Maxine Montgomery

Much respect for Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, and an A-list cast in the Aretha Franklin biopic. I hope Hudson wins the Oscar she richly deserves. The vocals were spectacular, from the toe-tapping "Think" to "Dr. Feelgood" to "Natural Woman" to "Amazing Grace." That the narrative arc of Franklin's life's story (and music) unfolds against the historic and cultural backdrop of the modern Civil Rights and Feminist movements, interweaves details of family conflicts, and features footage from the Queen of Soul's sold-out performances adds additional layers of interest to a already strong, multi-layered story-line.