What's Love Got to Do with It
What's Love Got to Do with It

What's Love Got to Do with It

1993Movie118 minEnglish

Singer Tina Turner rises to stardom while mustering the courage to break free from her abusive husband Ike.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes82%
Metacritic64/100
Google Users89%
Director: Brian GibsonGenres: Biography, Drama, Music

Plot Summary

This biographical drama chronicles the tumultuous life of Tina Turner, from her humble beginnings as Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her rise as a global music superstar. It unflinchingly portrays her abusive relationship with Ike Turner, her struggles with addiction, and her eventual triumph in forging a new, independent career. The film highlights her resilience, determination, and enduring spirit in the face of immense hardship.

Critical Reception

'What's Love Got to Do with It' was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who lauded Angela Bassett's powerful performance as Tina Turner and Laurence Fishburne's portrayal of Ike Turner. While some critics noted the film's formulaic approach to biopics, most agreed that the compelling performances and the raw portrayal of the subject's life made it a impactful watch. Audiences were also drawn to the film's inspiring story of survival and success.

What Reviewers Say

  • Angela Bassett delivers a tour-de-force performance that is both fierce and vulnerable.
  • The film doesn't shy away from the brutality of Tina Turner's life, but ultimately focuses on her strength and resilience.
  • While it follows a familiar biopic structure, the raw emotion and powerful performances elevate the material.

Google audience: Google users widely praised Angela Bassett's captivating portrayal of Tina Turner, often calling it career-defining. Many appreciated the film's honest depiction of overcoming adversity and celebrating Tina Turner's musical legacy. Some viewers felt the film could have delved deeper into certain aspects of her life, but the overall sentiment was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its inspirational quality.

Awards & Accolades

Angela Bassett was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Tina Turner. She also received Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama and Best Original Song ('I Don't Wanna Fight').

Fun Fact

Tina Turner herself had a hand in the casting of Angela Bassett, reportedly approving of her as the only actress who could portray her convincingly on screen.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Andrea Bassett provides quite a compelling interpretation of the early life of Tina Turner here and Laurence Fishburne is also on good form as the brutish Ike. Born Annie Mae Bullock, she grows up in a community where singing is important a...
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**A discreet biographical film, that seems to me to fulfill its role.** Even those who don't like her, I think, have the honesty to recognize the impact and relevance of Tina Turner's music. She doesn't please everyone (nobody pleases ev...