jc-osms I've never been a fan of Whitney Houston and would probably admit that my least favourite song of all time is her nostrils-flaring, overblown version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You". In my opinion too she also helped usher in a whole train of over-singing, pretentious divas like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Britney Spears et.al whose too-perfect voices exhibit all the emotion and soul of a fridge. But you don't have to be a fan to be interested in her tragic life story, which like other pop icons of the era, like George Michael, Prince and Michael Jackson saw her life end way too early.This documentary purports to tell her life story as she's groomed from being the talented young daughter of tough-mum, gospel singer Cissy Houston and her doting dad into the all-conquering pop star of the mid 80's with an entourage that would put Elvis Presley to shame. Inevitably and sadly, it seems clear to me that these self-interested hangers-on, including her temperamental party-loving husband, R and B singer Bobby Brown, childhood best friend and P.A. Robyn and by the end, even her old dad are clearly milking Whitney the cash cow for all they can get even while professing undying love and devotion to her. With friends like these, as the saying goes...Houston herself comes off as a talented kid flung into superstardom too early, struggling to cope with, as she says herself, the fame that it brings. It certainly doesn't help that none of her nearest and dearest, from her unnaturally cold mother, to bad-influence hubby Brown seem to either know or care that she's spiralling downwards out of control and even the presence of her young daughter Bobbi, whose life also ended in similarly tragic circumstances a few years later, couldn't turn Whitney round.Much of the film footage seems to derive from an access-all-areas tour of the singer's in 1999, still a long time from her eventual death in 2012, but even then the signs of strain and her addiction to drugs are becoming evident. It's sad to compare the wide-eyed stardom of the still-clean young girl just embracing stardom with her much older run-down later self trying to cope with her own life style. For me the most shocking image was that of the detritus of the drug-taking paraphernalia in the dressing room of the hotel room where she died in her bathtub. Naturally everybody here only has words of adoration for her singing ability with one of her acolytes equating her voice to being like "God in the room" and yet she struggled to gain acceptance from her black audience who considered her sound too pop, by which of course they mean too white - as witness their booing of her at an awards ceremony, prompting her to go more R and B with future albums which failed to hit the commercial heights of her earlier releases.As the demises of the other superstars mentioned above makes only too clear, it truly does seem to be lonely at the very top and even if I left this movie appreciating Whitney Houston's music not one bit more, I certainly felt some sympathy for the waste of a young talent, long before its time.

hestergoldberg This documentary is not so much an homage to an amazing lady with a god given voice, but a honest look behind the limelight scenes: a woman trying her best to keep it all together. Although we all know how the story ends, this picture takes us back to the start. We see her star rising: albums, shows, world tours, movies, awards. Stock material mixed with many personal videos show us how success brings fortune and fame but also pressure, uncertainty and anxiety. Close friends and family share their personal thoughts about these high and low periods.

jrcham94 Whitney Houston's story is not in the end a happy one, but this film celebrates the woman behind the image, humanizing her in a way not previously accomplished in earlier films. With never-before-seen footage, the filmmakers capture Whitney and her world up-close, from before she was famous through her ultimate decline. What's special about this film is the lack of judgment present; it is up to the viewer to determine what might have been done to protect a fragile soul from the brutality of fame. The film captures Whitney's brilliance as a vocalist, her likability as a person, and her vulnerability to those who did not have her best interests at heart. Her story is both breathtaking and heartbreaking, told by filmmakers sympathetic to her as a person, affording her a dignity not seen in previous bios.

WilliBerg I saw this at the Sydney Film Festival where both showings for this documentary were sold out.The documentary is a mixed bag. It is at times insightful, at times exploitative and sensationalist, and at other times thrilling to see Whitney performing in concert and seeing her backstage.There are a few concert footage songs and they are amazing! Even Whitney singing in her hotel room is amazing. This is footage from her 1999 "My Love Is Your Love" tour, showing concert and backstage footage, and life on the road with some of her crew, including husband Bobby Brown and her best friend Robyn Crawford. This glimpse into her life is interesting and gives some rare insight.The rest of the film is largely interviews with people who worked with Whitney, such as her bodyguard, hairdresser, and band members etc., and it is spliced with footage that Whitney fans most likely have already seen but others probably haven't.The documentary wouldn't be much without the concert footage and it is lucky to have it. That is where we see and hear Whitney's music. The most interesting part is actually seeing Whitney. Other footage they could get of Whitney is from shows like MTV or the American Music Awards.The talking head interviews are with people who knew Whitney and they provide their own opinions. They are ultimately their own opinions. It is up to the viewer to decide whether they believe them or not. But they did work with and know Whitney to some extent. Their opinions range from their thoughts on her husband Bobby, to her sexuality, to her family, and to drugs.The cinema audience I was with applauded at the end.The most I got out of it was the concert footage performances, what there was of it. It was fantastic to see and hear on the big screen. I could've watched 2 hours of that.I do feel I have more of an idea of Whitney and her life as an artist and public figure after watching this. Ultimately, though, what stays with you is the music. The performances. Whitney.