Whitney Houston will always be one of the greatest singers of her generation and beyond. Her untimely death shocked the world, but didn’t surprise the few who knew her so well. In the made-for-television movie Whitney, directed by Angela Bassett and released by Lifetime, we are shown, as spectators, the rise and fall of a beloved celebrity.

Basset’s take on the movie is told in a heroic way, and it deserves to be seen by those who entered the fandom for Whitney’s voice and acting talent and who felt deep sorrow over her demise. Watching the movie, I was drawn into the story by Anastas Michos’s cinematic talent, with his long, silent shots that kept the drama raw in an artsy way. The movie felt incredibly real and often ugly,

Basset remains objective throughout the movie, and I wondered whether the Houston family sanctioned it. The director didn’t slam the legend, but let the story unfold, so I could see what happened to Whitney.

Yet, I still felt empty at the end with unanswered questions. What destroyed her life? What were the factors involved? Was it her husband’s immoral lifestyle that influenced her?

Any fan of this multi-talented star will enjoy this movie despite the lack of real details.

There are a couple of issues to consider when viewing this movie. It appears the scenes are reenactments, yet there is no backstory and no foreshadowing. As a result, the movie lacks character development that indicates how Whitney became the celebrity who accidentally drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  We are not given a hint as to why and how she started taking drugs. I would have liked to have seen Basset take this into consideration because the story would have been more interesting. Of course, it is hard to get into an individual’s soul, but I am sure Whitney’s close friends and family could have provided key information.

Yaya DaCosta as Whitney is brilliant, and she has mastered Whitney’s mannerisms. Her singing is flawless and believable, with Deborah Cox’s vocals performed well. Arlen Escarpeta, who plays Whitney’s ex-husband Bobby, nails the part as a celebrity.

Viewers might quickly blame Bobby for Whitney’s demise, and rightly so. He was the man in her life who should have protected her from the evils of stardom. Most of us wish he had protected her, or wish she had found refuge elsewhere in the arms of a religion or a true friend who knew how to help her.