Respect
The rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom.
- Released: 2021-08-12
- Runtime: 145 minutes
- Genre: Drama, History, Music
- Stars: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Mary J. Blige, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Tate Donovan, Skye Dakota Turner, Heather Headley, Leroy McClain, Lodric D. Collins, Brenda Nicole Moorer, Brandon Gilpin, Tangela Large, Albert Jones, Myk Watford, Gilbert Glenn Brown
- Director: Liesl Tommy
Comments
- pipa-pv - 21 June 2024
An all around hit
This movie hits hard. I was in tears for most of the time. It's not only a biography, it's a calling to a higher power. It grabs those who are lost and through "Amazing Grace" we are found.
It depicts an incredible fight for social justice together with her family friend MLK, but not only that. It takes you to those decades, and you get to experience first hand all the pain and joy Aretha and those around her went through.
This didn't feel like a movie. It was more like going to church the whole entire time. An example of a woman, and an example of someone who speaks the words of so many around her.
It's definitely a must watch. - garyvines-01290 - 9 August 2023
I loved the music and singing in this, but there was some issues with other areas.
Most people know who Aretha Franklin is (was). She was a powerhouse singer who transcended genres and formats to grace the big screen, the small screen, the stage, I think she was even on Saturday night live one time. I grew up just knowing who she was by her distinctive voice and appreciated the world with her in it. When I found out that there was going to be a movie based on her life starring Jennifer Hudson, I was onboard.
So, like most Biopics, they can either be great (Ray, What's Love Got to do with it) or really bad. This one strangely falls in the middle for me somewhere. I appreciated being able to see aspects of Aretha's life that I didn't know before watching the movie and Jennifer Hudson's portrayal of her, she didn't quite reach the level of Aretha Franklin for me. I loved the singing in this, don't get me wrong and in a way, I'm glad that the focus was primarily on songs that Aretha did by Jennifer, but the acting was a little forced for me. I think Jennifer did her absolute best so it may fall a little more on the director that they only got to glimpses of Arthea Franklin and didn't quite embody her for me. This could also be because Aretha was a Mega superstar, larger than life personality and getting to her level in personality, soul, singing or otherwise could come off as a parody, which at times did.
Some of the acting was forced, the part of Ted White was miscast with Marlon Wayans, who is primarily a comedic actor, and I couldn't seem to see him as anything but something like that role. I felt like Forest Whitaker was great as always, Jennifer Hudson was impressive both in singing and acting, but she didn't quite hit the mark, but then again, I don't think anyone could have.
The writing was pretty good, it told a story and carried the thread of Aretha's pain and dark past through to the end. I didn't know she knew Martin Luther King so that was impressive to see.
Go ahead and watch this movie, it comes off a little "made for TV' and some of the acting is forced, but the writing and music overcome that. I appreciated being able to see the icon be portrayed again as I've missed her since she' left.
