A joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.
Ten years after what appeared to be her untimely death, Whitney Houston’s legion of fans still seems to be divided about her legacy. Some fans felt that she spent her entire career fulfilling everyone’s dreams except her own, and others think her rebellious spirit caused her to fall victim to the negative aspects of stardom. Early in her career, her parents encouraged her to sing in the church, which seemed to live vicariously through her, and they seemed to both have strict policies about how they expected her to handle her gift of song. The fact that they couldn’t agree on much else besides how they would help her make and spend money caused a lot of disenchantment among them.
Even though this is not the first film about Whitney’s life, it seems that a lot more facts were shared from the family, which gave the fans a more balanced approach to understanding the struggles Whitney dealt with regarding her long-rumored bi-sexuality and her uncompromising desire to sing without having to worry about the intricate details that came into play when her music was being made. In her relationship with Robyn, who was a staple in her life for many years, Whitney seemed to find comfort in knowing that Robyn was a straight-shooter and would always have her best interest at heart; however, when Whitney canoodled with Jermaine Jackson and fell in love with up and coming artist, Bobby Brown, Robyn had to reassess her relationship because Whitney made it clear that she wanted to have a husband and a family. Another critical point in the film is Whitney’s relationship with Clive Davis (Stan Tucci). Clive became a staunch advocate for Whitney when he was whisked in to listen to her sing. Her Arista Records family was pivotal in her career, whereby she became known as the Most Awarded Female Vocalist in History. While Clive promised Whitney he would never get in the middle of her affairs outside of music; he did step in and encourage her to go to rehab when her life started spiraling out of control over alleged drug and alcohol abuse.
Director Kasi L. Lemmons, in her biopic, does an excellent job of sharing every element of Whitney’s Life that made her a world-class superstar despite the painful circumstances surrounding her death. The relationship she shared with her daughter amid adversity was admirable, considering her strained relationship with her mother and her volatile relationship with her father. In the end, Whitney’s love for all things music appeared to have grounded her for the stellar career she could achieve and the power of persistence that keeps her legacy alive and well!
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