Whitney Movie Review

Movie Review 

There are many biopics about pop stars with almost the same arc. Beginning. Good luck. Dependence. The fall. Whitney Houston's biography is no different. Nick Broomfield and Kevin Macdonald have previously tried to make documentaries about Whitney, but director Kasi Lemmons manages to bring some freshness to her story. Whitney Houston is a name synonymous with stardom, but her personal life has been anything but glamorous. The film sheds light on the dark side of his fame and the struggles he faced towards the end of his tragic end. But is that enough to warrant another pop star biopic?  

 We meet Whitney Houston as a teenager in Kasa Lemmons' tell-all biopic with screenwriter Anthony McCarten. In the early 1980s, Whitney (played by Naomi Ackie) is a star in her own right, known for her extraordinary voice in a church gospel choir. Her mother, Cissy (Tamara Tunie), is the driving force behind her thrust into the spotlight, and she begins her rise to stardom. Her father, John (Clarke Peters), also her manager, steals his daughter's earnings, robbing her of her earnings in the process. Her ambivalent relationship with husband Bobby Brown and later Robyn Crawford and her sexuality are questioned, but all find their place in the biopic.

 Lemmons' focus is on explaining what led to Whitney's fall from stardom as a famous pop star. At the height of his fame, how he was crippled by drug addiction and found solace in performing and experimenting in various genres despite the immense pressure to live up to his public image. His public criticism for not being "black enough" is well portrayed by the director.

  British actor Naomi Ackie gives a strong yet vulnerable performance as Whitney. He adds some fun to the performances that light up the screen (he lip-syncs to Whitney's voiceover). Ackie nails the act, bringing a sense of sensitivity to her performance. Tamara Tunney and Clarke Peters also fit their roles perfectly.  

 The musical biopic also pays tribute to Whitney's memorable performances, including the 1991 Super Bowl. However, he tries to prevent difficult chapters in his life. The movie, which skates around drug use, is restrained when it comes to showing the tragic end of Whitney Houston. The film does not show the hotel room sequence where Whitney was found dead in the bathroom in 2012. Instead, it takes us to a flashback to 1994, when Whitney performed her hit "I Loves You Porgy" at the American Music Awards. I tell you that I am not going and I have nothing.

  Despite its flaws, the film celebrates Whitney Houston for the pop star that she is. So, if you are a fan of the singer, the movie will entertain you.