Nina Simone as portrayed by Mary J Blige

[canuckle]

For the last twenty years or so, Hollywood has wanted to make a biopic about Janis Joplin. Many women have been imagined into the role, probably most notably Melissa Etheridge due to her vocal abilities. But... she can't act! The project has never gone anywhere. I would expect a similar problem here. Mary J. Blige would clearly be picked to play Nina Simone because somebody feels that she can sing. Picking actors without any consideration of their ability to act is a recipe for disaster but you never know.

Diana Ross did very well as Billie Holliday in "Lady Sings the Blues" and even earned an Oscar nomination. A good example of how casting a singer can work. IMHO, this is the exception, not the rule.

Angela Basset was the perfect choice to play Tina Turner in "What's Love Got To Do With It?" but didn't sing a single note. She was cast due to her acting ability and Tina's vocals were dubbed in. I personally prefer this approach. If I am to watch a movie about a singer, I prefer to hear the singer that I'm interested in. I'm a huge Nina Simone fan but frankly can't stand MJB. I can't for the life of me think of a reason why I'd go to a movie about Nina where I wouldn't hear Nina sing a single note.

I wonder if there's been any consideration of using Nina's daughter, "Simone," for the role. She has both acting and singing credentials and would add to the interesting-factor for me if the movie is set on using new vocals.

In the end, only one voice can convey Nina, and it belonged only to the owner.

[JohnMichael]

This movie to me will give me a chance to learn more about Nina and her life and times. I have many of her recordings so I am not concerned if Mary J sounds like Nina. As I learned more about Billie Holiday from "Lady Sings The Blues" regardless if Diana Ross sounded like Billie so I hope to learn more about Nina.


I am impresssed with the recording of "Simone on Simone" where her daughter performs many of the songs her mother had performed. Nina's voice to me has that sound of struggle and frustration that her life must have had. I hear some of that same pain in Mary J's voice. Simone's voice sounds almost too happy and optomistic to play her mother. I can hear what a hard life sounds like in a voice.