Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been

Everyone quoted in this vastly entertaining film, from Bruce Springsteen to Bette Midler, agrees that Darlene Love has the best voice in music. Born in 1941, Love has lived a big life with its concomitant ups and downs. From a dreadful contract with Phil Spector where she rarely got credit for songs she sang lead vocals on to a period cleaning houses in Beverly Hills to her rediscovery and eventual admittance to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the movie wisely lets Love herself chart her career, leading with joy and humor rather than anger and bitterness. In addition to wonderful archival material and Love’s poignant reminiscences, I Know Where I’ve Been incorporates present-day studio performances by the 85-year-old powerhouse singing many of her classic tracks. A toe-tapping tribute to one of the unsung singers of our time, this documentary serves as evidence that, though it might take a while, sometimes dreams do come true. This star-studded portrait features contemporary interviews with Cher, Paul Shaffer, Dionne Warwick, and David Letterman, and is produced by Taraji P, Henson and Jeffrey Latimer.—Rod Armstrong