Plot
A film about the singer Tina Turner and how she rose to stardom with her abusive husband Ike Turner and how she gained the courage to break free.
Release Year: 1993
Rating: 7.0/10 (6,901 voted)
Director:
Brian Gibson
Stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly
Storyline Anna Mae always had a special voice. Soon after arriving in St. Louis to live with the mother who had walked out when she was small, the now teenage Anna soon attracts the attention of pop group leader Ike Turner. She becomes the band's singer, his wife, and mother to his children - not all hers. In love with Ike and determined not to leave in the way her mother had, she finds herself the target of increasing violence from her unstable husband who can't see who is making the band such a success.
Writers: Tina Turner, Kurt Loder
Cast: Angela Bassett
-
Anna Mae Bullock
/
Tina Turner
Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly
-
Young Anna Mae Bullock
(as Rae'Ven Kelly)
Virginia Capers
-
Choir Mistress
Laurence Fishburne
-
Ike Turner, Sr.
Khandi Alexander
-
Darlene
Dororthy Thorton
-
Choir Member
(as Dorothy Thornton)
Demetrice Cheathon
-
Choir Member
Nita Woods Allen
-
Choir Member
Helen Marie Lovelace
-
Choir Member
Natalie Wilson
-
Choir Member
Seymour Daniel Jr.
-
Choir Member
David McKinney
-
Choir Member
Jayd Stanfield
-
Choir Member
Maurice O'Neal
-
Choir Member
Frank Rasberry
-
Choir Member
Taglines:
Not just the story of a life - The movie of a lifetime.
Release Date: 9 June 1993
Filming Locations: Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
Gross: $39,100,956
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The character "Jackie" was created solely for the movie. She isn't mentioned at all in the book "I, Tina", on which the movie is based.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
In a scene dated 1968, Ike and Tina open for the Rolling Stones, doing "Proud Mary." The Stones didn't do any concerts in 1968; Ike and Tina opened for them in 1969. Creedence Clearwater Revival's original version was released in 1970.
Quotes: Ike Turner, Sr.:
Hey, Anna Mae, where you goin'. I need to get some sleep! Tina Turner:
Go straight to hell, Ike!
User Review
Memorable Performances For Intense Drama
Rating: 7/10
Celebrity bio-pics are very hit or miss, but once in a great while a
really good one comes along--and WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT is one
of them. Based on the autobiography of Tina Turner, the film offers a
glossy but intense portrait of her rapid rise to stardom under the
sponsorship of husband-manager Ike Turner--a relationship that quickly
turned dark and became increasingly abusive as Tina's fame began to
outstrip Ike's own.
Although the film is a bit on the obvious side, it is well-crafted and
the two leads offer powerhouse performances. Angela Bassett is simply
astonishing as Tina Turner; where most other actresses might have
simply imitated, Bassett accomplishes the impossible: she makes you
believe that she is Tina Turner, capturing both Tina's famous on-stage
performing style (the concert scenes are really exciting) and giving a
completely believable interpretation of her off-stage personality as
well. The script offers Laurence Fishburne little more than a
one-dimensional role, but he plays it brilliantly from start to finish,
and both are well supported by the overall cast.
There is certainly a great deal more to the lives of both Ike and Tina
Turner than this film conveys--but what it does show it presents with
considerable power and conviction, and by the time Tina finally hits
back at Ike you'll be roaring for her to hit him again--and again--and
again--and eager to see her finally triumph entirely on her own.
Recommended.
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