Respect

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
  • nicholls_les - 14 December 2022
    Thought provocking Biopic
    First of all I'd like to say that Skye Dakota Turner did a wonderful acting job as young Aretha, a talent to watch out for in the future I am sure.

    Jennifer Hudson was perfect as Aretha and I cannot imagine anyone else playing the part as well.

    The story was interesting and did not hide any of the more unsavory side of her life, such as her being made pregnant at 11 or 12 and her husband being abusive towards her.

    But the singing was just amazing and Jennifer Hudson really pulled it off in a way that I never believed anyone could have done. The scenes of her recording at Muscle Shoals was especially good.

    My only criticism is that it is a little too long and seemed to drag a bit especially at the end.
  • ambusched94 - 12 July 2022
    Marlon Wayans's terrific supporting turn is the only bright spot in a convoluted, dragged-out music biopic
    I was compelled to watch this film for Marlon Wayans's role and his dramatic range in his performance as the abusive, controlling love interest was fantastic, super underrated. I felt they should've casted an unknown actress that more closely resembles Aretha Franklin in her early-middle years and dubbed the singing with Aretha's voice. It was exhausting listening to Jennifer Hudson sing all the music with her own voice (I got way more than enough of that when I saw Dreamgirls). Yes, she has vocal chops but most often her voice can become overbearing if that makes sense. Hudson's acting was passable but didn't bring anything new to her supposed acting range.

    Not recommended watching, unless you are curious to see how they portray Aretha's life and career in a recent film.