided by Canadian jazz musician Kevin Turcotte accompanied by Canadian jazz pianist David Braid.Box Office,April 15: "The Jungle Book" opened at No. 1 with $103.5 million, giving a haircut to "Barbershop: The Next Cut," opening at No 2, with $20.2 million and firing "The Boss," dropping from No. 1 to No. 3, with $10.1 million, $40.3 million, two weeks;4. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," $9 million, $311.3 million, four weeks; 5. "Zootopia," $8.2 million, $307.4 million, seven weeks; 6. "Criminal," $5.8 million; 7. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," $3.2 million, $52 million, four weeks; 8. "Miracles from Heaven," $1.9 million, $56.9 million, five weeks; 9. "God's Not Dead 2," $1.7 million, $16.9 million, three weeks; 10. "Eye in the Sky," $1.6 million, $13.1 million, six weeks; 24. "Born to be Blue," $94,800, $424,961, four weeks.Unreel,April 22:"The Huntsman: Winter's War,"PG-13: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directs Sam Claflin, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain in the adventure-fantasy film that revisits and re-imagines the Snow White fable."Elvis & Nixon,"R: Liza Johnson directs Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Pettyfer and Johnny Knoxville in the comedy based on the true story of the King of Rock 'n' Roll meeting President Nixon at the White House."A Hologram for the King,"R: Tom Tykwer directs Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, Sarita Choudhury and Tom Skerritt in the drama about an American businessman who travels to Saudi Arabia to promote his business plan to a wealthy monarch."The Meddler,"PG-13: Lorene Scafaria directs Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, J.K. Simmons and Michael McKean in the dramedy about a widow from New York City who visits her daughter to Los Angeles with the hopes of beginning a new life.Two popcorn boxes out of five popcorn boxes.