Kim L. Hooper

Excellent sequel that drives the narrative of the original film. Denzel, excellent. Pedro, excellent. Joseph Quinnm excellent, Paul Mescal, excellent. Get the picture?

I didn't dislike this movie, but it took way too long to get to its climax. Gaga was great, but the nearly unrecognizable Jared Leto owned and stole every scene he was in.

Watched this uneven account about the Queen of Soul lass night. J-Hud delivers a stellar performance and Forest Whitaker never disappoints. But the screenplay and direction are both choppy, almost sophomoric. Aretha's early child pregnancies (at ages 12 and 14) aren't directly addressed, merely alluded to, as is the Rev. C.L. Franklin's drinking, womanizing and violent temper. We never get beneath the surface of a woman who had complexity, depth and gut-wrenching soul.