Jody Brooks

I give it a 4.5. I learned so much about Aretha Franklin's life that I never knew. She had a lot of tragedy and demons she fought throughout her life. I had no idea her career floundered through numerous (as many as 9) mediocre albums before she found her voice. Her personal and professional life is a surprising tale. Jennifer Hudson was phenomenal as was Forrest Whittaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald and the talented young lady who played Aretha as a young girl too (apologies for not knowing her name). At times, the story was a bit slow and details glossed over leaving you to do internet searches to fill in the gaps after the movie credits ended. With Hudson giving it her all, the music is what had me captivated from her first notes to her final.