Kristen Grant

The movies attempt at familiarizing the audience with critical characters was mediocre at best. It took me 2 days to get through this agonizing film. I had to keep stopping it and returning later out of complete disinterest. Waiting for any actual pivotal scenes that express why this movie was even made in the first place. Ms. Franklin was no doubt an active supporter for civil rights throughout her early years, having been privileged to know (as if family) many of the greatest and most influential leaders, musicians, stars, and advocates of the time. Regardless of all this the movie dragged on with no actual arch one would expect for why her story was being told in the first place. The expectation of there being an actual interesting point was amiss here. Jennifer Hudsons acting leaves little to be desired. She often sounds as if she is reading her lines or being fed through an ear piece, extremely monotone. Her voice although higher in range than the originals by Ms Franklin is without question superb. We hear riffs and skats by Ms. Hudson that are hardly used in today's music and so it was the only pleasurable part of the movie for me. Mr. Wayans did a fantastic job here! His performance allowed the audience to forget he typically has done mostly comedies, he has definitely grown into a mire serious and talented performance actor. The writing for his character however was missing some important information such as, who he was "known" to be..? I was unable to piece it together by the script and needed to reference Google. What had he been doing for a living that upset Mr Franklin so much for instance? It was never explained. One scene only it is revealed that he beat up a venue owner.. but why? We're never told. Forrest Whitaker as always excellent acting, on the money. It seems Mr Whitaker embraces every role he takes with complete passion and the ability to "become" the character in question. Remarkable. The supporting cast did their respective jobs, none were notable, none made much of an impact that would've changed the grade. I found no reason to learn about Ms Franklin's life in this movie.. it was common in many ways as all people have a back story. If the accounts of the movie are accurate she led no more and no less of an interesting life than many stars have, so why make a movie of it? This was no Billie Holiday, or Bessie Smith type tale so don't expect one.

I need to disagree with the majority on this one. 96% of this movie was absolutely amazing but then it's as if the writer decided they'd were board and passed the writing off to some intern and said "I'm board you finish it and do what you want". The movie is unique and starts out as a genuine family who encounters a serious situation. The main characters had a bond that many of us can find familiar. The acting was beautiful. Spoiler Alert** Then all of a sudden it became almost comical. The music, the way it was approached, they took a winner and in the last few minutes changed the entire theme of it. Utterly disappointed

Beyond dragging and disappointing. I've watched the Sopranos series several times over the last 20 yrs. This was your basic run of the mill wise guy movie we've seen a hundred times without the excitement. The movie primarily focuses on Dicky Moltisanti not on Tony. Same old Gomah focuses on a beautiful woman being used as a side piece by the mob guy, always wanting more than he is either willing or can give. No depth to the character at all. As for James Gandolfinis son and all the reviews I read before the movie hit the screen on how you could "see James (Tony) in him so much" I have to disagree. Not only does he not look very much like his famed father IMO his acting left little to be desired. Junior Sopranos character was neither here nor there, very little storyline on him to the point we couldn't see much resemblance until one scene late in the movie where we come to the conclusion we may have got much more out of the movie had we seen Juniors perspective. Tony's dad is barely in the movie as well. Anytime he is shown is quick and a bit dismissive as to who he was and how his influence on a young Tony may have had more to do with Tony's choices and personality as an adult. Oliveas character was played wonderfully, we could see the younger mothers beginning of narcissism and dramatics, but oh how longed for at least one scene where she pulled the crocodile tears into the hanky and say " oh I should just be sent out to pasture now." Kuddos to the actress for giving some definition to the movie. Only small glimpses into Paulie Walnuts and Silvio are given. Overall if the movie was supposed to give us an idea of why Tony took the route he did as an adult, it failed, terribly. Also we never see any form of anger or deviance from Tony that would indicate later in life he could be so ruthless and self absorbed. We only see some teenage shenanigans that certainly don't explain the degree of the madness that is to come later in life.