Whitney (film)

Whitney
Distributed by Lifetime Television
Directed by Angela Bassett
Produced by Larry Sanitsky
Kyle A. Clark
Lina Wong
Written by Shem Bitterman
Based on Whitney Houston and
Bobby Brown
Starring Yaya DaCosta
Arlen Escarpeta
Yolonda Ross
Suzzanne Douglas
Music by RedOne
Wuff
Dan Sundquist
Travon Potts
Cinematography Anastas N. Michos
Editing by Richard Comeau
Country United States
Language English
Release date
  • January 17, 2015
Running time 88 mins

Whitney is a 2015 American made for television biographical film directed by Angela Bassett based on the late American recording artist Whitney Houston and her turbulent marriage to R&B artist Bobby Brown that premiered on the Lifetime network on January 17, 2015.[1] Houston and Bassett were costars in the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. The film, unlike Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B received warmly positive reviews from critics, however was met with criticism from Houston's family, in particular her mother Cissy Houston and daughter Bobbi Kristina, who expressed an interest in wanting to portray her late mother.[2]

The movie stars Yaya DaCosta as Houston, Arlen Escarpeta as Brown and Yolonda Ross as Houston's longtime friend and road manager Robyn Crawford. The television film, a period piece, takes place between the years of 1989 and 1994, whereas Houston was experiencing worldwide success of The Bodyguard soundtrack. Filming took 20 days to shoot and was primarily filmed in California cities of Los Angeles and Santa Clarita.

Canadian R&B singer Deborah Cox performs all of Houston's vocals in the film, including "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Your Baby Tonight", "I'm Every Woman", "Jesus Loves Me" and "The Greatest Love of All".

Synopsis

In 1989, Whitney Houston is a worldwide phenomenon and household name with two highly successful self-titled albums under her belt. She attends the 3rd Annual Soul Train Awards with her high school friend and road manager Robyn, who is a lesbian. It is here that she meets R&B star Bobby Brown and they begin a courtship shortly after, due to her being impressed with Brown's performance of "Every Little Step" (In reality, Brown performed "My Prerogative" at the ceremony).

As Houston begins recording her third album I'm Your Baby Tonight the relationship between her and Brown continues to blossom consistently, leading to a sexual relationship between the two. Unbeknownst to her, Brown is in a relationship with his girlfriend Kim, who had just given birth to his daughter. Just as Houston discovers this, she is left heartbroken and infuriated. Bobby later severs ties with Kim, and Whitney later manages to pull through and persevere in the already hectic relationship.

By the start of the 1990s, Brown starts to deal with pressures after the release of his second album Don't Be Cruel while Houston deals by coping with cocaine use (which is hinted at earlier in the film, by two instances: at her twenty-sixth birthday where Brown first discovers her using it, and in another during a meeting with Clive Davis regarding her third album), however both are overshadowed by the love affair that continues to grow.

In 1991, the courtship later becomes public knowledge, and Houston and Brown are engaged, much to the chagrin of her mother Cissy, and they are soon married by July 1992. In the meantime, Houston makes her film debut in the lead role of Rachel in The Bodyguard. She is reluctant at first, but Brown coerces her into doing so. She ultimately accepts. During filming, Houston has a miscarriage with her first child, leading her to become very sickly. As Cissy pressures her to give up on the relationship, Houston rejects her mother's plea and continues to see Brown. Brown, by this time, is hit with a dry spell in his career, in which his record label pressures him to put out a greatest hits disc.

Whitney struggles to keep up with fame as she continues to dabble with drug use after the birth of their daughter Bobbi Kristina. Soon after, The Bodyguard and its subsequent soundtrack becomes a massive success, leading Whitney to go on an international tour for nearly two years.

Meanwhile Bobby's career has taken a back seat to the point that he cheats on Whitney with random women.

Cast

References