Nina

This biopic focuses on the wilderness years of singer Nina Simone, particularly her relationship with assistant-turned-manager Clifton Henderson, as he tries to reignite her career. Simone's life makes for a fascinating subject, as proven by 2015's incredible documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? However, Nina contains none of the fire of the legendary performer, contenting itself with a muddled story about a tortured artist facing her demons. Zoe Saldana puts a lot into her performance, but possesses little of the charisma that makes her character worthy of portrayal. From her voice to her distracting make-up (Saldana's skin was controversially darkened for the part), the actor is simply miscast. Meanwhile, co-star David Oyelowo is hamstrung by a script that restricts him to reactions, as he tries to steer Simone back to prominence. The worst sin a biopic can commit is to underestimate its subject, something Nina does over and over throughout this uninspiring drama. Those seeking the authentic story should look elsewhere.