Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over

"Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over" (2021 release; 95 min) is a bio-documentary about the life and times of the legendary singer. Dionne herself does most of the talking, as she reflects on her very humble beginnings working her way up to get the approval of the Apollo Theater audience, and then eventually getting noticed by/pairing up with Burt Bacharach and Hal David...

Couple of comments: this documentary is co-directed by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner ("Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland"). It is in every which way a straight-forward, Dionne Warwick-approved and endorsed look at the music icon. The documentary's first half is by far the more interesting one, when we watch how Warwick, backed by the impeccable songs from Bacharach-David, is able to bridge the otherwise impassable gap between "black" and "white" audiences. Check out the early video clip of the breakthrough song "Don't Make Me Over'. Just priceless. Check out as well how Warwick reacts to what it was like touring in the deep South in the mid-60s (the all-out unapologetic racism and worse remains shocking to this day, but hey, that was America!). The film's second half is okay but just okay. There is a seemingly endless parade of talking heads singing the praises of Ms. Warwick (But Bacharach, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Barry Gordon Jr., Elton John, Clive Davis, and on and on). There isn't a single negative or critical note or question in the entire documentary.

"Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over" premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and then was optioned by CNN+, the streaming service which died on the vine in no time. The documentary finally started showing on CNN yesterday (New Year's Day) and that's where I caught it. Whether you are a die-hard fan or just a casual fan of Dionne Warwick, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.