167. The United States vs Billie Holiday; movie review

 

THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY

Cert 15

130 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

Why have the American authorities been consistently so afraid of people of colour?

After a week of watching the trial of George Floyd's killer in Minnesota, we were agog at The United States vs Billie Holiday.

This is the true story of how the singer was hounded to her death by detectives just because she sang a song about a lynching.

Holiday had witnessed the horror and her ode to it, Strange Fruit, was later inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame - sadly, long after she had passed.

Andra Day gives a remarkable performance as the singer who came from a deprived and depraved background, was exploited by unscrupulous men, dogged by drink and drunk addiction and yet could sing like nobody has before or since.

All of the above contributed to her being headstrong and simultaneously vulnerable.

Her actions during Lee Daniels' movie give the impression of someone who is at least borderline bipolar.

One minute she is literally the life and soul of the party, the next she is seething with anger and the next at the pit of depression.

The pressure on her is unbelievable and unbearable, led by the racist head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger (Garrett Hedlund).

He uses black agent Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes) to follow her around but the latter is conflicted between his duty and admiration or even love for the singer.

Meanwhile, she has an entourage who, rather than keep her on the straight and narrow, cave into her every whim, particularly for doing drugs.

And then there are the husbands/managers who squeezed her for every penny while combining sex with beatings.

Somehow between this trauma and the politics of being denied the cabaret card needed by all performers, she sings like an angel.

Yes, even while intoxicated on drink or drugs! And Day mimics Holiday's voice quite beautifully.

So, while her persecution and bad behaviour are very much part of the story, it is her unique voice which will never be forgotten - and, thankfully, during this excellent film, stands out above all other noise.

Reasons to watch: Stunning performance by Andra Day

Reasons to avoid: Lasts a tad too long

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? Billie Holiday was the first black woman to work with a white orchestra when she paired with clarinettist, composer and bandleader Artie Shaw in 1938.

The final word. Andra Day: "I love Billie Holiday. I’m a big fan. I really, really love this woman and I love Diana Ross and her performance in “Lady Sings the Blues” and I just think she’s sort of a monstrous talent and what she gave us culturally was amazing and necessary. Audra McDonald on Broadway was also incredible and I think that I just have this idea in my mind that I would be the one stain that everybody was like, “Oh, man, remember when Andra Day tried to be Billie Holiday?” Gold Derby

 

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