Respect
Respect

Respect

2021Movie145 minEnglish

The rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Metacritic63/100
Google Users96%
Director: Liesl TommyGenres: biography, drama, music

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the life of legendary singer Aretha Franklin from her childhood singing in her father's church choir to her transformation into an international music icon. It explores her personal struggles, her rise to stardom, and her unwavering activism during the civil rights movement. 'Respect' captures the essence of Franklin's journey, highlighting her immense talent and her profound impact on music and culture.

Critical Reception

Respect received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed at Jennifer Hudson's performance as Aretha Franklin. While some critics found the film's structure to be somewhat conventional for a biopic, most agreed that it offered a compelling and respectful portrayal of the Queen of Soul's life and legacy. Audiences also responded well, appreciating the musical numbers and the exploration of Franklin's activism.

What Reviewers Say

  • Jennifer Hudson delivers a powerful and commanding performance as Aretha Franklin.
  • The film effectively captures the musical and cultural significance of Aretha Franklin.
  • While the narrative follows a familiar biopic trajectory, it remains a moving tribute.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised Jennifer Hudson's portrayal of Aretha Franklin, often calling it 'phenomenal' and 'captivating.' Many viewers found the film to be an inspiring and emotional tribute to the Queen of Soul, particularly appreciating the musical performances and the depiction of her civil rights activism. The film's overall message of resilience and empowerment resonated strongly with audiences.

Fun Fact

Jennifer Hudson was personally chosen by Aretha Franklin to portray her in the film before her passing.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Much has been made of the late Aretha Franklin's choice of actress to portray her in this early career retrospective - but I wonder what she might have made of the rest of the cast? Jennifer Hudson is superb when she sings, she captures muc...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

This was a good movie, and I enjoyed it. However, I don’t expect I will ever watch it a second time. In a way, it felt like I had already seen it. And I get why: the experiences of women, even celebrity women, often mirror each other when i...