![]() Still, SPARKLE is a good little musical that's worth seeing and especially if you enjoy the music of the period. Joel Schumacher wrote the screenplay and does a pretty nice job with the story even though there's no doubt that it's a tad bit too simple and I'd also argue that it could have avoided the blaxploitation notion that all white people are evil and just out to do bad things (the money lenders in this film). Language: English Genre: Drama, Music Stars: Philip Michael Thomas. You really do feel as if you're in the 1950s and that certainly helps the movie. Sparkle (1976) Original Title: Sparkle Release: Rating: 8 by 13 users Runtime: min. ![]() Director Sam O'Steen does a very good job with the details of the era and I thought he managed to make the scenery very realistic. Lonette McKee is also good as the older sister who gets mixed up in the drugs. Sparkle (1976) Original Title: Sparkle Release: Rating: 8 by 13 users Runtime: min. Another good performance comes from Philip Michael Thomas as the man in her life trying to make her see how special of a talent she has. From the very first time you see Cara she just grabs you up and takes you along on this journey. Another major plus is the performance of Cara who easily steals the film. The songs really capture the mood and spirit of R&B during this period and while none of the songs can compare to the real hits of the day, I think each of them are good enough to at least help draw you into the story. I think the most attractive thing the film has going for it are the songs composed by Curtis Mayfield. Based on the story of The Supremes, SPARKLE is a pretty entertaining gem that manages to get you caught up in the story even though there's no question it's all rather predictable and at times too cute for its own good. Great artists are the ones who have put their entire selves out there to be adored, humiliated, to be picked at, cherished, all of those things, and haven't shied away from that.Sparkle (1976) *** (out of 4) Set in Brooklyn during the 1950s, the story revolves around Sparkle (Irene Cara), a talented teenager who joins a band with her two sisters but things start to unravel when the older sister gets involved with drugs. There's an honesty and a vulnerability to her performance. She was incredibly conscious of the parallels. No one could predict what happened only a few months later. How do you think audiences will react to her performance?ĬE: I think it's important to realize that Whitney wanted to make this film. Once you select Rent youll have 14 days to start watching the movie and 48 hours to finish it. Sparkle, Sister, and Dolores are three talented sisters who claw their way from Harlem to stardom in the 1950sa world of fame, music, and sparkle. ![]() We loved it.' That love turned into something of an. There were certain real-life tragic sex symbols I had in mind: Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner in the Ike and Tina days, and Amy Winehouse, who oscillated between being sexy and needy.ĮLLE: Whitney Houston's role as a recovering mother seemed almost foreshadowing. Watch your purchase on Movies Anywhere supported devices. movie was fresh in my mind because it was swinging,' he recalls. She doesn't have ambition and this reliance on sensuality is exactly what creates her spiral downward. She's actually quite needy.ĮLLE: Are there parallels between you and Sister?ĬE: It's as far away from me as it could be! I've stayed away from sexy roles. She is playing a persona she longs to be. She is not that astute or aware of the social context she is living in. She really is just trying to get out of Detroit and relies heavily on her sexuality. I am very grateful to be a part of this little gem that didn't get its fair share of recognition the first time around.ĮLLE: What drives your character, Sister?ĬE: She is the equivalent to the modern day celebrity, who is only famous for being a celebrity. Blacksploitation films were out there, but the industry was not supporting careers like that yet. When the original was made, it was a strange period for an all-black cast. We use Curtis Mayfield's original soundtrack, but also add some other musical components. Carmen Ejogo: At the core it's still about the music.
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