A One Mann’s Movies review of “Respect” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
What with holidays and Bond, it’s taken me a few weeks to get to see this Aretha Franklin biopic. But I finally caught it this week.
Arriving at the New York record companies. Aretha (Jennifer Hudson) with her controlling father (Forest Whitaker). (Source: MGM Pictures).
Plot Summary:
‘Re’ is a 10-year old growing up in relative middle-class affluence in Birmingham, Alabama with her high-profile preacher father C.L. Franklin (Forest Whitaker). She is blessed with a wonderful singing voice. We follow her career, as Aretha Franklin (Jennifer Hudson), through her struggles with controlling men and alcohol. This is against the backdrop of supporting the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King (Gilbert Glenn Brown).
Happier times. The young Re (an excellent Skye Dakota Turner) with “The Good Fight”‘s Audra McDonald as her mother Barbara. (Source: MGM Pictures). (Source: MGM Pictures).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans.
Directed by: Liesl Tommy.
Written by: Tracey Scott Wilson (from a story by Callie Khouri).
Upsetting the competition. Aretha with the star Dinah Washington (Mary J. Blige). (Source: MGM Pictures).
“Respect” Review:
Positives:
- Jennifer Hudson gives a tremendous performance as Franklin, delivering both the vocals and the acting admirably. (Apparently, the lady herself, before she died in August 2018, named Hudson as the best person to play her.)
- Coming out of this movie, you have to admire Aretha Franklin’s legacy. Although there are moments when her ‘demons’ got the better of her (and the movie is unafraid to paint her in a negative light for these) she led a tumultuous life and yet was still a strong force for both feminism and equality. I think the movie highlights that admirably. “Have you lost your mind?” her father (Forest Whitaker) asks. “Maybe…. maybe I’ve found it.” she replies.
- I loved the clip during the end titles (at a Carole King concert and in front of the Obamas) of Franklin well into her 70’s belting out “Natural Woman”. Classy stuff.
Composing a classic at 3am. Sisters Carolyn (Hailey Kilgore), Aretha (Jennifer Hudson) and Erma (Saycon Sengbloh). (Source: MGM Pictures).
Negatives:
- It’s long. Very long. Approaching Bond long.
- There’s a curious ‘cookie-cutter-ness’ to these biopics of classic female singers (controlling and abusive men; alcohol/drug abuse; prejudice through sex/race; etc). (Would they even have emanated the same level of soul without all the grief? Perhaps not.) The similarities lead you to naturally compare this movie with “The US vs Billie Holiday“. The Billie Holiday story felt like it had a lot more grit and angst in it, making it, for me at least, more memorable. The script for “Respect” – although still rather episodic – flows better. Whilst still great, Hudson’s performance (an Oscar nomination perhaps?) doesn’t come close to the Oscar-nominated stellar job done by Andra Day.
- I didn’t like how the script introduced us to its characters. For example, Ted White (Marlon Wayans) is introduced at a church barbeque. He’s painted as a disreputable character, but why? And you have no idea if he is supposed to be a famous singer, a songwriter, a promoter, or a producer (as in fact he is). As another example, Kelvin Hair plays Sam Cooke in the movie, but – unless I missed it – this doesn’t seem to be highlighted in the script.
An entertaining supporting performance from Marc Maron as Aretha’s producer Jerry Wexler. (Source: MGM Pictures).
Summary Thoughts on “Respect”
“Respect” is the feature debut for female director Liesl Tommy. And it’s certainly an ambitious target for a first-timer to shoot at, so ‘Respect’ for that! And it comes across as a solid and enjoyable biopic, not least to remind yourself of some of the classic tunes that Aretha Franklin belted out. At 145 minutes though, it takes its time telling its story, and I think a tighter, shorter film would have worked better.
Did I enjoy it though? Yes, I did. But it’s worth pointing out that the illustrious Mrs Movie Man – who normally begrudges every minute over 90 minutes in a movie – really loved this one.
Trailer for “Respect”:
The trailer is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtxoz3OIlU .
