Respect: DVD Review

Respect's mix of music and themes of abuse sit uneasily in this biopic of the legendary singer Aretha Franklin.

It's largely in part due to a script that doesn't outright condemn what happened, prefers to time jump rather than deal with after-effects or consequences as the story shifts through a 20 year period of Franklin's career as a child-singer in her father's choir to superstar still being beaten by life in general.

It helps little that in many ways Tommy's film follows the formulaic and never really breaks out the sensational other than the moments where Hudson sings and belts out the Franklin classics which is where the movie soars and spines are tingled.

It’s just everything in between which fails unfortunately to hit those heights.

Combining a familiar story arc in a range of generally disjointed scenes and disparate narrative thread doesn’t do much to endear audiences to the positively bum-numbing 145 minute run time of Respect, no matter how impressive the performances of Hudson, Whitaker and Wayans are.

Whitaker and Wayans impressed as Franklin’s preacher father and lover Ted White respectively but these are characters which are relatively one note - Whitaker the fervent preacher and Wayans as the lothario with whom Franklin has chosen to rebel against her father.

Conflicts arise at a whim, but dissipate even quicker, skimmed over in time jumps that lead to a feeling of a discordant narrative.

But, much like in Aretha’s life, there’s little sign of consequences for any of their failings, and by failing to fully condemn it feels like Respect is strangely enabling domestic violence relationships - it’s an obligatory narrative to stay true to Franklin's life but one which stands out in 2021. It helps even less that at crucial moments in the narrative, there are time jumps and scenes are left unresolved.

In truth, Respect is at its best when it concentrates on the singing, with cameras capturing the electrifying moments of Hudson at her spine-tingling best.

From the Mussel Shoal rehearsals to the late night session which saw rise to the titular song, Respect is at its most electric when it allows the reason to shine that we’ve all hit the cinema for - her music.

The fragile artist afflicted by demons cliche is in abundance here, and while there are moments that Tommy's film hints at its true horror - from child sexual abuse to outright domestic violence - the darkness is never allowed into the limelight to rear its repugnant head.

Maybe best viewed as a concert pic, rather than fully rounded biopic, Respect just about does its job, but for a more intimate portrayal of a moment of Aretha Franklin's life, doco Amazing Grace still won't be beaten. Because based on this movie, Franklin's legacy deserves a bit more respect than it actually gets.