Whitney

This documentary chronicles the life with ups and downs of the most cherished raw singer in the history music. Whitney (2018), exposes viewers to life growing up, musical training, drug addition, and family history. Secrets, marriage struggles, being a mother in the industry, and family turmoil are all highlighted in this very raw documentary. It is Whitney Houston like we've never seen it before. If you thought you knew everything about the musical legend, this a must see.

Whitney Houston. Everyone and their dog has heard of a song by this enigmatic lass. The only artist to garner seven consecutive US number one singles and release the best selling single for a female artist of all time. She has broken more records than a lunatic swinging a bat at a jukebox. Yet, with such early fame, her later life was marred with scandals, tainted by drug accessibility and succumbed to an inevitable tragedy. Macdonald's documentary depicts the chaotic world that stardom introduces whilst also retaining a sense of family. Interviews with family members, close friends and colleagues allows a personable quality to shine through this deeply tragic documentary. Tackling broad subject matters of racial segregation and activism during the 80s, the impact of recreational drug usage and never before seen allegations of sexual abuse at a young age. Suffice to say, Houston suffered personal struggles and this film primarily hones in on her downfall. Still retaining her angelic persona, the documentary insinuates that it was her external environment that corrupted her. Similarly to Kapadia's documentary 'Amy', it portrays fame as a disease where young stars are more susceptible to its negativity. The relentless second half drains you on an emotional level as you empathically watch this beautiful talent degrade, especially the phone recording of her 'Nothing But Love' comeback tour. It's not all doom and gloom, the first third does feel hearty and establishes a blossoming strong family bond as we nostalgically glance back at various high points in her short life. 'The Bodyguard', her interpretation of "The Star Spangled Banner" and her numerous number one singles. Alas, you can't help but feel that this overstuffed documentary focuses too much on her ruination. Contaminating a beautiful soul. It's an eye-opening perspective for fans and fledglings (I was the latter) that both informs and occasionally succumbs to emotional exploitation. Powerfully charged nonetheless.

I knew very little Whitney prior to watching this, and I have watched quite a few documentaries on Musicians, some better than others. The best part of this documentary are the interviews with her friends and family, and the fact that it does not flinched away from what Whitney became, it does not sugar coat things, and this was refreshing. I felt it allowed the interviewees to give a fairly unfiltered perspective, and they confirmed the little bits I had heard about Whitney. Particularly when her friends and family confirm what Bobby Brown claims in the first chapter of his biography, that Whitney was really the leader in the their relationship when came to drugs. Her family claims Bobby was quite the lightweight when it comes to drugs. Granted, Bobby had many other problems and was a jerk and philanderer, and that isn't sugar coated either. I also gained some respect for Bobby as he refused to go into the details of the drug usage, now I'm sure part of that was because he doesn't want to say what he did, regardless of it being his or Whitney's influence, and I can't say I blame him, who wants to talk about that when a microscope has been on you most of your life?

This actually turned out to be a far more tragic story than I anticipate, but I won't go into details as to why, it would ruin the surprises, all though sadly, they are bad surprises, and will make you very sad. One of the most disgusting things I didn't know, which would be common knowledge to most people over 35 I suppose, is that Whitney was a victim of racism at the hands of Al Sharpton, Al Sharpton is not a good human being, and he attacked Whitney viciously for not being "black enough", when all she was doing was making the music she wanted to irrespective of color, which is how it should be. It is a sick person that would harass and start protest to the point that it causes a backlash at an awards show, it is highly disturbing, not the most disturbing thing here, but it is very upsetting to see racism from one black person to another over styles of music. Sadly this typical of rhetoric(rooted in critical theory) has not become uncommon, but more common and downright excepted in many places, especially on college campuses. In fact, Al Sharpton has recently criticized some of this stuff recently, when Al Sharpton is criticizing you for being extreme, something is really really wrong.

On the whole, I found it inspiring to watch her singing, when she was in her prime, but it became even more depressing, seeing what a great vocalist she was as a teen and 20-something year old. This is someone who could sing with a huge range without much, and then plummeting to a place where should couldn't even stay on pitch very well, and this is, in my opinion, the saddest thing. Her voice was destroyed because of her pain in her life, because of her chosen coping mechanism; drugs. That is common knowledge, but it is pretty depressing watching this over the course of a two hour film, and it made me really appreciate her, knowing the pain she suffered. I am certain this is what made her not just a great technical vocalist, but one that used emotion and feeling with equal ability; this is what made her so popular.

A movie worth watching if you have interest in popular music or music history, you don't have to be a fan of Whitney, I wasn't, but I think you might just come out a fan after learning more about her.

I was not disappointed. An in depth look at Whitney's life through the people who knew her best. Beautifully put together.

I was lucky enough to see this as part of preview screening at the Brixton Ritzy, bookended by incredible performances from the London Community Gospel Choir. It was emotionally exhausting, a whole range from euphoria at her stratospheric rise to distress at Whitney's destructive fall and personal tragedy. The film is an education in the music industry, media reaction and family drama. Stark and shocking in places with well chosen news footage framing her life in the context of the world she lived in at the time.