Respect

 Respect is an Aretha Franklin biographical drama that depicts her evolution from a 10 year old girl singing in her father’s church to the 30 year old superstar she became.

Although the movie only spans 20 years of Aretha’s life, it was a tumultuous time for her. She dealt with an immeasurable amount of trauma during this period in her life. She had to endure a significant loss, physical abuse, sexual assault and addiction while still managing to churn out hits that have lasted a lifetime. I was not a huge Aretha fan growing up but after watching this movie, I have a lot of respect for her, pun intended.

The casting was spot on. Forest Whitaker played Aretha's father C. L. Franklin, a very popular pastor, know as the "man with the million-dollar voice". He did really great in the role showing both sides of this flawed man, the entertainer who everyone wanted to be around and also his darker side, a controlling man, who was abusive at times with questionable relationships. Marlon Wayans casting was an interesting one. He is known more for his comedic roles, so his dramatic part as Ted White, Aretha's abusive husband, definitely encouraged Wayans to stretch his range. I thought he did well in doing so. Jennifer Hudson was the star for me, she carried this movie was grace and poise. She was only woman Aretha chose to play her and it was the best choice. Jennifer embodied the shy 18 year old Aretha who didn’t know the power of her own voice, all the way to the 30 year old woman who knew how to command a room and knew exactly what her worth was and what she wanted in life.

This movie was well made, the hair, makeup and costumes were perfect for the era and script was heartfelt. It even brought out some tears toward the end. Therefore, I’d definitely recommend checking out this gem.