Respect (Which should have probably been titles R.E.S.P.E.C.T.) the biopic of the life of Aretha Franklin lands with Jennifer Hudson in the role of Franklin on award winning form.
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career, from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom. It’s the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
Cutting straight to the chase Respect is a 3 star movie with 5 star performances, the film follows a generic biopic template, that you have seen many times before in films such as Get On Up, Ray, Notorious even Dreamgirls (Which won Hudson her first oscar). It’s a tried and tested formula, however it doesn’t add anything new whatsoever to the genre. At times the story limps it’s way to the next song as hudson explodes with her incredible voice, but at times that can be a long wait.
The rest of the cast is also incredible with the likes of Forest Whittaker as her father, Pastor C.L. Franklin and Marlon Wayans and Albert Jones as Franklins husbands Ted White and Ken Cunningham respectively are all outstanding, however Respect is simply Jennifer Hudson’s as she garners the presence of Queen Of Soul herself throughout.
Direction from Liesl Tommy who in her feature film debut is previously used to TV shows such as The Walking Dead and Jessica Jones, is somewhat a bit pedestrian and doesn’t bring anything new to the table. At times it does feel more like an episode of TV, rather than a feature film. But Respect does the job even if it is a bit perfunctory.
It’s a long haul too with Respect clocking in at around 2 hours 25 mins. However the performances and music should pull you through to a level of enjoyment and a small insight into the life of the Legend Aretha Franklin.
Respect is in cinemas Nationwide now
