A Soulful Noise
Battle of the Marvin Gaye Biopics: Should They Only be About the Music?
Earlier this year there was news of two Marvin Gaye biopics in the early stages of production. The first, called Sexual Healing, is slated for release sometime next year and the second, called Marvin, should hit theaters in 2010. It appears that at the core of the differences between the two is rights to Gaye's catalog of music. It appears that the brilliantly cast Jesse L. Martin will only be singing his post-Motown music in Sexual Healing, which works because this biopic is solely about his life after Motown. In Marvin, however, director F. Gary Gray was able to get rights to Gaye's entire catalog, thus making a biopic about his whole life and career possible.
It's impossible to say what is going on with either production at this
point since the most recent news about either is months old. But with
the plots of the two films appearing to hinge mostly on music rights,
an important question to consider is if either will really grapple with
the complexities, triumphs and tragedies of Gaye's by interweaving the
music into the larger narrative or by allowing the music to take
precedence over throughout. If they're still happening, how would you
like to see them manifest? Does his music tell his whole story? Should the
music lead the films? [H/T: VT/CC]
Tags: f. gary gary, jesse l. martin, marvin gaye
Comments
I think it should be title "Marvin" as well and tell the story of his whole life especially the music just like the biopic on Ray Charles, titled "Ray".
Mahla | March 2, 2010 10:23 PM | PermalinkHopefully, this biopic can become a reality. In addition to giving an opportunity for more people to learn about Marvin Gaye, this proposed biopic can really do a lot for Jesse L. Martin's career, as well as other actors who end up making the cast.
hissip | November 2, 2008 2:08 PM | PermalinkI would go to see either. I absolutely LOVE Marvin Gaye. I just watched a documentary about his life on PBS last night. I think his life story should be told from his humble beginnings in DC (HOLLA!) all through his time @ Motown and everything that happened after. That way we get to see the whole person.
And I co-sign Soulrific...any movie about the life of Marvin Gaye should be entitled "Trouble Man". And Jessie L. Martin is just...yummy.
PrettyBrownGirl | October 31, 2008 6:23 PM | PermalinkI still can't figure out why they went with the title of Sexual Healing. Seeing as how Marvin lived such a troubled life, you'd think they'd entitle the movie Trouble Man.
Soulrific | October 31, 2008 12:38 PM | PermalinkI L-O-V-E Jesse L Martin... So I will be seeing the Sexual Healing version of Marvin Gaye's life. I don't think you can do a movie about Marvin without the music but I already know his music. His music should be the scenery and his life should be the center.
fenix6376 | October 31, 2008 11:22 AM | PermalinkI think I would like to see Marvin from when he was in Motown.I read about his years during it, and oh my!Drama!Lol, well not for the drama, but it something that shocked me!
Sharonda | October 30, 2008 7:23 PM | Permalink