X
- 2022
- Showtime Documentary Films
- 1 h 37 m
- 2022
- Showtime Documentary Films
- 1 h 37 m
Summary The story of one singer's phenomenal rise to worldwide fame, and how her iconoclastic personality resulted in her exile from the pop mainstream. Focusing on prophetic words and deeds across a five-year period (1987-1992), the film reflects on the legacy of this fearless trailblazer, through a contemporary lens.
Directed By: Kathryn Ferguson
Written By: Eleanor Emptage, Michael Mallie, Kathryn Ferguson
- 2022
- Showtime Documentary Films
- 1 h 37 m
- 2022
- Showtime Documentary Films
- 1 h 37 m
Nothing Compares
76
6.8
Where to Watch
Summary The story of one singer's phenomenal rise to worldwide fame, and how her iconoclastic personality resulted in her exile from the pop mainstream. Focusing on prophetic words and deeds across a five-year period (1987-1992), the film reflects on the legacy of this fearless trailblazer, through a contemporary lens.
Directed By: Kathryn Ferguson
Written By: Eleanor Emptage, Michael Mallie, Kathryn Ferguson
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
76
90% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
76
90% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Some might criticise its narrow focus, but on its own terms Nothing Compares is the most potent and hard-hitting film about the travails of a woman in the pop industry since Asif Kapadia’s 2016 Oscar-winning Amy. And what makes it ultimately more heartening than that anguished documentary about Amy Winehouse, is that O’Connor offers a story of survival.
Sadly, Prince’s estate refused the rights to the audio of Nothing Compares 2 U. That could have been a big problem, but her famous version’s status as the ghost that didn’t come to the feast adds mystery to an already hugely engaging film. For fans and the uninitiated alike.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 User Ratings
6.8
67% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
33% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 User Ratings
6.8
67% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
33% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Being ahead of one’s time can be a dual-edged sword. On the plus side, it can get you noticed. And, on the downside, it can get you noticed, but not necessarily in a positive light. Such was the experience of Irish pop star Sinéad O’Connor, who exploded on the music scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The musical sensation became known for one of the most distinctive set of pipes in the business, with an ability to jump octaves in a single bound and to be able to go from a soft whisper to a banshee scream at the drop of a hat. But, as director Kathryn Ferguson’s new Showtime documentary illustrates, O’Connor underwent a fall from grace that unfolded almost as quickly as her stratospheric rise, a change driven by a string of unpopular public protests against the Roman Catholic Church, American and Irish government policies, and cultural practices that ran afoul of her views about militarism, abortion rights and other hot button issues. She became a pariah, unable to get airplay for her new music and even facing death threats. Her gestures were seen as acts of career suicide, none of which fazed her, given that she couldn’t in good conscience stay silent. But, as she faded into obscurity, her views gained ground, eventually leading to changes in line with those opinions. Indeed, she truly was ahead of her time, and this film examines that history in detail through archive footage, interviews with the artist and observations from those who knew her during her meteoric rise, her subsequent fall and her resurgence as both a performer and social activist. And, as the film capably shows, in the end, nothing truly compares to her.
Report
Unlike Moonage Daydream which was unfairly promoted as a documentary---I learned more about Sinead O' Connor in the first 20 minutes of this doc, than I did in over 2 hours of Moonage Daydream. Thank God for passionate artists like Sinead O' Connor. She has changed lives with her voice.
Report
With Nothing Compares, Ferguson captures the fire which fuels the still relevant singer. By honing in on a specific time frame but contextualizing it within Sinéad’s life, the film allows us to get to know the subject intimately.
A compilation of quick clips at the end is not entirely persuasive about O’Connor’s impact, but her story and her voice are impact enough.
Nothing Compares stays confined to the six-year whirlwind when O’Connor was at her most famous, and steers clear of the decades of scandals that followed. This is clearly a conscious — and astute — choice by Ferguson, who means to show that even at the peak of her commercial powers, O’Connor was questioned, mocked and belittled.
It’s a potent film that explores the roots of the brilliant but troubled Irish singer ... but it also turns her recent years into an afterthought, bypassing many of the highs and lows that led her here over the last two decades.
Depriving “Nothing Compares” of any mention of O’Connor’s more recent life irreparably wounds the film. Had Ferguson bothered to cast aside her rose-tinted gaze, the documentary might have, akin to O’Connor’s rebellious spirit, broken the mold of what’s expected from cinematic works of biographical nonfiction.
An engaging and focused documentary that compellingly highlights the pressing necessity for a re-evaluation of Sinéad O’Connor's place in pop history.
O'Connor, an extraordinary singer who underwent a tragic transition from respected icon to the target of derision and vicious jokes. Sadly, her own industry did not give her the support she deserved and needed.
As Morrisey pointed out, the posthumous tributes she received were often steeped in hypocrisy, a sentiment that has a staggering impact when you consider that agreeing with Morrisey is shocking enough.
While I personally wasn't a follower of her musical career, I must acknowledge the efficacy of this documentary in presenting crucial and relevant insights into her life. It's a work that delves productively into it
For those intrigued, I recommend giving it a chance.
Report
Production Company
Ard Mhacha Productions,
BFI Doc Society Fund,
Field of Vision (II),
Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland,
Northern Ireland Screen,
Tara Films,
ie: entertainment
Release Date Sep 23, 2022
Duration 1 h 37 m
Genres
Awards
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
British Independent Film Awards
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Irish Film and Television Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
