Sony’s biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody arrives on Blu-ray, but the film spends too much time recreating her more famous musical performances than delving into her life in any detail.
The Production: 3/5
Make no mistake, Whitney Houston was a superstar of pop music, and her tragic death in 2012 was heartbreaking for her many fans. Kasi Lemmons seemed like the right director for this project, having made a good impression with her previous biopic Harriet. The story begins not at childhood, but in 1983 where Whitney (Naomi Ackie) is singing solos at her church in New Jersey, coached by her mother Cissy (the always terrific Tamara Tunie) and managed by her father John (Clarke Peters). She also sings backup for her mother’s band at a local club, where one evening music executive Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) is in attendance. Seeing Davis in the audience, Cassi feigns laryngitis, asking Whitney to sing the opening number, leading him to sign her to a contract at Arista Records, proclaiming her as the voice of her generation. What follows is recreations of performances of some of her biggest hits, including her debut on The Merv Griffin Show singing Home, shooting the music video for How Will I Know, performing The Star Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XXV, the Nelson Mandela concert in South Africa, and her famous medley at the 1994 American Music Awards. And that is part of the film’s problem, as it focuses more on her performances and music than her life, acknowledging her bisexual relationship with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams) early on but placing it on the backburner soon afterwards, her father’s mismanagement of funds is nothing more than a footnote, and her marriage to Bobby Brown (Aston Sanders) that results in her problems with drug and alcohol addiction and ultimately contributes to her accidental death (again, something the film barely touches on). That all could be partially attributed to the involvement of Clive Davis and sister in-law Pat Houston as two of the 28 producers and executive producers listed in the credits, as well as the parent company to the studio also owns the record label that released Houston’s albums, Arista.
What does drive Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody is its performances, particularly British actress Naomi Ackie who transforms into the popstar with minimal make-up (wigs and prosthetic teeth) and has Houston’s gestures and moves down pat (Houston’s voice was used in all of the music numbers). Tamara Tunie is great as the overbearing but loving mother Cissy. And Stanley Tucci is very convincing as music mogul Clive Davis.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody was captured in 4.5k resolution on Arri Alexa Mini LF cameras and completed as a 4K digital intermediate in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Sony has released the film on Blu-ray (a 4K digital with HDR is available) and looks fabulous. Colors are bold and vivid, yet never appear oversaturated. Contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and strong shadow detail. Overall detail is also excellent, showing off the intricate 80s/90s production design as well as fabric textures and facial features. The film’s transfer really pushes the boundaries of the Blu-ray format.
Audio: 4.5/5
Despite being mixed in Dolby Atmos for its premium theatrical exhibitions, Sony has opted to only include a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, pretty standard for Sony’s Blu-ray releases, but not even the 4K digital has Atmos. For a 5.1 mix, this sounds quite good, although at times it can seem rather front-heavy. Front soundstage is wide with good dynamics, offering excellent music reproduction. Surrounds are used primarily for atmospheric ambience, such as crowds in a stadium and music reverberation. LFE is strong, helping provide a nice low end for the music. Dialogue is clear and understandable.
Special Features: 2/5
Whitney’s Jukebox: Easy access to any and all of the music performances in the film. View individually, Play All, or Shuffle.
Becoming Whitney (1080p; 7:37): Typical EPK piece on actress Naomi Ackie’s transformation into the popstar.
Moments of an Icon (1080p; 7:37): Recreating the various music performances featured in the film.
The Personal Touch (1080p; 5:30): Those who knew or worked with Whitney Houston (many of whom also served as a producer or executive producer) discuss the singer’s life.
Deleted Scenes (1080p; 7:44): Six scenes are featured.
Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital HD copy on Movies Anywhere.
Overall: 3.5/5
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody spends too much time recreating her more famous musical performances than delving into her life in any detail.
Now retrieving an image set.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody [Blu-ray]
48% Off $38.99 $19.99 (as of March 26, 2023 18:26 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Other New Releases You May Like
Post Disclaimer
Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.
Published by
I also would have preferred a more accurate documentary film.
Malcolm R
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2002
- Messages
- 23,306
- Real Name
- Malcolm
I've always considered her relationship with, and influence of, Brown as the beginning of the end.
That may very well be true. When you take one person who's already at a certain level and add another who is at the same or higher level, things are probably not going to turn out well. I don't mean to disrespect Houston's legacy in any way but her state of being at the time may have had a lot to do with why she chose Brown when she could have had practically anyone she wanted.
Lee Sandersen
Agent
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2022
- Messages
- 36
- Real Name
- Leland T. Sandersen
Colin Jacobson
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2000
- Messages
- 12,271
The movie even semi-acknowledges that WH did drugs pre-BB. When she last sees him, she makes a comment in that regard.
Though the movie still treats BB like the villain.
I would've preferred a less superficial biopic. Like many, it rushes through WH's life way too quickly.
That's likely true in most cases with great artists but happens in practically none. Ironically, sports is the one field I can think of where there's a defined path for gifted youth to receive an education before being thrown to the wolves and even that is quickly eroding.
Lee Sandersen
Agent
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2022
- Messages
- 36
- Real Name
- Leland T. Sandersen
Yes, I agree. Football maybe, but recently young men are leaving school early with dollar signs in their eyes. My opinion, not fact based mind you, is that few college players who go pro really never got a real college education. How could they? Flying all around, ridiculous training hours. When is there time for a proper course load and to study? I have seen many of these men interviewed. With rare exception, do many of them seem even able to put together a coherent sentence? My college roomate 40+ years ago was on a full golf scholarship ride. He never went to class, never talked about any class. I never saw him open a book of any kind in our dorm room. He told me he was a Phy Ed major, and then would smile and say no more.
Basketball pro players, more often than not, get recruited right out of high school. Give an 18 year old kid, often from a poor inner city school, multimillion dollar contracts and see where that gets them. Baseball recruits from the minor leagues and high schools. Academia is not real high on the list.
My point is, give a person with limited life experience, sudden wealth and fame, plus a whole bunch of people surrounding them that will give them anything they want to secure their own means, it is a recipe for disaster. If some of these people had to struggle professionally for a while, maybe be required to finish some type of schooling, that would add some years for maturity and reason to set in. Those later things do not come automatically, there is many a soul that even with advanced age have yet to achieve them. To assume that a person of tender age given an unnatural amount of anything is going to achieve self actualization is expecting a lot.
DarkVader
Second Unit
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Messages
- 261
- Real Name
- Carlos
Radioman970
Here is that performance. Not the best quality though. Still it shows she was once an incredible performer.
