Popular reviews

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  Review by teamgal ★★★½

  DREAMGIRLS before DREAMGIRLS.

  This show-biz musical doesn't play at being dirty and gritty, it looks like the real thing. With little more that a blaxploitation budget, a white screenwriter, a white cinematographer and a white editor take a story built on cliches and somehow make magic out of it. They're more than ably abetted by their sensational black cast and a score made up of songs by Curtis Mayfield. Some of the third act plot machinations pull this away from its realism, but what one's left with are the characters who've been beautifully, authentically, written and played.

  Kudos to the direction of Sam O'Steen, the editor of THE GRADUATE, ROSEMARY'S BABY, CHINATOWN, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and a slew…

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  Review by jourdain searles ★★★★

  The critics were wrong, this movie is great

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  Review by JayLee248 ★★★½

  While growing up I was only aware of the 2012 Jordan Sparks version. Only recently is when I found out it was actually a remake. After that I knew I had to find the original to see how different they were.

  After watching it I must say I prefer this one much more.

  Sparkle is about three sisters who form a music group. Soon after things start to take a turn for the better and worse.

  My love for this version comes from how much it has going on. It's been a while since I've seen the 2012 one but I don't remember it being this fluent with its writing and characters. This one gives everyone a spot to shine.…

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  Review by Jeckiboy ★★★½ 1

  Almost every scene in this film feels like it was shot in a theatre: bodies in darkness are illuminated by spotlights. I feel like this played really nicely into its themes of stardom: the spotlight allows you to be seen, but also makes you the only thing to be seen. It intensifies the natural charisma of our protagonists to the point where they are forced to become something else. So much life forces us to think of death. Scenes bleed into each other and the movement of time is unclear: it's hard to recognise that the characters are getting older, it all feels wrapped up in the same moment.

  Otherwise it's a fairly fun film with a surprisingly dark trajectory.…

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  Review by Louis Peitzman ★★★

  Hard enough being a middle child, and then you have to deal with their names being Sparkle and Sister while you're simply Delores.

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  Review by Sally Jane Black 5

  Not quite the distaff complement to The Five Heartbeats, this is another tortured showbiz tale, but the focus is less on the internal struggles of the group and more on the external conflicts. In some ways, this story has more resonance, allowing the focus to emphasize sexism, white supremacy, expectations, and mere greed as the forces that destroy, but it also serves to sideline the interior struggles and the chemistry that would make the film's most human moments more palpable. The film is not, however, something out of radical politics, and thus, our external conflicts create only atmosphere rather than true excoriating statements. It's a suggestion of another film that is appealing, but... this film plays its musical melodrama so…

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  Review by RyanChag ★★★

  Some catchy songs wrapped up in a story about people constantly being wrong about how they have everything under control

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  Review by Toyiah ★★★½

  The cast is perfect. Curtis Mayfield’s score and music are perfect. The setting is perfect. But the directing is trash, the cinematography is egregious, and the script is fodder for toilets. There is so much potential in the bones of this film, but the deadweight that chips aways at its armor is the crew of amateurs that completely botched every technical aspect of it. It’s not fully their faults, as the passion and desire to make this movie a high quality picture is evident. 

  Nonetheless, Sam O’Steen, who had mostly only directed made-for-tv movies before and after this, and Joel Schumacher in his screenwriting debut ruin any depth or nuance that’s attempting to breathe in this lifeless story. It’s such a shame too because the cast brought their A-game and tried to provide what’s not there on paper. My wish is that this could be remade with the same cast and the same 1970s grit.

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  Review by Des ★★★★

  Without Diana Ross and The Supremes, we wouldn’t have Sparkle. without Sparkle, we wouldn’t have Dreamgirls! 

  I have faint memories of watching this as a kid but for that reason, I would count this as a new watch. But to be honest it all came back as I was watching. Dreamgirls pulled a lot from this, but this tends to lean more into the lives of all the sisters and their connection. Unafraid to show hardships that come with being a Black woman, particularly during this time - Black women being at the helm of fragile Black masculinity expressed in the style of blaxploitation, Black women pounding the pavement towards racial equality, and also Black women chasing her dreams despite it all.

  Not as polished as Dreamgirls has come out to be, but I believe the grit was necessary for the time.

  I love all the hits they pull for this… I was having a great time singing along!

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  Review by Cosmo’s Moon ★★★★ 1

  A bit rough around the edges and doesn’t quite have the energy that other music films have. But you forgive it because all the characters are great and empathetic, especially stix who is a legend. This empathy is why you want them to succeed, which makes the descent into some very dark places more unnerving. The soulful music gives this film a cool air about it, a nice relaxing vibe, that’s surprising when this film gets to its very dark places
  Also if haven’t said before  Stix is an absolute legend

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  Review by Charles Van Doren ★★★★ 2

  I cannot believe I didn’t know this existed until now!

  Curtis Mayfield is a genius.
  The soundtrack is my favourite Aretha album, no kidding.

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  Review by NotASexyVamp ★★★

  A real mixed bag. Great songs, but they're poorly staged. Melodramatic story, but it never feels true (despite taking clear influence from Diana Ross and the Supremes). Strong, committed cast but the film never seems to know what to do with them. Lonette McKee is incredible as the tortured sister, but the back half of the film swaps to Irene Cara who isn't as strong.

  But everytime the melodrama, the overwrought drama threatens to pull this down, we'll get another incredible song and it'll make the whole film feel worthwhile. Very sudden ending though, felt like we'd speedrun the last act. Watchable but not essential.