Plot: A joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical super stardom.
Runtime: 2 Hours 24 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: I Wanna Dance With Somebody starts as we see the early career of Whitney Houston (Ackie) learning from her mother Cissy (Tunie). After she impresses Clive Davis (Tucci) she gets snapped up and biggest the hottest artist in the world. however, her own personal life with her best friend Robyn (Williams) causes a stir.
Whitney continues to impress the world-defining critics of her work and marrying Bobby Brown (Sanders). However, her rise to super-stardom comes at a price. One she might never be able to recover from.
Verdict on I Wanna Dance With Somebody
I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a biopic drama following the troubled life of Whitney Houston. It goes through the whole career, from being discovered and becoming a megastar. Right, down to the fall from grace due to her addictions.
This does get to show us the basic of Whitney’s life. She has an amazing life filled with ups and downs that took her from the rest of the world too early. This is filled with brilliant musical performances, that show off her amazing voice. However, despite these big moments, we tend to gloss over the bigger moments too much. We don’t seem to focus too much on the tragic moments, the highest moments. There isn’t very much new that we haven’t seen or heard from documentaries.
Final Thoughts –I Wanna Dance With Somebody is the basics of a biopic.
Plot: The story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music.
Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Bob Marley: One Love starts in 1976 when Bob Marley (Ben-Adir) looks to perform a gig in Jamacia in hopes of calming the storm. However, people don’t want him to, leading to him being shot. Bob struggles to deal with this, which leads to him leaving for London to record new music.
As the years rolled by, he started to find a new sound and his music continued to move people around the world. However, his quest for a peaceful nature and world becomes a challenge. He must discover more about himself if he is going to unlock the biggest album of all time.
Verdict onBob Marley: One Love
Bob Marley: One Love is a biopic exploring a short spell in the iconic musician Bob Marley’s life. It follows his creation of the Exodus album which helped reshape the desire for peace.
This is a movie that only focuses on a couple of years of Bob Marley’s life. It is an important part because it was the biggest part of his career. This is interesting and shows a conflict he must deal with after surviving an assassination attempt. However, if you wanted to learn more about his career in music and Jamacia in his early career, you would be disappointed. The performances are fantastic from the whole cast, which completely takes us into the world.
Final Thoughts – Bob Marley: One Love is an interesting look at the iconic musician.
Plot: The story of the New Orleans-born crooner who began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement.
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Mahalia starts as we meet Mahalia Jackson (Brooks) who was raised in the south. She always had an incredible voice one that can turn heads. However, people don’t like the type of music she sings. Mahalia loves singing the blues and gets told to not sing in that way turning to the gospel.
She defied the odds to make a living for herself first, then joined by Mildrid (Kalukango) to become a sensation. Her performances would move people and get the attention of the most famous figure in the civil rights movement.
Verdict on Mahalia
Mahalia is a biopic following the life of one of the most revered gospel figures in US history. It followers her from her early steps into the music industry, right up to the impact she made on the civil rights movement.
This movie does dive into how she kept her religious beliefs even if they held her back from bigger opportunities. She helped people around her and changed the lives of countless people along the way. This movie does a great job of showing just how much of an impact she brought to the world. Danielle Brooks is wonderful in the leading role and the singing involved is truly moving.
Final Thoughts – Mahalia is a wonderful biopic about someone who helped change the world.
Writer: Baz Luhrmann, Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce, Jeremy Doner (Screenplay) Baz Luhrmann, Jeremy Doner (Story)
Cast: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harris Jr, David Wenham, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Luke Bracey
Plot: From his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi to his rise to stardom starting in Memphis, Tennessee and his conquering of Las Vegas, Nevada, Elvis Presley becomes the first rock ‘n roll star and changes the world with his music.
Runtime: 2 Hours 39 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Elvis starts as Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks) is facing his fate, looking back on his career. The Colonel found Elvis (Butler) while managing a country singer. Seeing him as a man that could draw a crowd and make money off.
As Elvis starts performing, his career skyrockets. Fans flock to see him, but he gains his haters too. Demand forces him to tame his act or face punishment. The Colonel making every decision for him, leads to the trapped environment Elvis finds himself in. seeing how the once superstar has been grounded from what made his so special.
Thoughts on Elvis
Characters
Elvis is the iconic singer we know from history. Seeing his journey from being raised in a black neighbourhood. Learning to love the music around him and performing. Showing of his talent to the world, becoming the biggest star in the industry. What we learn is that he was never in complete control. He wanted to perform a certain way and the government tried to stop him. Forcing him to tone down his movements, the same movements that got the crowd roaring his name. Seeing the world, he gets trapped in, for his desire to perform and his manager’s power over him.
Colonel Tom Parker is the carnival attraction who discovered Elvis. Taking him to new heights, using his sound to grab the audience. Turning him into a marketing machine, that controlled everything in his life. His addictions will make his career a nightmare, forcing him into using Elvis as a cash machine. The way his conducts business, will see Elvis confined to America, worried he will lose his cash cow. He is telling the story, looking back on his life. Believing he has nothing to do with what happened to Elvis.
In the supporting cast, we get Priscilla, Elvis’s wife. Someone that saw him differently, but sadly doesn’t get enough screen time to this story. We have the loyal friends that support his career. The people that try to break him out of the management. Most importantly we see his inspirations. The artists from Beale Street, back home where he was raised.
Performances
Austin Butler is amazing in his movie. He comes to life as the charismatic performer, both on stage and off it. If you are going to be looking at an early contender for best performance of the year. Look no further than here.
Tom Hanks is the ever-brilliant actor, taking this role to the heights. Often leaving me wonder if he did get someone to single ‘Here comes Santa Claus’.
Story
The story follows the career of Elvis Presley. From his early days supporting country singers, to right to his tragic death as an icon. The story shows us how he grabbed the world’s attention, break down barriers. Had the government against him, despite only singer what he loved. He helped bring another sound to the forefront of music. One that people didn’t want to see succeed. We also see how his manager tried to control him, forcing him into certain decisions. Ones that will define his career.
The career of this singer is one that I never knew too much. Seeing how everything unfolded in his career, leave you seeing the tragedy behind it. Despite helping change the views on music for a generation. The journey we follow could easily be compared to ‘Rocketman’. Seeing the manager taking control of a superstar’s career. It will make you sick seeing how the man acted around Elvis. Leaving you wonder how the career could have gone.
There are a couple of points that could have been added. With not enough focus on the marriage. We could have also seen more about his film career. Pointing out how much was going on, without giving us enough time to focus on what was great or not.
Themes
Elvis is a musical biographical about Elvis Presley. Diving through the career, seeing the performances that caused a stir. The big hits are played out and seeing where the inspiration came from helped us understand his unique ability. Each performance will feel as magical as it would have been to see live. Learning how the two meet only defines how corrupt the partnership was.
Final Thoughts – Elvis is a magical musical, where Austin Butler becomes a megastar.
Plot: Son of Balkan immigrants Zlatan Ibrahimovic, born in Sweden. Becomes, after a rough childhood, a Swedish football champion of several decades.
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: I Am Zlatan starts by showing us how the young player Zlatan Ibrahimovic is struggling to be accepting in Ajax. The Dutch press turning on his background quickly. Wanting out, he looks back at his early life. Here, we follow a young Zlatan, causing troubles in school. Lacking discipline in Sweden, with his family not being accepted as easily.
We will follow his young life, as he looks to break into the youth teams in Sweden. Always needing to overcome public opinion about him. He gets to reflect on his life from the Ajax starlet trying to push a move away.
Thoughts on I Am Zlatan
Characters & Performances
Zlatan is a football icon, in this film we get to follow three stages of his career. His childhood in Sweden, where he struggled to focus in school. Collecting football stickers and just wanting to be on the football pitch. Needing to learn discipline in life, using his inspirations of Muhammed Ali and Bruce Lee. The second stage is his time in the first youth team at Malmo. Where he still has discipline problems, but will need to show how he is ready to start to work with others. He can’t just be a solo selfish football player. The third stage is the Ajax player that is underperforming, looking to move away. The press turning on him, the manager not connecting with him. Needing to find his performance, before his talent gets wasted.
The man is someone that always makes headlines and learning more about his early life. Is one of the few things we never learn about him. We do meet his family, mother, father, sister and younger brother. Who have an impact at different stages of his life. We also meet the coaches at different stages of his development, who needing to stand up to his attitude. Trying to pass on lesson about being a team player. The film has great performances from everyone, even if more of the film is about the player himself.
Story
The story here follows the three stages of Zlatan’s life, childhood. Early stages in the youth teams and his struggles in Ajax. The story will jump between the three eras as we get to see the lessons he learned along the way. Which will go hand in hand with what needs to guide him to become who he is now. Where this might not be for everyone, is that we don’t get to see much about his career. On the side that is more famous, diving into the arrogant figure we see make the headlines. The story doesn’t manage to get too much more out of the simple enough idea of working hard, becoming discipline and natural talent will unfold.
Themes – I Am Zlatan is a sports drama biopic looking at the career of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, we will see shots of football going on in different stages of his development, it does feel like the cinematic football, having the great and bad moments, not the doing well.
Signature Entertainment presents I Am Zlatan in Cinemas 3rd June and on Digital Platforms 20th June & DVD 27th June.
Final Thoughts – I Am Zlatan is an inspirational story about one of the greatest ever.
Plot: Tells the story of Allan Kardec, from his days as an educator to his contribution to the spiritist codification.
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Kardec starts as educator in France Rivail (Medeiros) finds his ways of education questioned by the church who have gained power due to the new leader in the country. Rivail is drawn into the world of spiritist, who communicate with the dead, where he makes the connection as Allan Kardec to the dead.
As Kardec starts building up a reputation in the community, he starts with fresh ideas of what to change about the methods, only for him to make a fresh set of enemies in the country who frowns on what he is doing.
Thoughts on Kardec
Thoughts – Kardec is an interesting look at one of the first spiritist that looked to go against the church by believing the world could operate where people could connect to the spirits of the world. It will show us how forward thinking people were always put in a position where they might not been seen as series, if people in power won’t want to believe there is a difference in life. This is a biopic that will be happy to challenge people’s views on the explainable in life. We do get strong performances in this film, which help with seeing the inner battle to succeed with finding answers.
Final Thoughts – Kardec is an interesting look at a man who was willing challenge the change in beliefs.
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Andrea Riseborough, Jaime Winstone, Lorraine Stanley, Nicola Duffett, Geraldine James, Bob Hoskins
Plot: A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination.
Tagline – Dagenham, England, 1968. An ordinary woman fights for equal pay and achieves something extraordinary.
Runtime: 1 Hour 53 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Made in Dagenham starts as we meet the female workers I the Ford car plant in Dagenham, Rita O’Grady (Hawkins) is one of the employees in the plant. The women are looking for better pay, which will see Rita working with Albert (Hoskins) to lead the women on a fight against Ford, not only for better pay, but for equal pay for women.
As the strike starts getting a following, the women take a bigger battle for equal pay in every job, pushing for the change that will be remembered forever.
Thoughts on Made in Dagenham
Characters & Performances – Rita works in the manufacturing part of the Ford garage in Dagenham, she is the timid for the most part, but when the women look to get better pay, she will become the leader they need, she will put herself in the position where she can make enemies within the company, but will lead the march for change. Sally Hawkins is brilliant as the timid leader, showing us just how much of a change the everyday person will take. Albert Passingham is the factory manager that will push the ladies into fighting for what is right, he will stand up for them, but knows they need to lead the fight themselves. Bob Hoskins is great to watch, bringing most of the comedy into the film, while getting across the message that not everyone thinks the same, some think better. Barbara Castle is the member of parliament that is looking for the unions to come together, she will use her position to help make this happen, knowing the change in important for everyone. Miranda Richardson is great in the supporting role, giving us a character that will look to bring the change through. We do meet plenty of the other women involved in the strike, each with their own motivation for being involved, we have the men fighting back and the husband who are doing the best to support their fight. This truly is an all-star cast of brilliant performances.
Story – The story here follows the women of the Ford plant who went on strike to get equal pay, leading to a bigger change across the country and the world for equal pay for the same job. This is a moment in history that should be known, taught and respected, showing how the small manufacturers went out on strike to make sure everyone got the same pay, for the same role, it will show how the rich companies would do anything to make sure they kept up their profit to levels where it would put their employees down. Seeing the unity between the women shows us just what it mean for them to get to make the difference to their own lives, let alone the world.
Themes – Made in Dagenham is a biographical comedy about the change these women pushed for in England, showing they are from estates, who might never get the chance to make a difference, standing up against the rich who would always put them down. The historical change is the most important part of this story, which sadly, is still a conversation we are having today.
Made in Dagenham is a brilliant and important movie that shows us the people who risked more to make a change.
Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, Mikayla Lashae Bartholomew
Plot: A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.
Tagline – Venus, Serena and a plan for greatness.
Runtime: 2 Hours 24 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: King Richard starts as we see the routine Richard Williams (Smith) put his daughters Venus (Sidney), Serena (Singleton) along with his three other daughters Tunde (Bartholomew), Isha (Lawson) and Lyndrea (Crawford) in his plan to make the pair tennis superstars.
Richard spends most of his free time trying to help with coaches, which will see the beginning of the careers of Venus and Serena, as they will look to become the superstars we know now.
Thoughts on King Richard
Characters & Performances – Richard Williams is a man with a plan, his plan starts with him having two more daughters to turn up into tennis superstars, drilling them to be the best from watching every tennis match he can get his hands on, most importantly he wants to make sure they get an education and never have to live in the conditions he went through. Richard has a way he likes to make sure things are done, a different path to anyone else has done in the past, a decision that will see him test the coaches he finds, putting the future of his daughters on the line, even if he just wants it to be a way to remove the pressure from the girls, unlike any other tennis parent. Will Smith does give us a wonderful performance as the stubborn father and coach. Oracene Williams is the mother of the girls, she has worked double shifts to make this a reality, getting involved, but knowing and letting the professionals guide her daughters, needing to keep Richard in check from making the reckless decisions. Aunjanue Ellis will give us the most reserved character in the film, getting the biggest lines needed for the film. Venus is the elder of the two sisters, the one that will become the centre stage of the bigger story going on, with her success leading to become the inspiration for Serena. Saniyya Sidney is amazing in her role as the star in the making. Rick Macci is the trainer that Richard trusts to help his daughters, he knows how to make a superstar and knows he must deal with Richard’s quirks to make the star.
Story – The story here follows Richard Williams as he looks to turn his daughters into Tennis superstars following the plan he has put in place, believing he knows exactly what is needed to achieve it. This is an interesting biopic looking into the birth of the stardom for two of the biggest stars in tennis history, it shows the demands needed to become a sports star and the unusual methods their father used. Certain parts will leave you scratching your heads towards what is behind his methods, ones that will get questioned through the film. It does feel like there should have been a more subtle way of getting over the point of wanting to make sure his kids have a childhood, not only drilled into the only knowing one thing.
Themes – King Richard is a sports biopic that will show how Venus and Serena Williams became the superstars we know, showing the different training programs they have been through and understanding how to make the system the professional level occurs.
Final Thoughts – King Richard is an inspirational story behind creating the superstars in the tennis world.
Plot: Born with a serious eye condition that eventually leads to his blindness, Bocelli nevertheless rises above the challenges, driven by great ambitions towards his passion. The silent pursuit of his daily mission continues.
Tagline – The Unforgettable True Story of Andrea Bocelli
Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Interesting Biopic
Story: The Music of Silence starts when Sandro (Molla) and Edi (Ranieri) welcome their first son to the world, only after a year of wondering what might be wrong with him, they discover Amos is blind, before eventually finding comfort in music.
As Amos (Sebastian) builds a reputation which sees him turn heads all over the local area, when his teenage years hit, his voice changes, but his passion for music is just as important to him, this is until he finds a new voice that makes him standout from a crowd.
Thoughts on The Music of Silence
Characters – Amos was born blind and struggled to find his place as a child until he found music, he has a voice of an angel which gains him a following, only he never gets his break, every time he thinks he is about to get a chance he finds himself fall, he needs the break to help himself become the star his talent deserves him to be. Sandro is Amos’ father who hasn’t always been as supportive as he could, but didn’t know how to find the best for his son. Maestro is the man that helps Amos look to improve his voice and find his own sound.
Performances – Toby Sebastian is the strongest of the performers in this film, with somebody as big as Antonio Banderas you would have expected to see more screen time for him, only for him like everyone else, just not getting enough time to make an impact.
Story – The story here follows the life of Amos, his struggles with dealing with being blind at a young age and how his passion for music inspired him despite the struggles he would have to come up against to make sure he makes it in the industry. The story isn’t the strongest with how it is told, because we don’t see many or any true breaks Amos is getting, just waiting for the massive moment which would make his career, we go through parts of the personal life, only they don’t seem like they are as important to what happens with his career.
Biopic/Music – The biopic side of the film isn’t the strongest with how it unfolds, though the music once he is let out is beautiful.
Settings – The film uses the settings to show the life that Amos would have had to live through to get to where he was in life, he has the ups and downs, with this shown with where he is living.
Scene of the Movie – The big performance.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It is slower with how everything unfolds.
Final Thoughts – This does have beautiful music, only to goes along at such a slow pass it just doesn’t end up giving the emotional impact of the man’s journey.
