A biopic of Aretha Franklin was never going to be easy and as one of the most popular artists of our time – her music transcends time. During this entire film, Jennifer Hudson’s soulful voice carries this film across the finish line. That woman can SING. It must have been an extremely daunting task to live up to Aretha and her chilling story, but when the Queen of Soul HERSELF requested Jennifer Hudson to do it – you know she was going to nail it. Jennifer also was asked to sing a tribute to Aretha at her funeral in 2018.
They did their best to cover as much of Aretha’s vast historical reach as she was tied to so many issues of her era; like touring with Martin Luther King Jr. Meanwhile, C. L. Franklin, Aretha’s father, was a renowned pastor and civil rights leader whose home hosted many major Black recording artists of the moment, like Dinah Washington and Sam Cooke.
Without spoiling the film, it hits most of the notes throughout the film. Her story, even if you already knew it, is chilling, sad and relentless. Aretha’s music rips through the screen and into your soul.
