Luther: Never Too Much
Description
One can never get too much Luther Vandross, as Dawn Porter’s wonderfully comprehensive and jubilant film demonstrates. Known as the “Velvet Voice,” Vandross sold over 40 million records, recording 11 platinum albums. The documentary begins as his career starts as an 18-year-old performing with his first group on Sesame Street. From there, he segues into gigs as a behind-the-scenes vocalist, singing and arranging with David Bowie and several notable R&B acts, and writing and performing numerous lucrative ad jingles. Porter’s film also dives into more sensitive territory, including unwanted journalistic focus on his weight and personal life, and his feelings of being relegated to a certain “type” of music. Featuring classic performances of Vandross hits like “Any Love,” “A House Is Not a Home,” and the titular foot-tapper, the documentary is filled with reminiscences and insights by Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, and archival interviews with the man himself.
Dawn Porter began her documentary directing career with Gideon’s Army (2013), which received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for best documentary. Among her subsequent works are Trapped (2016), winner of a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival; John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020), recipient of a NAACP Image Award; The Way I See It (2020); the miniseries 37 Words (2022); and The Lady Bird Diaries (2023), winner of the Louis Black/Lone Star award at SXSW. SFFILM named her Essential SF in 2018.
Film Details
Language English
Year 2024
Premiere California
Runtime 101
Country USA
Director Dawn Porter
Executive Producer Dawn Porter, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Tom Mackay, Richard Story, Jon Platt, Brian Monaco, Colin Firth, David Gottlieb, Phil Thornton, Carmen Romano, Brenda Shields, Fonzi Thornton, Seveda Williams, Larry Mestel, Natalia Nastaskin
Producer Trish D Chetty, Ged Doherty, Datari Turner, Jamie Foxx, Leah Smith
Editor Mark Fason
Cinematographer Bryan Gentry
Music Robert Glasper
Print Source Sony Music Entertainment
Closed Captions Closed Captions are confirmed for this program
Audio Description Audio Descriptions are not yet confirmed for this program
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation American Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
