Details
Movie Description
The true story of Tina Turner's rocky road to stardom and her abusive relationship with domineering husband Ike. Outstanding, gutsy performances by the leads. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actress--Angela Bassett, Best Actor--Laurence Fishburne.
Synopsis
17-year old Anna Mae leaves the backwoods of Tennessee for St. Louis to be reunited with her stern mother and elder sister, Alline. One evening, Alline brings Anna Mae to the night club where a group led by singer-hearthrob Ike Turner plays. Ike makes a nightly ritual of passing the microphone around the dance hall and on one visit to the club Anna Mae grabs it and belts out a song. Soon Anna's whole life is in Ike's hands: he's changed her name to Tina and taken total control of her singing career. Though he's paternalistic and artistically demanding, she's fascinated by his forceful masculinity, stylistic charisma and creative vision. But not long after their quickie Mexican marriage, things turn sour. Ike viciously abuses Tina, who, eventually struggles to free herself of his psychotic reign of terror.
Film Notes
"What's Love Got to Do with It" is the biography of singer-performer Tina Turner.
Shot in Technicolor and widescreen.
In 1979, Ms. Turner met manager Roger Davies, and together they made the album "Private Dancers," released in 1983. Her best-selling autobiography, "I, Tina," on which the film is based, was a best-seller when it came out in 1986. The film, however, had a difficult gestation period: Howard Ashman, the film's initial producer, dropped out in the early stages of its conception.
Angela Bassett's previous screen appearance as Betty Shabazz in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X," highlighted the actress' talents.
Bassett's dynamic performance in "What's Love Got To Do With It" was lauded by critics. Her performance involves no singing. Tina Turner per-recorded all the songs for the soundtrack.
Bassett and Fishburne worked together on John Singleton's "Boyz N' the Hood," which reportedly influenced Fishburn's decision to make this film. Fishburne was initially reluctant to accept the role because he felt Ike's character was drastically underdeveloped.
Apparently, the script went through several re-edits, with character details constantly being revised. Of the 17 drafts, some examined the nuances of Tina's relationship to her parents.
Rated BBFC 18 by the British Board of Film Classification.
Available to buy in the UK.
Industry Reviews
"...Broad, savvy, entertaining....[Bassett] transforms herself memorably..."
New York Times - p.C15 - Janet Maslin (06/09/1993)
"...[Basset delivers] a great performance..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.1D - Mike Clark
"...A passionate and professional drama that hits both the high and low notes of an extraordinary life and career. An immensely enjoyable saga..."
Variety - Leonard Klady (06/14/1993)
"...WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT has a lot of terrific music in it....It's a story of pain and courage, uncommonly honest and unflinching..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (06/11/1993)
"...Angela Bassett's Tina is one helluva Proud Mary..." - Recommended
Premiere - p.142 - Bruce Bibby
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