Whitney – JULY 6th 2018

WHAT’S IT ABOUT

Whitney Houston broke more music industry records than any other female singer in history. With over 200 million album sales worldwide, she was the only artist to chart seven consecutive U.S. No. 1 singles. She also starred in several blockbuster movies before her brilliant career gave way to erratic behavior, scandals, and death at age 48. The documentary feature Whitney is an intimate, unflinching portrait of Houston and her family that probes beyond familiar tabloid headlines and sheds new light on the spellbinding trajectory of Houston’s life. Using never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive demo recordings, rare performances, audio archives and original interviews with the people who knew her best, Oscar (R)-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald unravels the mystery behind “The Voice,” who thrilled millions even as she struggled to make peace with her own troubled past.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Whitney is a 2-hour documentary about one of the most beloved female singers of our time. A superstar that the everyday person forgets is a person first. The images in this film are gritty and honest and if done any other way would only embarrass and humiliate her legacy. As a rated R theater documentary, the director could do, say, and show more than any television movie could.

Through interviews, home movies, and tons of pictures from family and tabloids, director Kevin Macdonald gives us a Whitney we have only heard rumors about. A Whitney that until now, most of her friends and family would heavily deny. Right from the start of this film, we are treated to Whitney’s lovely singing voice. Minutes later, the movie takes a dark, humanizing turn. We are then shown glimpses of America in all its racial beauty. Images like this set the tone for the rest of the film helping us visualize the struggle of a young Black girl from the hood. From there we meet her family, closest friends, managers, and a slew of others that closed her path throughout her career.

Further, into the documentary, you start to empathize a little and come to terms with Whitney as a real person and just some random headlines grabbing celebrity. She was a superstar with real demons and conflicting emotions that too many people ignored for fear of their position or being ostracized completely. In the end, we are left with the guilt of letting one of our greatest vessels die right in front of us. So, instead of trying to correct the issues that plague people like Whitney, we continue to mock, point fingers and blame what we as fans have assisted in creating. This was a great film about a great woman with messages of love and anguish that ultimately engulfed her soul and took her life.

DVD/BLU-RAY/DIGITAL

Genre – Documentary

Street date

Digital – October 2^nd 2018

DVD/Blu-Ray – October 16^th 2018

Video – 1080p

Screen size – 1.78:1

Sound

English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles – English SDH, Spanish

Extras

• Audio Commentary with Producer Simon Chinn and Director Kevin Macdonald

• Motion Photo Gallery Featuring Images Courtesy of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston