Respect

The Unvarnished Truth and Music to our Ears – “Respect” – the life story of Aretha Franklin.

As the trend to cover the lives of celebrated music stars continues, “Respect” covering the domestic as well as the star studded professional story of “Ri Ri” tells us all about Aretha Franklin.  Beginning from a very young age, this 150 minute saga lets us know about her stunningly difficult childhood, though living in apparent extreme luxury. Jennifer Hudson (Oscar winner – Dream girls)  who plays the mature role is an enchanting and mesmerising singer and actress who is no doubt in line for an accolade in an awards event.  Skye Dakota Turner – massively talented – stars as the young Aretha and Audra McDonald as her mother, Barbara.  Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) is an enduring and warming member of the cast playing father to Aretha and her sisters and is an established Senior Minister in the local church and prone to holding big parties and dining events.

Marlon Wayans (On The Rocks) plays the ambitious charming and ultimately enchanting man who lures Aretha away from religious songs some time after her own father has already tried to see her transgress into the pop charts. Not wishing to spoil the story for Aretha fans, just know that her relationship with her first husband was exciting, erotic, ambitious and ultimately dangerous.

During Aretha’s rise to stardom the general comment was, “No-one is talking about Motown anymore – all they want to talk about is Aretha Franklin”.  She was becoming known as “Queen of Soul”.  Her glamour, beauty and talent made her enemies as well as friends.

Franklin re-married after the demise of Martin – her first husband, and went back to gospel and the church through her father.  “Amazing Grace” cut in 1972 proved to be her best selling album.

At Atlantic, she recorded hit songs like “A Natural Woman”, “Think” “I say a Little Prayer” and “Respect”.

The screenplay of “Respect” was written by Callie Khouri (Thelma and Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson (The Americans and Fosse Verdon). Franklin was involved in the movement against colour prejudice and not to spoil the viewer’s enjoyment of the “docudrama” black and white issues do feature in and mould the story.

Director Liesl Tommy says, “Lavish locations, the costumes are lush. We laboured over the design of the sound. It all has to live up to Ms Franklin. She embodied excellence and taste, so our movie has to live in that place.”

Be prepared for lows as well as highs as material about Franklin’s life which is shocking in parts and woven into a fascinating and ultimately uplifting life story unfolds. Franklin left several children and was a friend of The Obamas.  In the music industry she remains a very hard act to follow! Ultimately the impression of this story to me is the immense talent and hard graft needed to make truly awesome performers and stars.

ENJOY

Penny Nair Price