RESPECT (Aretha Biopic)

To become the queen, she needed to find her voice. starring Academy Award® winner Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin

RESPECT hits theaters August 13, 2021. Ahead of the release we got to be a part of a virtual chat with the cast: Jennifer Hudson, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Kimberly Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley & Skye Dakota Turner. Along with the writer Tracey Scott Wilson and director Liesl Tommy.

Tinsel & Tine #MiniMovieReview RESPECT is a very music driven biopic. We get to hear almost in their entirety, so many iconic hits and see so many wonderful concert recreations. The costume designer Clint Ramos will definitely get an Oscar nom along with hair and makeup. I wanted to ask Jennifer Hudson during the Press Conference, if she got to wear any of the Queen’s actual clothing, but my question didn’t get picked.

Like the rest of the world, I enjoy Aretha’s music, in awe of her talent, admired her activism and agreed she could out DIVA Mariah and Diana put together; and yet for some reason, she was never one of my favorite all-time performers. I didn’t really follow her life or know much about her personally; so I don’t have an opinion on timelines or what they should have or shouldn’t have included.

I haven’t seen the other made for TV Aretha biopic which came out a couple months ago, so I can’t compare and contrast. But I feel Jennifer Hudson is very good portraying the Queen of Soul, she’s in excellent voice and you can tell how much work she put in total! Notably, she looked to perfect the very proper way Aretha had of speaking. With all that, I wish I could say it’s a remarkable performance, but for me it didn’t transcend; still I’m sure ReRe would approve.

For me, the standouts were Marlon Wayans as her abusive ex-husband Ted White, mainly because I didn’t know he could actually act, not just act a fool. And Mary J Blige as the incomparable Dinah Washington, turning tables.

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August 10, 2021 7PM

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R_02930_RC Skye Dakota Turner stars as Young Aretha Franklin and Audra McDonald as her mother Barbara in RESPECT, A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

WATCH Jennifer Hudson embody Aretha Franklin as she becomes the Queen of Soul in a new behind-the-scenes look at the making of the upcoming film RESPECT

#RespectMovie Just had a goin to Church moment watching Oprah interview #JenniferHudson | OWN Spotlight. Jennifer talking about Aretha’s journey to “take up space” as a woman is reflective … https://t.co/0JbXU9Ba34 via @YouTube @RespectMovie
— Tinsel & Tine 🔜 BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL 10th! (@tinseltine) August 1, 2021

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

DIRECTOR: Liesl Tommy

SCREENPLAY BY: Tracey Scott Wilson

STORY BY: Callie Khouri and Tracey Scott Wilson

PRODUCERS: Harvey Mason Jr., Scott Bernstein, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman, Stacey Sher

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jennifer Hudson, Liesl Tommy, Sue Baden-Powell, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth

CAST: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Kimberly Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige