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Nina
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sometimes-edgy biopic of iconic musician doesn't dig deep.
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Nina
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What's the Story?
NINA starts with legendary musician Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana) near ruin -- she's broke, drunk, and unbookable, sitting in a chemically induced stupor at the piano one moment, screaming at the audience the next. After being sent to a mental institution for pulling a gun on a man she thinks swindled her and attacking a cop at the hospital, she befriends a nurse named Clifton (David Oyelowo), whom she recruits as her assistant. They jet off to the south of France, where Nina is often alone, even among those who adore her, struggling to figure out a way back to herself, whatever that means. A classically trained pianist whose career dreams were foiled early by racism and who later turned to singing and songwriting to express herself, Nina's worst enemy may be herself.
Is It Any Good?
Biopics have the imposing task of portraying the truth of a life while making sure the audience is fully immersed in the experience; this one has some high points but fails in this mission. Though Zaldana puts in an heroic effort at bringing the late, great, complicated Simone to life, the emphasis is on the "effort." NINA feels labored and self-conscious, as well as superficial. We see Nina the combative, Nina the lush, Nina the difficult, and, yes, Nina the great musician and singer and songwriter --- but these personas aren't connected by a distinct arc that would have made for a textured, multi-dimensional whole. And while Oyelowo is clearly talented, his Clifton is all Cliff's Notes -- no nuance.
And a word about the blackface controversy, which erupted when early footage of the movie was released and Saldana was shown wearing makeup and a prosthetic to look more like Simone: It's not only tone-deaf, it's distracting, doing harm to a movie already beleaguered by other issues. All of that said, there's no mistaking the power of the music, and it's here, albeit perhaps not as compelling with Saldana singing. Nina Simone was a wonder who can't be matched.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about who Nina Simone was. What role did she play in the civil rights movement? Does the film make her place in history clear? Do her flaws and frailty make her any less of an icon?
How is drinking portrayed in Nina? Is it glamorized? Are the consequences realistic? Why is that important?
Saldana's used of prosthetics and make-up has prompted some to call the performance "blackface," insulting Simone's stance against racial inequality. What do you think of the controversy? What challenges do filmmakers take on with biopics?
How does the film address Simone's reported mental illness? Do you think it's accurate? Why might filmmakers choose to alter facts in movies based on true stories?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 22, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: September 6, 2016
- Cast: Zoe Saldana , David Oyelowo
- Director: Cynthia Mort
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Latino actors
- Studio: RLJ Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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