The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Andra Day looks and sounds like every inch the movie star in the performance numbers and when Billie enjoys rare moments of peace and happiness offstage — and she is equally, heartbreakingly believable as Billie’s appearance deteriorates and her soul is crushed by years of drug abuse, and a lifetime of being physically and emotionally battered by a series of men who looked at this amazing, glorious, singular star and saw little more than a cash register.

What the film does have is Andra Day, whose blisteringly raw central performance as the heroin-addicted musician brings a dynamic charge to nearly every scene.

The film finds its purpose most pointedly when it zeroes in on the unambiguous relationship between Holiday and “Strange Fruit.”

Day mesmerizes even when Lee Daniels' unwieldy bio-drama careens all over the map with stylistic inconsistency and narrative dysfunction, settling for episodic electricity in the absence of a robust connective thread. It's a mess, albeit an absorbing one, driven by a raw central performance of blistering indignation, both tough and vulnerable.

Thanks to the power of the subject matter and Day's knockout performance, The United States vs. Billie Holiday is worth seeing. But the film is generally at its best when watching, and listening to, the lady sing.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (which is out now on Hulu) wants to be a history lesson, but it’s at times so one-note and inert that it loses any sense of authenticity.

So The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a misfire, and what a shame, because Andra Day had it in her to be great in this. The movie just didn’t let her bring it out.

Andra Day gave an Oscar worthy performance. The movie had issues, but it's nowhere near a disaster.

I feel Andra Day did an amazing job as Billie Holiday she really embodied her. But i just wish she had i better script to make it a better movie. We know Billie Holiday had her hardships but she was also a amazing singer and she was loved by many i feel they could did a better job showcasing this in the movie as well instead of just showing her hardships it could have been balanced showing both sides of her. I know Lee Daniels said he wanted to make raw and honest but at times to me it felt like he was exploiting the singer Audra in a way in her first major movie role. I feel some of the graphic scenes weren't need to tell the story. If the script was better this could have been a great film because Audra can sing and act.

Right back at ya, Streamers, and Black History Month is closing out with a bang. This weekend The United States vs. Billie Holiday premiered on Hulu. It is a sweet fruit that has ripened for viewing pleasure. Let's see what this film has for you. This prospective awards season darling follows Holiday, played by Andra Day, during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by a black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, Trevante Rhodes, with whom she has a tumultuous affair. (If you want the full facts of this historical depiction, please check the link below the rating.) Nevertheless, how may times can we say in a review your skinfolk ain't always your kinfolk, but your skinfolk just trying to survive and thrive, too! More than that though, the film depicts struggle, love, addiction, talent, the power of words and the damage of drugs and unhealthy relationships. Many of us know the name Billie Holiday but have no clue who she was as a person. This movie brings some insight into what may have plagued her, but I can't say it does her quite justice. A beautiful person can really be such a damaged piece of artwork and, boy, does Andra Day gives us all of that. Her performance is probably the sole reason to really turn this flick on. Nominated for a Golden Globe award and I presume an Academy Award nomination is in her future as well, Day gives us everything. Can I say this is how Billie was? I have no clue, but now I can't go back. Some might say this is too much but without Day's performance this movie would be nothing. The rest of the cast is forgettable, but I will say they did have me cracking up here and there. I don't know whether that was intentional or unintentional, but who cares. What I think the movie misses is the real in-depth or historical facts about the actual case. Lee Daniels is such a strong director of acting, but somewhere in the mystic of Andra's performance he forgot to make the film cohesive. The title of this film is really taken for granted. In fact, the title isn't even necessary because the case really takes a backseat to all of what's really going on with Billie Holiday. The title is powerful and will pull people in to watch, but the execution of plot and storyline was the pits. You know what wasn't the pits, the wardrobe in this movie. When I say top notch, I mean top notch. A few scenes had me saying singers and celebs could never look this good today, forgetting this movie was literally filmed in current times. Hint: you celebs need to get whoever this wardrobe team is and hire them ASAP. I mean I don't want to harp on this point but dang Billie and cast were out here slaying it in every dang screen. EXCEPT ONE DANG-ON WIG ON THIS DUDE'S HEAD!!! You'll see it and it can't be unseen, but I digress. The United States vs. Billie Holiday feels like a missed opportunity to really do justice to "the voice of the century". Andra Day's performance is one for the decades, but the film as a whole is one that can be forgotten. I'd be remiss to say the film itself is just a handful of popcorn without noting that Andra Day as Billie Holiday is the biggest box of popcorn. Check it out for her performance alone but be prepared to be underwhelmed by the rest.

bad [ bad ] adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36. not good in any manner or degree.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]