Nina Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A controversial biopic where they put questionable makeup on a famous actress to play a legend, focusing mostly on her later years and a relationship that wasn’t quite like that in real life.

🍿 Nina: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Focusing on Later Years and Personal Struggles

‘Nina’ is a biographical drama centered on the later years of the legendary jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone. The film primarily takes place during her time living in France in the 1990s, showcasing her struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and financial difficulties. The narrative largely explores her relationship with her manager, Clifton Henderson, who initially serves as her assistant and caretaker. The film depicts their complex bond as he attempts to help Simone navigate her personal demons and stage a career comeback.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Nina Simone (Zoe Saldaña): The legendary jazz musician and classical pianist whose later life struggles are depicted through her relationship with her manager.
• Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo): Nina Simone’s nurse, assistant, and later manager who forms the central relationship of the film during her final years.
• Richard Pryor (Mike Epps): An old friend who appears in interviews providing context about Nina Simone’s life and personality.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nina Simone: “I want to be somebody. A real somebody.” – Said early in the film, reflecting her ambition and desire for recognition as an artist.
• Nina Simone: “You were sent to me, Clifton. You were sent to save me.” – Spoken to her manager, Clifton Henderson, highlighting her dependence on him during a vulnerable moment in her later life.
• Nina Simone: “They want me to be nice. I am not nice.” – Delivered defiantly, asserting her strong, often uncompromising personality and refusal to conform to expectations.
• Nina Simone: “I’m not Nina. Nina is dead. I am not that person.” – Expressed during a period of decline, reflecting her internal struggles and feeling disconnected from her public persona and past self.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $7,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $37,244
• Worldwide Gross: $37,244

💥 Nina Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Nina’ and honestly, it was a tough one. I’m a huge Nina Simone fan, and I was hoping to see a deep dive into her incredible life and music. Instead, the movie really focuses on her later years and her relationship with her manager, Clifton. While Zoe Saldana tries her best, the whole casting thing and the makeup felt really jarring and hard to look past. It kept pulling me out of the story, which already felt a bit all over the place. I wish they had spent more time on her music and her impact as an activist. There are moments that hint at her brilliance, especially the performance scenes, but they felt too brief. If you want to know Nina Simone, honestly, listen to her music or watch the documentary ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’ – that one really captures her spirit better.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in biographical dramas, particularly those exploring the personal struggles of artists in their later years.”
  • “Fans of Zoe Saldaña or David Oyelowo, curious about their performances in challenging roles (keeping in mind the significant controversy).”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of addiction and substance abuse”
  • “Portrayal of mental illness and erratic behavior”
  • “Controversial casting and makeup that many viewers found offensive”
  • “Thematic focus on personal decline rather than career highlights”

Professional Reviews

• Flick Focus: “Nina Simone’s life is rich with music, activism, and complexity, yet this film struggles to capture her essence. By focusing primarily on her later years and a questionable dramatization of her relationship with Clifton Henderson, it sidelines the artistic and political fire that defined her. The casting remains a significant distraction, overshadowing any potential dramatic depth. A disappointing portrayal.
• Reel Insights: “While Zoe Saldana gives a performance marked by visible effort, the film is hampered by narrative choices that feel disjointed and uninspired. It touches upon Simone’s struggles but fails to delve deeply into the musical genius or cultural impact that made her a legend. The controversial aesthetic choices distract rather than enhance, leaving the viewer with a frustratingly superficial experience.
• Indie Viewpoint: “Nina attempts to tackle the tumultuous final years of a monumental artist, but the execution falls flat. The script feels underdeveloped, presenting Nina Simone’s mental health struggles without providing sufficient context for her legendary career. Despite some poignant moments, the film never truly resonates, feeling more like a series of isolated scenes than a cohesive portrait.

Audience Reactions

Some viewers found Zoe Saldana’s performance and singing effort noteworthy despite the controversy.: A small segment of the audience felt the film offered a glimpse into Nina Simone’s struggles and human side, appreciating Saldana’s effort in a difficult role.

Many viewers were disappointed by the film’s narrow focus on Nina Simone’s later, turbulent years.: There is widespread agreement that the film failed to capture the depth, genius, and cultural significance of Nina Simone’s career and activism.

The casting choice of Zoe Saldana and the use of makeup sparked significant negative reactions.: A major point of criticism across the board was the controversial portrayal of Nina Simone’s appearance and the decision to focus on a fictionalized relationship.

Overall Consensus: Largely seen as a missed opportunity and a controversial portrayal, the film faced significant criticism for its casting, narrow narrative focus, and failure to capture Nina Simone’s iconic legacy.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film faced significant controversy over the casting of Zoe Saldana, a lighter-skinned actress, to play Nina Simone, a darker-skinned woman, leading to accusations of colorism and criticism from Simone’s estate.”
• “Director Cynthia Mort also filed a lawsuit against the film’s production company, claiming she was locked out of editing and the final cut did not reflect her vision for the film, which she alleged was tampered with.”
• “The film was originally intended to star Mary J. Blige as Nina Simone, with a different director attached, but faced numerous delays in production before Saldana was cast.”
• “Zoe Saldana reportedly spent several hours daily in makeup to darken her skin and wear prosthetics, a process she later reflected on with regret given the negative reaction to her casting.”

🖥️ How to Watch Nina?

As of late 2023/early 2024, ‘Nina’ (2016) is not widely available on major subscription streaming services in the US. However, it can typically be found for digital rental or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (iTunes), Google Play, YouTube Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing options to watch this biographical drama.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Nina, you might like these similar films:

• Lady Sings the Blues (1972): A classic biopic about another iconic and troubled Black female jazz singer, Billie Holiday, exploring themes of artistry, struggle, and addiction.
• Ray (2004): A successful and critically acclaimed biopic focusing on the life and career of Ray Charles, another legendary musician who overcame personal struggles.
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020): While fictional, it captures the era and explores the experiences, frustrations, and complex personalities of Black musicians facing industry exploitation and racial prejudice.
• Walk the Line (2005): Details the life and career of Johnny Cash, another legendary musician with a complex personal life marked by addiction and tumultuous relationships, focusing on his artistic journey and struggles.
• Selma (2014): Focuses on a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, an era deeply intertwined with Nina Simone’s activism and music, providing broader context for her social commentary.

🛒 Nina Related Products

• What Happened, Miss Simone?: The critically acclaimed documentary offering an intimate look at Nina Simone’s life through rare footage, letters, and interviews.
• The Best of Nina Simone (Album): A collection of Nina Simone’s most iconic and influential songs, showcasing her incredible vocal talent and musical range.
• I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone: Nina Simone’s powerful and revealing memoir, telling her life story in her own words, from her classical piano dreams to her role in the Civil Rights Movement.
• Nina Simone ‘High Priestess of Soul’ T-Shirt: A stylish t-shirt featuring an iconic image or quote of Nina Simone, celebrating her legacy as the ‘High Priestess of Soul’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Nina features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Feeling Good” – performed by Nina Simone
• “Mississippi Goddam” – performed by Nina Simone
• “Wild Is the Wind” – performed by Nina Simone
• “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” – performed by Nina Simone
• “Ain’t Got No, I Got Life” – performed by Nina Simone

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Nina Simone Feeling Good

Remember that awesome song from The Intouchables that just makes you feel instantly better? Here’s Nina Simone performing ‘Feeling Good’ – it really captures the film’s uplifting spirit, I love it!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs

✨ Rate