The tumultuous life of the world’s most awarded female vocalist is put under the spotlight in I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie) was the greatest voice of a generation, who enjoyed the highest of highs and succumbed to excess, indulgence and heartache. Tragically she died at 48. The fact that she had a remarkable voice was obvious when she sang in church, but nurturing and perfecting it was tough. Her mother, Cissy (Tamara Tunie) – quite some singer herself – was head of the choir where Whitney was the soloist and she was a tough task master. She was a perfectionist and implored Whitney to pronounce each word clearly and to recognise and appreciate that each song told a story.
Cissy and her husband John (Clarke Peters) had a volatile relationship. He’s presented as fiery, controlling and manipulative. A chance meeting with no nonsense Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams) proved timely and liberating. The pair became best friends and moved into together. And then Whitney got her big break when she performed in front of the head of Arista Records, famed record producer Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci). A Harvard Law School graduate, his previous successes had included Barry Manilow and Simon & Garfunkel, to name but two. Davis immediately signed up Whitney and lovingly nurtured her career, which took off and soared.
The preeminent singer of her day, more riches were to follow with the release of the movie The Bodyguard, in which she starred opposite Kevin Costner. But tensions remained due to the close relationship Whitney developed with Robyn Crawford and to her father’s management style. And then Whitney met Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) and that became the best of times and the worst of times.
Soaring above all though in this biopic written by Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody) is Whitney’s big, big voice (the film mostly uses Houston’s vocals rather than Ackie’s). She had an extraordinary ability to reach notes others could only dream about … and hold them. Indeed, she rounds each word and note and savours it … as do her adoring fans, millions upon millions globally. She became the only artist to achieve seven consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Naomi Ackie brings emotion and gravitas to the lead role. As Whitney at her best, she is a shining light. At her worst, a broken shell. Tamara Tunie impresses with her “grounded” portrayal of a mother who knows just how special a gift her daughter has, but isn’t willing to cut her any slack. Clarke Peters brings swagger and sleaze to his portrayal of John Houston. Nafessa Williams adds spice and spark as Robyn Crawford, whose journey with Whitney is far from straightforward. And then there is the warmth and smarts that Stanley Tucci brings to the piece as a record executive with an open-door policy for his most successful client.
While I was familiar with the Whitney Houston story, for the most part director Kasi Lemons has done a good job bringing it to life. I say for the most part because I felt the film was stretched unnecessarily in the final half hour when my involvement waned somewhat.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
