Nothing Compares

Haven't been a big Sinnead fan, I never followed her "controversy" over the years - but I did notice her desperate Facebook appeals a few years back. It's hard really to even begin sharing my impressions, so let's just say (after many others) this documentary is a fitting tribute to an remarkable woman who glows. She obviously never wished to be a "pop star", and her artistic expression achieved what it was intended for, to not only be therapeutic but keep her alive. That she did become a pop star and an icon was inevitable - she is captivating - an epitome of sincerity and compassion, wrapped in beauty - and it's tremendously sad her struggle intensified over the years. This is, however, to be expected with complex post-traumatic stress being left untreated, and the abuse she suffered on from the patriarchy-enslaved public. We can't begin to fathom either what it was to tear the main image of it, the Pope, or to suffer the backlash. A recent crucifiction of a woman by the inane patriarchy fan boys and girls is the Amber Heard trial, so the heartbreaking fact is that nothing's changed - and the only means of instant emancipation of a woman is simply to be vocal. To scream if necessary. Would feminist icons like Gaga and others be possible today if not for Sinnead? We can't speculate, but it's clear she was the first. It's encouraging to know that the climate in Ireland has also changed.

The boys are simply terrified, and likely due to inept mothers like Sinnead's - and these mothers, and women in general who have operated themselves from compassion in awe of patriarchy, bear the guilt. It's symptomatic that a woman on TV, Sinnead's accuser, said angrily that child abuse in her case had been justified.

I see that Sinnead was quick to be deemed bipolar by dubious psychiatrists, which was later reversed, and she's now branded "borderline". Current psychology, however, tends to summon all Cluster B disorders under the umbrella of CPTSD. And that's curable through mere compassion, support, and a feeling of safety. Her big heart is what's kept Sinnead sane, and she IS saner than anyone who tries to cover child abuse. Let's say the majority of the music business, not to mention the Catholic church.

Big kudos to Kris Kristofferson... Sinnead's first husband also speaks of her with such warmth. It makes me happy that these filmmakers have made the steps to reinstate a true icon.

I see she's recently written an autobiography, described as "full of heart, humour and remarkable generosity", and she has an album coming. She is still OUT THERE. How many of us have dared?!... "Thank you for breaking my heart and making it stronger."

Originally premiered back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. As if writing now, I can't believe I missed this one when I attended the virtual festival back in January 2022.

Nothing Compares is directed by Kathryn Ferguson and it's a story about the five year period of singer and songwriter Sinead O'Connor and all the things happening to her around that time period. I had recently enjoyed some of her songs and her musical style. I really like her song Nothing Compares 2 U, Mandinka, and so on and so on. This documentary is really well informed and has really interesting editing choices. Ferguson includes voice overs from various people who knew O'Connor and O'Connor herself while presenting old footage and creative made up scenes to capture the tone of O'Connor's career, past life, and the controversial times she was in. It doesn't just focus on her music but it also explores about her past trauma with the Catholic church, her parents, politics, religion and many others aspects. Because of these topics, it really helped to sell this documentary to heart and becomes really touching.

Very informative and emotional at times. I knew about Sinead O'Connor before seeing this documentary and reading and listening about her experiences and troubles she was facing, I really do feel bad for her at times especially some of the more recent events that had happened to her. I was able to connect with this documentary very well and learned a lot more then I expected it. Surprisingly, there were some fault with the sound design as some moments felt they had a weird echoing effect in the back ground. Strangely, the main song "Nothing Compares 2 U" didn't appear in this documentary due to copyright issues I have to assume. Weird, but it felt missing.

Overall, a really well informed and at times depressing documentary about Sinead O'Connor.

Rating: A-

Nothing Compares (2022) by Kathryn Ferguson is beautifully crafted tribute to one of the most iconic singers of my generation. Sinead's story is both epic, tragic as well deeply inspiring and the director here captured the true value and respect she so rightly deserves. The film gives us a greatly balance montage of performances by Sinead and the political environment surrounding her career and whether you are new to Sinead's work or a lifelong fan honestly i'd say this is a film to see. If you are gonna see one doc this year let it be this one. It's certainly has revitalised my interest in Sinead and well frankly I am in awe of her bravery and passion. Well done to the director, I look forward to her future projects, I know they will be equally as worthy. 8 0ut 10.

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 Sinead 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.

As "Nothing Compares" (2022 release; 95 min.) opens, Sinead O'Connor is announced at some show and upon hitting the stage, she is widely booed by much of the arena. We then go back in time, and in a voice-over, Sinead tells us that "I got into music as therapy" and how she was suffered from an abusive mom for years... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the documentary,

Couple of comments: this is the feature length debut of writer-director Kathryn Ferguson, who previously directed Sinead's 2013 music video "4th & Vine". Here she reassesses the rise and fall of the fiercely independent and non-conformist Irish singer. All of the hot topics are examined including the infamous SNL scene exactly 30 years ago this month where she shreds the Pope's picture (to protest against the Catholic church's sexual abuses). The bulk of the movie covers 1987 to 1993, when Sinead was only 21-27. Watch how she resists immense pressures to give in on this and that (when her music label found out she was pregnant as she recorded her debut album, they "suggested" she have an abortion--she refused). And what about the music, you might ask? Well, if you are expecting to hear "Nothing Compares 2 U", don't waste your time. Prince's estate (led his half sister Sharon Nelson) refused the use of the song in the documentary, apparently because in Sinead's 2021 memoir "Rememberings", she had some unflattering comments about Prince. Talk about being petty and small-minded, if not vindictive. But as the last 10 min. Of this wonderful and moving documentary shows, Sinead was right all along, but simply YEARS ahead of her time and hence not understood or worse. (And if you haven't read "Rememberings", I'd readily suggest you do.) Back to the documentary's opening scene: it was from Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in late October, 1992, 3 weeks after the pope picture incident. As someone in the documentary pointedly observes: "They are at a BOB DYLAN show, what were these people thinking?" (referring to the sell-out crowd booing Sinead). Then look how Sinead handles the situation...

"Nothing Compares" premiered recently on Showtime. I watched it on the SHO streaming app last night, and I was surprised how great this documentary turned out to be. Whether you like Sinead's music or not (I'm a casual fan at best), this documentary is so much more than that, and I'd readily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion.