It often feels like biographical dramas have become a normalized standard in today's realm of cinematic filmmaking, particularly ones that are based upon legendary musicians. What makes music biopics appealing to audiences are the distinct stories that each one possesses with the audience finding relatability to those individuals, along with the mesmerizing performances from the main actors/actresses playing them. With Respect, audiences are given insight to the remarkable
yet troubled life of American singer Aretha Franklin with Jennifer Hudson giving a career-defining performance in a solid biopic, which gives audiences insight into the transcending career of Franklin which gave her the title "Queen Of Soul".
Respect's plot covers the success and personal turmoil in the life of Aretha Franklin (Jennifer Hudson) beginning as a gifted 12-year old who sung in her father's (Forrest Whittaker) church choir to be coming an international singing sensation. Respect does a fine job of exploring the key points of Franklin's life including the major accomplishments throughout her music career, as well as personal challenges regarding an abusive relationship with her ex-husband, and her struggle with battling alcoholism. While it may come across as feeling like a standard by-the-numbers biopic, Respect is a well-crafted tribute to its female music legend that comes from a place of deep respect and admiration for its main subject with the combining of serious themes mixed with stellar song pieces blending together beautifully.
When it comes to performances, Respect's cast deliver fantastic work with Hudson's electrifying portrayal of a young up-and-coming Aretha Franklin. She beautifully shows the formers desire to sing and progress with her career while emphasizing the strength that her character showed through hardships. Hudson's performance is so fantastic, it feels like a tragedy she didn't receive an Oscar nomination for her powerful portrayal. Along with Hudson showing tremendous talent on the screen, Marlon Wayans shocks with his impressively dramatic performance as Aretha's former boss and abusive husband Ted White. Wayans plays White as being a damaged man with good intentions for Aretha's career. Whereas he can be motivational and supportive of Aretha one minute, he's also shown to be abusive and controlling the next. Forest Whitaker commands the screen as Aretha's God-fearing yet controlling father C.L. Franklin, who groomed his daughter to begin her music career by singing in his local church. The rest of Respect's supporting cast deliver strong supporting parts including Audra McDonald as Aretha's mother Barbara, Marc Maron as her record producer Jerry Wexler, Albert Jones as Ken Cunningham, Leroy McClain as Aretha's older brother Cecil, Titus's Burgess as James Cleveland, Saycon Sengbloh as Aretha's older sister Erma, Hailey Kilgore as her younger sister Carolyn, and Mary J. Blige as singer Dinal Washington. Much of the reason that Respect works so well as being an affecting music drama, is because of the admirable work that its stellar ensemble cast puts into the production with Hudson's performance being downright remarkable.
Respect's directing by Liesl Tommy in her feature film debut is commendable with her giving audiences an intimate portrait of Franklin's life while providing historical tibits to audiences regarding the civil rights era, as well as the globalization of soul music. Both the films set and costume designs are impressively spot-on with the stories era with the cinematography being stunning. Liesl steers audiences through each new decade of Franklin's career as the hair styles and fashion change with each different era. The soundtrack works as a powerful element of the story with many of the songs chosen for the film being intentional to show Franklin's ability to improvise. At 145 minutes, Respect never feels too slow-moving nor boring because audiences are engaged by Franklin's story with much being attributed to Hudson's performance driving the film. Whats most noteworthy about Tommy's work is how she maintains restraint in showing the troublesome aspects of Franklin's life with those moments going hand-in-hand with the ones showcasing her performing on stage in front of large audiences. The real Franklin was mesmerizing to watch perform with Liesel working extra hard to show that through Hudson's performance.
Respect's script covers Aretha's life as a young girl from Detroit who loves to sing with her father forcing her to sing at church services. Along with showing her rise to stardom, the screenplay also explores some of the more controversial elements of Franklin's life including a sexual assault encounter which left her pregnant. Aretha's career as a singer is revealed to have been an intense clash with the men in her life from her father running her career to her abusive ex-husband, which ultimately fueled her depression while fighting for control over her life and voice. The film also shows Aretha often being controlled by her "demons" which include heavy alcoholism, stemming from the realization that the men in her life who supposedly help her depression also make her suffer in other ways. With Respect's script, the film doesn't just explore all sides of Aretha's life, but also examines those surrounding her which include C.L being both a respectable preacher and controlling father, who rightfully despises her husband because he serves as a reflection of his own flaws.
Whereas audiences may not enjoy seeing some of the more tragic elements of Franklin's life regarding child, sexual, and domestic abuse, they'll greatly appreciate the personalized account of the Queen Of Soul's life which is respectfully handled. As strong as a biopic that Respect appears to be, it finds itself skipping over briefly introduced subplots such as Aretha's sexual abuse at a young age with no reverting back to it afterwards, or the relationship that she pursues after leaving her abusive husband. Though the film gives off the vibe of being an honorable music biopic, it's Hudson's work as Franklin that elevates it to being memorable due to her capturing the singers spirit on-and-off stage. Given that her voice could never match that of Franklin's, she carries her soul while showing her immeasurable talent, making Respect a loving tribute to its music icon.
Final Verdict: A must see biopic for both music and fans of Aretha Franklin.
Images Courtesy Of Universal Pictures
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