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Plot Summary
Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names. In his compelling new film TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM, award-winning director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century. Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, the film is both a tribute to the unsung voices who brought shape and style to popular music and a reflection on the conflicts, sacrifices and rewards of a career spent harmonizing with others.
Credits
Director
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
99%- Reviews Counted: 109
- Fresh: 108
- Rotten: 1
- Average Rating: 8.1/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: As long as you're hearing the singing and stories of Lisa Fischer, Merry Clayton, and the great Darlene Love, you can bliss out on their passion.
Fresh: Just about everything in this movie is right. And anybody who gives a rip about unsung heroines of popular music and giving credit when credit's overdue had better come up with a good excuse not to see it.
Fresh: It's that versatility that defines these singers, the ability to make following seem as important as leading.
Fresh: The documentary tells similarly poignant stories in a fast-paced 91 minutes through interviews, contemporary concert footage and great archival stuff.
Customer Reviews
Best Music Film of the year- A+++++
I saw 20 Feet From Stardom last week at the movie theater in New York City. I was amazed at how all of these lovely background singers face so much adversity in the music business. Honestly I was completely captivated and adored seeing the greatest-background singer Lisa Fischer, legends Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and the rest of the ladies in this movie. Support this movie...the best documentary of 2013.
Darlene Love was not really a background singer!
Documentaries have become fictionalized. Objectivity is cast aside in favor of making the facts fit a predetermined narrative. Darlene Love is the most famous voice of someone who was made anonymous. She sang uncredited LEAD on many of Phil Spectors biggest hits that have been heard for decades. Lumping her in with as a background singer is misleading and cheap.
The Best Documentary of the Year!
I wasn't initially expecting to see "20 Feet From Stardom" when I first heard about it. But a few of my friends easily convinced me to go, saying it was one of the best films they'd seen this year. So I did, and I have to say, it was a surprisingly genuine eye-opener. It basically shines a spotlight on the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of both the 20th and 21st centuries. We've heard their voices, but know nothing about them. In this flick, we get to hear the fascinating stories of these unsung artists for the first time, including how they made it in the music industry and all the conflicts, sacrifices, and rewards come with the price of sharing the stage with a world-famous artist. It's an inspiring, heartbreaking, raw, and deeply compelling look at the legendary singers like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Lisa Fischer who never got their chance to truly shine in the spotlight. At the end of the day, I can see why so many critics have given the movie such fantastic reviews. If you're fascinated by thought-provoking documentaries about the cutthroat world of the music business, this is definitely a must-see. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.
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Also Available
- 20 Feet from Stardom (Music from the Motion Picture)
- Various Artists