adminWhen telling the incredible but cumbersome story of the iconic Whitney Houston’s meteoric rise and fall from grace, but only have 88 minutes to play with, where do you even start?
Angela Bassett, a friend of the late singer, directed the TV film — Whitney for Lifetime (DStv channel 131), despite the Houston family slamming the biopic.
The Times has seen the film, which focused mostly on the early years of Houston – falling in love with Bobby Brown and the party lifestyle which they courted, the securing of a lead role on the blockbuster The Bodyguard and what her fame and popularity (and his waning star power) did to their relationship. Brown became possessive, and insisted reporters called Houston “Mrs Brown”, and one scene at a nightclub finally broke the camel’s back, when a groupie asked him, “So who are you now? Mr Houston?”
That’s when the infedility supposedly started with Houston catching Brown having sex with a woman he picked up from the club. But there are plenty of tender moments too, such as when Houston suffered a miscarriage while filming The Bodyguard, and Brown promising to be by her side, urging her to go ahead and finish the film and tour because it would be the turning point in her career — which she does.
Houston is played by Yaya DaCosta, while Arlen Escarpeta played Brown. Both were competent performances and they managed to capture the couple’s passionate and possessive relationship. But it also steered clear of the latter, and more headline-grabbing, years, when Brown allegedly began to physically abuse the songstress.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey . . . years ago, Houston told the talk show queen that Brown slapped her while he was on probation for traffic violations, which he had forgotten. She also recalled Brown spitting on her in front of her parents, and even the moment she began to move her furniture and sell off her valuables.
Brown was not convicted for the alleged incidences, and has always publicly denied ever hitting Houston. The drug scenes, another big reason for the breakdown of the marriage, were kept to a minimum.
Last month, the Houston family released a statement penned by the singer’s sister-in-law, Pat Houston, telling fans: “If you watch this movie, watch it knowing that Lifetime is notorious for making bad biopics of deceased celebrities and brace yourself for the worst”.
Pat Houston also criticised Bassett, saying: “Misrepresenting the term friendship to advance an agenda is not only disrespectful and dishonest, but a slap in the face to her true and loyal friends”.
Lifetime revealed that the film would premiere on DStv channel 131 tomorrow at 8PM and will be available until Monday.
Online Reporter