THE QUEEN OF SOUL // A FILM REVIEW OF "RESPECT"
Aretha Franklin the artist and her music are two things that are instantly recognizable throughout the world. She's always had a larger than life personality and her music seemingly soars far above us. When RESPECT, the new biopic about her life, was announced, Jennifer Hudson seemed like the perfect choice to play the Queen of Soul. And it turns out, she truly is. RESPECT follows Franklin's life from childhood into her adulthood, starting with her childhood in Detroit in the 1950's. Her father, a Baptist minister and civil rights leader played superbly by Forest Whitaker, would throw lavish parties and invite friends from all over. He would wake Aretha up in the middle of the night to sing to the crowd of partygoers, showing her off like his latest prize. Something to be flaunted in front of his friends, as he knew they would adore her, and then take her back to bed and continue his evening. In these scenes, Aretha is played dynamically by Skye Dakota Tuner and she's probably somewhere in the middle of wanting to perform and knowing that it'll please her father so she does.
Her mother (Audra McDonald) has separated from her father but adores Aretha. When she does have time with her daughter, Aretha loves to hear her sing at her piano, soaking up every last moment with her mother. Tragically, her mother doesn't make it past her childhood, but the ghost of her memory stays with Aretha well into her adulthood. We jump forward in time where, as an adult, Aretha is now played by Hudson. She sings at her father's church and he controls every aspect of her career and life. When someone is talking to Aretha that he doesn't deem fit, he whisks her away, micromanaging every last aspect. He eventually helps land her a record deal at Columbia where she finds an early fan in producer John Hammond (Tate Donovan). It isn't until much later that the hits we know begin to trickle out of her and start to shape the Queen of Soul but her early days help create the power that propels her forward in later years.
RESPECT covers a lot of ground, and there's a lot of story to tell with Franklin's life. But under Director Liesl Tommy's life it remains compelling and engaging, even when the notes ring familiar of the typical biopic beats. The film also shows the struggles and abuse that Aretha went through, from her childhood trauma (including a pregnancy at 12-years-old) to the manipulation of her father and abuse from men like one-time husband Ted White (Marlon Wayans). Aretha had a very tough life, yet she took control and became the legend that she is today, inspiring millions of people across the world. Jennifer Hudson is not only the perfect choice the play the diva, her voice is the perfect voice to sing her music. The melodies of hits like "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," "Think" and of course, "Respect" soar out of Hudson, dripping like sweet honey into our ears. Her performance itself is wonderful and shows very plainly that her Oscar win for Dreamgirls was no fluke.
Sequences of her building the songs, creating the melodies and structure of the songs are some of the most thrilling to watch, and one sequence in particular has her sisters (played as adults by Broadway favorites Saycon Sengbloh & Hailey Kilgore) riffing on the song "Respect" with her, creating the "re-re-re-re" refrain that's a direct nod to her nickname of "Re." It's a cheesy movie moment that may have never happened but is so charming that even in its silliness makes you smile. There are liberties taken, as all biopics do, but the power, the emotion and yes, the soul is all there for the taking. RESPECT doesn't break new ground in terms of what the movie biopic looks like, but it doesn't need to. It has a story to tell, and it tells it well, highlighting a cast of wonderful performers, lead by the brilliant Hudson, and gives them a terrific showcase. The story is Aretha's, but the film is all Hudson's and this is her moment to shine. And shine she does.
GRADE: B+
WRITTEN BY Callie Khouri, Tracey Scott Wilson DIRECTED BY Liesl Tommy STARRING Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Waynes, Marc Maron, Audra McDonald, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Brenda Nicole Moorer, Tituss Burgess, Tate Donovan, Albert Jones, Skye Dakota Turner. OPENING AUGUST 13TH IN THEATRES. FOR MORE INFO: RESPECT