Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 1, 1993, edition 1 / Page 31
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Entertainment C 1 Movie Review Story Portrays Singer's Rough Rise to Fame INSIDE A DEATHS A ENTERTAINMENT A RELIGION ? BUSINESS By SABRINA JONES Suff Writer Annie Mae Bullock was a poor black girl who was abandoned by her mother, raised by her grandmother and abused by her husband. In spite of these obstacles, she has become one of the most widely recognized performers in history. "What's Love Got To Do With It," the. Touchstone Pictures release, brings the inspira tional true story of singer Tina Turner to the bij ? "iiqppHRimiQPPi When Tina Turner (played by Angela Bassett) wasn't electrifying audiences^ThTwa^nosU^avbt^iolerU^ with husband Ike (played by Laurence Fishburne). screen. Based on Turner's autobiography I, Tina, the film centers on the development of Annie Mae Bullock from a country giri from Nutbush, Tenn., to the world-renowned superstar, Tina Turner. Abandoned in childhood and raised by her grand mother, the wide-eyed, naive teen-ager, wonder fully portrayed by Angela Bassett ("Malcolm X," "Boyz 'n the Hood") journeys to St. Louis in the 1950s, where she is reunited with her estranged mother and sister. While there, Annie Mae becomes mesmer ized with rhythm and blues singer/songwriter Ike Turner (played by Laurence Fishbume of "Deep Cover," "Boyz *n the Hood"), who himself becomes entranced with the young woman's tal ent after seeing her perform in a local nightclub. Shortly after joining Ike's band as its lead singer, Turner and Bullock begin their tumultuous affair that ends in emof'onal and physical torment. As the Ike and Tina Turner Revue along with their background singers, the Ikettes, rise to fame, the couple is devastated by personal trau ma as the result of Ike's continuous abuse. As the possessive man asserts his power over his increasingly popular protege, he proclaims "This is Ike and Tina. And you're gonna sing the way I want you to sing." After enduring years of demeaning abuse (in one scene Ike punches Tina in the face and drags her by the hair in front of their children), the bat tered woman turns to Buddhism as a source of strength in order to finally separate from her emotionally troubled husband. "I'm ready and I know what I want," says the newly independent Tina who embaiks on her colossal solo career. Both Bassett and Fishbume deliver power fully realistic performances as the agonized hus band and wife. Fishbume, in particular, gives a frequently shocking portrayal of the maddened singer who is overcome by the lures of power and wealth. "What's Love Got to Do With It" features a fabulous soundtrack featuring such hits as "Proud Mary," "A Fool In Fool," "Nutbush City Limits," "River Deep, Mountain High," and of course, "What's Love Goi To Do With II" Combining soulful music with eye-catching choreography, the film captures the sizzling allure that catapult ed Tina to fame and fortune. Also featured are Phyllis Yvonne Stickney ("Malcolm X," "Jungle Fever") as Turner's sister Alline and Vanessa Bell Calloway ("Coming to America") as Turner's close friend and Dcette, Jackie. Directed by Brian Gibson C*The Josephine Baker Story'"), "What's Love Got to Do With It" * is the story of how one courageous woman over comes incredible odds to realize her dream. "The Floor?' of songs for hi time, Johnny lores his to a lucky iady/Tve apt J rbaby??t*sff$ jvovoca- JP rind overjnd over, as# Enew waya loibara frminy;* hcdfcft||rfim ctton, coming from all doectkxis;" he vows to woman in ways no one has known before, in whveiio man Has gonaWofe^J^^SS- ^?^ Kt^KMg by song, Johnny is tellin^IO^t, rst he aees a girt he wai?ts oit^he Boor/ M es ftHBtr to be iHtk.lM on *?fc?ocative;* be no ptoas* her on "Wbj* No; Ifm Haa Gone 1 and now, on the next song, he proclaims: 1 , ?* _ _ _ _ _ ? ? ? ? - r jotaMQ^^ieirMootMy movesptoigl I artf uity,.gpp(tf ^;tat^ia>U|i^|i^BSi ppmising producers, Boy*# |#S&They I "My My My" to his last collection of hits a song that says love is strong even when the lovers ?e Distance doeea't matter. Love iltoie. it In* no matter what," Johnny says. "What really bonds a ?Tell Me How U ^ant IT expresses the main ? \c of the album: Johnny** jdttlleitPpleaie. mv iKisaW mam nf lia jimg Ktt.mii ortilMi murmv {awwn to IW, MWtll HUM ?II" nQBuS IliWfWi. ffTflffllTnlff IKJW* I - 11 ^ ? "T ' 1 ^ , I ?bout ariring a wonun how rtie Men to be lovwl. I'? "Manenuite*1 roaintaina thnronuatflc mood of (he album and marks a landmark in the career of Johnny ftfii, fkfc ng Hif Hfff N* Np mmM thai hf co? "One night LX. Cool J was over asy house, just kkkina it He was in town his move. Toys.* Outof nowhere, we * Let's write n song.' And ao we did. We wrote the whole thing In am night And then thnt was it A while later, Teny Lewis was letting HHjll should start thinking shout writing 1 told Terry aboin the song tiw^PpLL.beldldi'l want to show it to trim. Finally* Tfeny mnde nve lend it ?>h I had to finish it He helped me with die lyrics, and Chapter two doses with the captivating ballad, "Quiet Time to Phy." The rhrwi titt from the tank iiKc mist from a noiKMi pbbk yuict 1 imc ror lovm m* Let tfm imtoi fade ... Grab the special ofl ?? Quiet time to play. Karyn White smgs in the background. **I Know Wham 1 Stand** speaks of the Ibne: ? :>s!' ?4'V Nor Silver or Odd . 'i * ;,f; |h ; V< X ' - ?:? -io? & * '' ii I ikaowwinviMML %> Wmi&.m ?*</a ?* "That song h fkon the hatfi It's sincere. When ;.I*m recording I go through all these different phase*. 1 get depressed, annoyed, upset, tired. Hn only ptnos I MBAguui ^^a 'tt^nhbik mi^ji ^V^iMaMfeA V an> i&dt ^Aa^iniia opcnca up to during qui tunc wis icny. 1 ioki leny how 1 felt about dl the i in fill ft me on me, the proa ?Terry told me that regardless of all of that? yds .J tion and made It Into n song.* With his sntf*tkled, muiu-piaumim Motown ocdui* jommy viui crrim s v- nhffWBKBWi He mn&e ndliont of Cms and foOowets ' curious about him. He created a mystique. With his 1st est album, he steps into the light: you m hfceeiseiiH ty; yon get an honeat, inside view of the msn and the Getting "The Scoop " on the Black Entertainment World . They Like Ike: Ike Turner, former hubby to rock/pop queen Tina Turner is on somewhat of a comeback. Since the release cf the hot new movie, "What's Love Got to Do with It," i ased on Tina's auto biography, Ike's become a hot item among the media. In a recent interview with 'The Scoop," Ike reveals plans for his own autobiography, which he says, "my version will set the record straight on many things ..." He's also got a new nine-piece band, with whom he's recording an album. And, he had this to say regarding Tina and her Dcettes: "I don't dance, but every step peo ple saw Tina and (the) Ikettes do, came from me. I trained Tina on how to dance ... I was the first person to do the robot dance, and when I knew anything, the whole world was doing it! I'm now training some new 90's version of the Beetles ? they're from 18-30 ...M By the way, Ike is 61 years old. Is it a Black Thang?: Twins Albert and Alan Hughes, directors of the smash hit movie "Menace II Society ,H made this comment to "The Scoop" during a lengthy interview: "We don't like being compared to other black filmmakers," says Alan. "We're offended. Other black filmmakers should also be offended, too, because the media tries to categorize all of us, as if to say, 'All you black filmmakers go over into that cor ner.' They don't refer to us as 'filmmakers' ? period, as they do with Scorsece and others ..." Family Matters: Recording star James Ingram and his wife of nearly 20 years have three girls, two boys and another baby daughter on the way, by the fall. What's ironic is that James comes from a family of the opposite make-up: four boys and two girls! All of James' children have first names that begin with the let ter "J.n Yakety Yak Actor: Talk-show host Montel Williams has been sntatten by the old acting bug. He's done a few minor roles in some upcoming television episodes and also did other acting parts before he start ed talking that talk on his own TV talk show. The acting bug has also be nibbling on crooner Pea bo Bryson. Super/Scooper/Sources say that Bryson reportedly almost turned down doing the "Beauty and the Beast* soundtrack project because he wanted to act in a com munity theater play! He had a change of heart, thank goodness, and the rest is history, of course. Catch Peabo on tour with Kenny G, coming to a 'city near you soon.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 1, 1993, edition 1
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