Despite the exceptional acting talent on display in the film, "Respect" sometimes waddles a bit too much in formulaic and conventional tropes of biopics. Hudson's singing voice is great as well, and her performances of songs such as "Respect," "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman," and "Amazing Grace" are superb. Particularly notable are Forest Whitaker giving a commanding and powerful performance as Franklin's father, and Marlon Wayans portraying her violent, self-centered husband. Supporting performances in the film are quite strong as well. The film does a great job at humanizing Aretha Franklin, while still showing her emotional and substance-related struggles in a realistic way. To state the obvious, Hudson's leading performance is the true crown jewel of the film.
Its narrative structure is a bit choppy and awkwardly paced, although it should be noted that (to state the obvious) no individual's life depicted in a biopic can fit completely neatly into the conventional three-act Hollywood film structure. The film attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of most of Franklin's life, from her challenging early childhood until the 1970s, but primarily focuses on the mid-to-late 60s and early 70s. She is able to clearly convey passion, empathy, and emotional challenges where appropriate in the film's narrative. Hudson's acting range is potent and profound. It would be no easy task to fully portray Franklin's legacy on screen in an authentic manner, but after having seen the film early at a Fandango advance screening, I'm happy to say that she succeeded. Jennifer Hudson is an excellent actress, and I always thought she would be a great choice to portray Aretha Franklin.
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