Lisa CooperMerriman

I just finished watching Respect starring Jennifer Hudson and I can honestly say I truly enjoyed the movie. The movie from start to finish kept me mesmerized and on the edge of my seat. The movie based on specific periods of Aretha Franklin’s traumatic and some what problematic life, played out for the audience quite like a Shakespearean tragedy where the heroine triumphs over her “demons” at the end. I feel that Miss Hudson gave the performance of her career, one of which The Queen Of Soul would highly approve of! Her anointed voice carefully cradled and caressed each song making them relevant once again. The most poignant scene in the movie was when Miss Franklin was alone her apartment approaching a drunken stupor, when a vision of her mother came and held her in her lap. The direction of the actress to become so small and fragile was heart wrenching!!! Also, Kudos go out to the cast; but special nods to the little girl who played young Aretha, Audra McDonald and Forrest Whitaker!!! Marlon Wayans gave a decent performance as her husband but seemed a little stiff and cliche in scenes with Hudson and Whitaker. Overall, I give the movie a 4.5 out of 5 stars! Go see it you won’t be disappointed!! L. Merriman