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Sparkle (I) (2012)

 -  Drama | Music  -  17 August 2012 (USA)
5.0
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Ratings: 5.0/10 from 3,174 users   Metascore: 54/100
Reviews: 45 user | 80 critic | 28 from Metacritic.com

Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.

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Title: Sparkle (2012)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Black (as Cee-Lo Green)
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Red (as Terrence J)
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Ms. Sara Waters (as Tamela Mann)
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Tune Ann (as Bre'ly Evans)
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Storyline

Set in the 1960s, three sisters form girl group and soon become local sensations with major label interest, but fame becomes a challenge as the close-knit family begins to fall apart.

Add Full Plot | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Celebrate the legend.

Genres:

Drama | Music

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving domestic abuse and drug material, and for some violence, language and smoking | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

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Release Date:

17 August 2012 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Isiltili Hayatlar  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$11,643,342 (USA) (17 August 2012)

Gross:

$24,397,469 (USA) (28 September 2012)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Raven-Symoné was considered for the role of Sparkle Williams. See more »

Connections

Remake of Sparkle (1976) See more »

Soundtracks

"When You Gonna Get Respect (When You Haven;t Cut Your Process Yet)"
Written by Hank Ballard, James Brown and Buddy Hobgood
Performed by Hank Ballard
Courtesy of Universal Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Sparkles like a polished...well, you know...
8 January 2013 | by (Sydney, Australia) – See all my reviews

Pop star Jordin Sparks stars alongside Whitney Houston (in her final performance of what was supposed to be the second wind of her acting career) in Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 cult hit among black audiences. Conversely, the 2012 version, centred around a trio of sisters who hit the big time in 1960s Motown before being crippled by the lures of fame, is entirely devoid of any personality or soul, playing out like every other African-American themed shambles this side of Tyler Perry's repeated disasters.

Director Salim Akil (an apparent prodigy of Perry's stylings) breaths plastic life into the cardboard cut-outs he calls characters. Almost every stereotype conceivable in the dram-rom genre is on full display, including the preachy reverend, the tough girl, the abusive husband, the heavy-handed mother and her introverted daughter.

The performances across the board are sound, but a practically non-existent screenplay renders any interaction between characters essentially worthless. Even at a touch under two hours, Sparkle severely overstays its welcome. Given the similar plot frame and emphasis on glitz-and-glamour music, comparisons to Aussie crowd-pleaser The Sapphires are to be expected, but where the local production made its intentions clear from the outset, Sparkle rambles and labours, pleading with its audiences to maintain an unwarranted sliver of attention in the lead up to a drab and bitterly predictable conclusion.

*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review. If you're looking for a writer for your movie website or other publication, I'd also love to hear from you.*


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