Hollywood has given us its fair share of biopics. More than enough. The biopics truly successful are, however, rarer. Fortunately, I Wanna Dance with Somebodywhich depicts the life and career of Whitney Houston, is among those that stand out for their sensitivity, their concern for realism, their rejection of sensationalism and, above all, their portrayal at the height of the subject.
The subject here, then, is Whitney Houston (beautifully played by Naomi Ackie). The one we nicknamed The Voice (the voice), because these two words were enough to qualify it. It is therefore very welcome to see how the film, directed by Kasi Lemmons (Harriet, black nativity), showcases Houston’s vocal talent. Thus, the long moments when we see the singer perform are frequent and splendid. The work to ensure realism when Naomi Ackie mimes the songs is impeccable. Whitney Houston’s majesty pervades the entire film. If we already knew how talented she was, the feature film of just over two hours reminds us of it in the most sumptuous of ways.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody also reminds us (or teaches us, depending on what we already knew about Whitney Houston’s life) why the song lost one of the biggest stars. His family relationships, ever-increasing pressure, constant criticism and compromised mental health over a 35-year career. Drugs were his escape for years and ultimately the cause of his death. We also see the beautiful relationship that she maintained all her life with her producer, Clive Davis (brilliant Stanley Tucci), who discovered her and then accompanied her in her career.
It was striking to see the reactions among the viewers alongside us in the theater during the first part of the film, which is dedicated to telling the love story between young Whitney Houston and the one who will never leave her, Robyn Crawford. Many learned that Houston had this long relationship with a woman, before dating men, in particular under the pressure of her father, who obsessed over the image that his “princess” projected. Whitney preferred to dress in jeans, loose tracksuits, and wear her hair short, but we wanted her to slip into dresses. What she agreed to do, to achieve her dream. These fragments of her personal life, which make us better understand who she really was, are approached with great care.
What does it best Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, it’s retracing a long, wonderful and stormy life without ever falling into voyeurism. Whitney Houston’s journey has been tragic in many ways. But compassion emanates from this film, which moves us on several occasions. The actors carry their roles wonderfully. The moments chosen to tell us about Whitney Houston are the good ones: we are immersed in the cult moments that we have seen and reviewed, but we also access behind the scenes.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a great film… worthy of a great woman.
Biographical drama
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Kasi Lemmons
With Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci and Ashton Sanders
2h26