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Movie and TV Discussion => Movie reviews => Topic started by: David Vaughn on February 25, 2023, 07:14:18 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/2fp2WOK.jpg)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3/5
Plot
Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Academy Award® nominee Anthony McCarten (Best Adapted Screenplay, The Two Popes, 2019), produced by legendary music executive Clive Davis and starring BAFTA Award® winner Naomi Ackie, the film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?
My Thoughts
As someone who came of age during the height of Whitney Houston’s record-setting run as a singer, this was something that was a must-watch. Given McCarten’s resume of biopics, I figured the story would be told pretty straight and with very little “Hollywood-aztion” of the facts. I must admit, I was a tad surprised when watching the film. While I was familiar with the tabloids about her drug use and sexual orientation, I honestly thought it was the typical grocery store trash in regard to the latter, but it turns out they were right all along. Needless to say, I was a bit shocked watching the first act of the film.
While I will always love Houston’s music, I can’t say this film casts her in a positive light. While she was born with God-given talent, she ultimately wasted it with some extremely poor life choices. The film delves into this but barely scratches the surface. They show the young superstar smoking pot with her brothers while a teenager, but it barely shows the downside of her drug abuse until the very end of the film. Maybe this is to show the cumulative effect, but she had a serious problem that those around her ignored for far too long and she ended up paying the ultimate price in February 2012.
On the acting front, Ackie does a good job of portraying the star, but she doesn’t resemble Houston—their facial structures are different and despite her doing a bang-up job of portraying her mannerisms, I couldn’t get past the looks. The supplements talk about how they used new computer techniques to modernize Houston’s vocals to meld with the live instruments, which I have to say is the highlight of the production. I don’t think there’s anyone alive that has Houston’s range and in this new technology gave the impression that the late singer was actually signing on the soundtrack.
The presentation is quite good from beginning to end in the video department, but it’s the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that steals the show. Dynamics are excellent, stereo imaging is spot-on, and the musical numbers bring the soundstage to life.
Video 4.5/5 (AVC)
Audio 5/5 (TS-HD MA 5.1)
Bonus Features:
- Whitney’s Jukebox
- Deleted Scenes
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes
- Blu-ray + Digital Copy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tfemzaMkoU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tfemzaMkoU)
Conclusion
We’ve seen quite a few biopics over the past few years about famous singers such as Freddy Mercury, Judy Garland, Elvis, and Elton John, and now Whitney Houston. Mercury’s Bohemian Rhapsody is my personal favorite and the others, including this one, are somewhat middling for various reasons. In this case, Houston’s family and Clive Davis were intimately involved in the production, so I presume that’s why the portrayal glosses over some of the grittier aspects of Houston’s life. Regardless, it’s worth watching for the music alone and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two you didn’t know about the famous singer—I know I did.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner