Nina

Name: Nina
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Released: April 22, 2016
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 27

2016

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

See All

5.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.9	Your Score
5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Nina

Now Playing: Nina

Movie Details & Credits

RLJ Entertainment | Release Date: April 22, 2016

Summary: She was one of the century's most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the unforgettable Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana). But fame and fortune came with a price, and her later years were riddled with depression, alcohol abuse andShe was one of the century's most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the unforgettable Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana). But fame and fortune came with a price, and her later years were riddled with depression, alcohol abuse and isolation. Rediscovering the meaning of her life and work took courage, strength and one true friend: Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo), the man who started out as her assistant and eventually became her loyal manager. With Clifton's encouragement, the "high priestess of soul" began a courageous journey back to her music and, eventually, herself. [RLJ Entertainment]… Expand

Director: Cynthia Mort

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Music

Runtime: 90 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Lawrence Toppman

Apr 21, 2016

[Zoe Saldana] acts with the right fire and sings beautifully and evocatively. Read full review

Christian Holub

Apr 20, 2016

Saldana (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy) is an accomplished and bankable actress, but she doesn’t look much like Simone. That has led to several complaints, including from the Simone estate. Read full review

Miriam Di Nunzio

Apr 21, 2016

Nina never decides what it wants to say or where it wants to take us. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Apr 20, 2016

Nina has been so thoroughly misconceived, on virtually every level, that the only less interesting portrait imaginable would be one that takes place entirely when Nina Simone was in utero. Read full review

Stephen Whitty

Apr 20, 2016

This Simone film hits all the wrong notes early. What is it trying to say about this enraged, iconic singer? Why does it want to say it? Since screenwriter Cynthia Mort apparently never asked those questions, director Cynthia Mort can't offer any answers. Read full review

Peter Travers

Apr 21, 2016

Onscreen, Nina barely scratches the surface much less draws blood. For the essence of a legend, listen to the real Simone sing "I Put a Spell on You." She sure as hell does. This movie emphatically does not. Read full review

Dan Callahan

Apr 19, 2016

Nina, an infuriatingly amateurish picture about the great singer and pianist Nina Simone, is a new low for the musical biopic genre. Read full review

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

NikolayG

Aug 8, 2016

A tour de force for Zoe Saldana, who actually does all the singing in this film; this is easily the best performance of her career. She deserves an Oscar for this movie. The pc complaints that she is somehow donning "black face" because her skin was darkened and features altered for theA tour de force for Zoe Saldana, who actually does all the singing in this film; this is easily the best performance of her career. She deserves an Oscar for this movie. The pc complaints that she is somehow donning "black face" because her skin was darkened and features altered for the role, is absurd. Black face is designed to mock black people. It's supposed to look fake. The efforts the filmmakers went to to make Zoe appear more like her subject is not unlike similar efforts implemented in any number of other films, such as some starring Daniel Day-Lewis. People who simply wanted an actress who was a carbon copy of what Nina Simone looked like on the outside without regard to acting ability or - and this is most critical - singing ability, are being frankly ridiculous, and those who cry racism should be ashamed of themselves. It would have been likely impossible to get anyone other than Zoe fit for this role in both singing and acting ability. To use Nina's own tracks would have been too fake and unnatural stuck into an actress's mouth like some old 50s musical. Zoe had the guts to go for this and luckily, incredibly, the voice to pull it off. If you have any interest in Zoe or Nina Simone you should watch this movie. It follows Nina Simone in the 1990s as she's trying to recover from her abuse of alcohol and her other issues, to make a comeback, incorporating several flashbacks from her younger years. A fascinating portrait.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MattBrady99

Apr 26, 2016

For those who are expecting this review to only talk about the racial controversy that this movie faced or ask "why this movie was made" type of review, then please look somewhere else, because people have already beaten me to those criticisms. This movie was destined to fail - with it beingFor those who are expecting this review to only talk about the racial controversy that this movie faced or ask "why this movie was made" type of review, then please look somewhere else, because people have already beaten me to those criticisms. This movie was destined to fail - with it being filmed in 2012 and is now getting released is just many signs a bad movie. And people thought this was going to respectfully capture the life of Nina Simone.

Zoe Saldana was decent in the role and I thought her singing vocals was pretty good. Unfortunately, the movie itself is so boring and so bland to look at.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Aj_Goz

Aug 28, 2020

Nina Simone deserved better... much better. The casting from the get-go, threw me off. The period of her life they chose to focus on was another questionable item, especially since there’s not much out there cinematically that explores the true impact of her person and works on herNina Simone deserved better... much better. The casting from the get-go, threw me off. The period of her life they chose to focus on was another questionable item, especially since there’s not much out there cinematically that explores the true impact of her person and works on her generation and beyond. I don’t think this movie should be re-made but Nina’s multi-faceted story does need to be retold.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS