Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017) | Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2017
- Impromptu video!
On Saturday I watched the new Whitney Houston documentary called, "Whitney: Can I Be Me" (2017) directed by Nick Broomfield and Rudi Dolezal. I'd consider myself to be a Whitney Houston fan, so I was very much looking forward to watching this documentary. So now that I've watched it, I just thought I'd give my review of the movie! I'm hoping this video can serve as a conversation starter about this documentary and the legacy of the legendary Whitney Houston.
Let me know your thoughts on the documentary below! :)
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I have always been a Whitney Houston fan!! It broke my heart when she passed away. I really just could not watch this documentary, but I agreed with everything you said. What bothers me the most is after she passed away here comes all these people saying what was wrong with her and her life. Where were you when she needed you??
Thanks, Denise! It's definitely a downer like I said, but if you ever get in the right head space to watch it - I still definitely recommend this movie, especially since you're a Whitney fan. However, I will say that you probably know everything this movie talks about because you're already a huge fan.
I actually became a bigger Whitney fan after watching this movie and have been in a legit Whitney tunnel (lol) for the past 2 months. I've listened to every album multiple times, seen the movies, watched sooo many interviews, etc. So with all of that being said, I've definitely become more emotionally attached to her and her music. And I totally agree - where were all these people during the bad times & when she needed them the most?! I was actually watching that "Houstons On Our Own" TV reality series and Bobby Kris expressed the same sentiments! It's really sad.
Great review about the Whitney a true mega star. The world will never see another like her. I'm so glad I saw her live at Radio City. She was awesome!!
Madelyn johnson Thanks, Madelyn! Omg - you cannot just casually drop you saw Whitney live at Radio City Music Hall & not give any details!! Details please, Madelyn. I need songs, time & date, what was she wearing, etc. 😂😂
So I just watched this doc and while there was a lot of interesting insight, I did feel like it jumped around a lot and left some gaping holes in between major life events. The revelations about her sexuality blew my mind, only because I had NO IDEA that was a thing! It's still hard to say whether she was a closeted lesbian or just fluid- either way, WOW, that would've created a whole world of inner torment, especially with her mother being blatantly homophobic. I'm actually surprised no one suggested that her getting with Bobby was a form of rebellion against the family (sort of like "ok you want me to be straight? fine, i'll go out and marry the biggest bad boy I can find"). It's so crazy to think that nowadays there would be TONS of people pulling for her to come out as queer. Back then it seemed she had to constantly prove that she was straight as an arrow (that one interview from the mid-90's I was like "WTF?? leave her alone already!")
Overall it was a good doc, especially for an unauthorized one. I do agree they could've touched on at least one or two happy moments, such as her daughter being born. Although, the sad fact is that she was a working machine going nonstop throughout her entire adult life. By the time she finally did slow down the drugs had taken over and her marriage to Bobby was a great big pile of dysfunction. Sigh :\
Hah, I totally understand what you mean, babytomato. Actually it's funny because I'm replying to you literally about exactly a year ago from when I filmed this video, so it feels like I'm talking to my past self in a weird way, haha. But yeah. I had no idea either about any of the questions regarding Whitney's sexuality when I first watched the documentary as well. And like you, it blew my mind.
Idk if you've seen the "Whitney" documentary that just came out last July...but when it comes out on DVD/streaming, you should definitely give it a watch. It's actually authorized by her estate and includes interviews with family members and people who worked closely with Whitney. It's an interesting comparison to this one. But in it, they obviously discuss the sexuality issue as well and Ricky Minor (her bassist and then eventual Music Director) confirmed that she was sexually fluid. So...yeah. And honestly when it comes to the topic of her sexuality, I tend to favor the opinions of those who worked with her vs. the family since they to this day have very strong opinions about gay/lesbian relationships & more specifically, Robyn Crawford.
But yep. I agree. That must have led to a lot of inner turmoil within her. And then when you consider that she comes from a very religious background, coming up in an industry/time when being queer was a career killer (unlike now)...she was dealing with A LOT. Like, her story is actually really sad. Her life really would have unfolded in a very different way had she purely existed in a different era.
Glad you were able to see it because i don't have that chanel. Anyway thanks for that awesome review. Because of you i know more about documentary. Thank you good work! Whitney was very special and will be missed
I actually just added on Showtime (free for 1 month, lol) to my Hulu subscription, so that's how I was able to watch it.
I'm sure you can also find it somewhere online. Try googling "Whitney Can I Be Me Putlocker" and see if you can find something. Putlocker usually has a lot of the movies/tv shows that are out.
Happy that my review was able to be informative in that way for you. And thanks so much! Appreciate the kind words. You are so right. There will never be another like her and she is so, so missed. RIP Whitney ❤️❤️
I agree that the movie was very sad. I grew up in her era and I never realized how much she was going through. One thing that was interesting to see was how unenthusiastic she seemed backstage of her concerts. She seemed so sad!
Wow, you're so lucky to have grown up with her essentially. I was born in '93, so by the time I was really "of a conscious age", that was sort of the darker years of Whitney's life - ie Being Bobby Brown, the "crack is whack" interview, etc. I do remember watching her last interview with Oprah because my mom is a big Whitney fan and we were really rooting for her to get better. Her life was pretty sad though.
Yeah! She looked so exhausted and frail in those moments. I felt bad for her.
Thank you for York comprehensive and fair review! The piano medley was great thanks for the link
You're welcome! And thanks for watching. I tried to balance my comments as much as possible because although it was definitely not perfect, I think there were some things that the movie did well and also other things that it didn't do so well.
The piano medley is so lovey. Definitely check out his other videos on his channel too for other great medleys as well.
inn.my.humble.opinion thanks for the reply, because of your review I decided to watch it. I'm actually watching it right now!😊
whynow_whynot Oh yay! Like I said, it's a bit of a downer but I hope you enjoy. Would love to hear your thoughts after you watch it!
inn.my.humble.opinion I liked it. I grew up a whitney fan1990 until her death. The doc had a sad undertone but it fit because her down spiral was so confusing to fans it put perspective on that spiral, not just saying she was an addict. I think that's the perspective they wanted to take. I did feel like it was not in depth as it could have been, probably because it was unauthorized. Whitney Houston was so gifted, talented, and beautiful the last decade of her life was just so sad. Hopefully the next film or doc about her will focus more on her career achievments.
Yeah, I agree. Like you said, instead of just saying, "She died because she was an addict" - they tried to explain the possible things that happened to her throughout her life that may have led her to depend on drugs.
I think the whole "unauthorized" factor definitely left them with not as much access to footage that would have helped paint a fuller picture of Whitney. But, oh well.
I'm hoping that whatever movie, show, or documentary comes out next, it will be a celebration of Whitney's life and legacy. I personally think it's possible to celebrate the good and bad. But I just feel like the documentary overall just focused on the bad times, that after it was over you were just like, "Damn. That was depressing as hell".
I really enjoyed the documentary, but I think they should have delved into the three miscarriages she suffered and how that heartbreak impacted her life. These miscarriages are all a matter of public record.
Oh wow! I knew she had a miscarriage but I didn't know she had 3.
I was watching that Whitney Lifetime movie the other day and even they showed her having one miscarriage.
Someone in the comments also brought up how they never brought up her miscarriages. I'm sure that loss must have absolutely affected Whitney's mental psyche in some way. It's so devastating & I can't even imagine how she must have felt having gone through it 3 times. It was definitely a missed opportunity on the documentary's part - especially since it's public record like you said.
I've been binge watching any n all YT vids of or about Whitney for the last month, all because I gave in n watched her 22' movie. I was born 86 and have always agreed she was the best voice around but I wasn't really into her music. Loved IWDWS & IWALY tho. But since watching the movie, I too have been obsessively watching n reading things about her. I really wish she was still her n I really miss her, even though I literally just became a fan this year (2023). Lol. Thank u for your review, im contemplating if I should pay to watch that docu.
I believe before Bobby, Whitney was a functioning drug user, however she still managed to keep it together. It didn't really become evident until about the late 1990s when she started losing control & became heavily addicted.
I truly miss her.
Brandon Chase Oh I 1,000% agree! As much as Bobby & Whitney may have loved each other, they sort of enabled one another. Putting two people with their own set of vices does not add up - and we all know how that turned out.
I miss her too, Brandon. Since watching the documentary, I've been obsessively watching anything Whitney related on YT to learn more about her - performances, interviews, specials - and it makes me miss her even more! She was so hilarious and had such a great spirit. Plus that voice! Ugh. RIP Whitney. ❤️❤️❤️
Wow really enjoyed your review! Well thought out and well said. Definitely brought up some points that I didn't think about and your honesty throughout the whole thing is refreshing. I was able to watch a replay on showtime tonight and honestly for me, I was a little disappointed and saddened after watching the film. I wasn't expecting the overall heartbreaking direction and commentary. By no means am I an "expert" on Whitney, but I'm definitely a fan (I've watched a lot of footage of her online over the years, seen her movies, love all her music etc). I knew the doc was going to be a bit of a downer but it was darker than I imagined! While I was expecting her drug use and sexuality (and relationships) to certainly be part of the film, I felt as though those topics were the MAIN themes. I really thought Broomfield would've shed a broader light on her LEGACY and the achievements throughout her career in addition to her secrets, demons etc. The intimate, raw and uncut footage that Broomfield used throughout the film was awesome and I really enjoyed that was able to dig up some stuff from the archives that had never been released, but some of it was a little distant and seemed to only focus on one area of her life at times. There were some important time periods in the mid 90s and the years after she divorced Bobby that were left out which confused me. And I guess this goes with any documentary on someone who is deceased, but its hard to distinguish between what is gossip and what is fact in some of interviews by her entourage and family etc. In the interviews, it was interesting to see her entourage protect and defend her in each of their own ways, but also confirming her demons and secrets. I better stop myself before I write an essay here haha. In the end I agree with you that I was left with a lot of questions (although several things were confirmed for me by tuning in), waiting more and glad that I was able to check it out to see some footage of Whitney that I had never seen before. I'm left with mixed feelings on it and saddened by the overall theme but I don't regret checking it out. My thoughts, respect, love and admiration for the great Whitney Houston have not changed. RIP Nippy.
Thanks so much, Genevieve! Really happy you enjoyed my review! Whitney is one of my faves and I always wanted to learn more about her, so I just wanted to give my honest thoughts on the documentary.
Sorry to hear you were a little disappointed with the film. But I can totally relate to you feeling sad afterwards. I think I even shed a couple tears myself. I agree that the overall tone was heartbreaking. Like I said, they never really had any moments of light because they just kept pointing out all the problems Whitney was dealing with - even during the high points of her career. It was definitely, definitely much darker than I anticipated.
Personally I thought they didn't talk as much about her drug use as I expected - maybe because I was expecting the worst. But I had no idea about her possible bisexuality! So that part was definitely eye opening to me. But yes, they definitely dwelled on those themes for a majority of the film. I totally thought at least by the end Broomfield would have taken a lighter approach and talked about her legacy/ overall accomplishments in life like you said - but nope. All doom & gloom.
Yes! I agree that there were crucial years that were missing in Whitney's life that they never talked about. Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think they ever really showed Whitney in the 2000s or 2010s. Some people in the comments section talked about how they never brought up her miscarriages - which I'm sure also deeply affected Whitney. I was actually listening to her interview with Wendy Williams the other day (she's so hilarious in it, oh my Lord) and it broke my heart when she said that she wanted a son. Sad that she never had another child.
Your point about there not really being a clear distinction between gossip and fact was actually a major criticism in a lot of reviews I read about the film. So you're not alone in your thoughts. I guess in a way Broomfield probably got a majority of his research through word of mouth from Whitney's camp/ inner circle - which is why it probably has that tone of "he said, she said". Like you, I also thought it was interesting to hear about Whitney from "the people who knew her best". I think the way they spoke about Whitney during their interviews shows their fierce loyalty to her and how much they all loved & were equally concerned about her well-being.
We're probably the same level of fan - actually you probably know a little more than me. I've seen The Bodyguard (obviously) and know a lot of the popular hits. I've just recently started working my way through all her discography and am planning on watching her other films. I've also spent the past couple of days obsessively watching any interview and live performance I can find on RUclips, haha. But overall, I walk away with the same sentiments as you. I'm happy that I at least watched it, but it did make me feel very down in the dumps after watching it. I still have tremendous respect for Whitney & what she was able to accomplish in her career - in fact I think I even may love her a bit more after learning about all the other demons she was dealing with throughout her life aside from the drug use. She is and always will be The Voice to me. RIP Whitney. ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks so much for all your thoughts, Genevieve. I appreciate hearing anyone's thoughts on the documentary! And no worries on the length! (This reply is probably just as long - if not longer.) I love your passion and if there's anything/anyone worth writing an essay for - it's Whitney Houston.
inn.my.humble.opinion
it's funny because this documentary made me start going on a Whitney "rabbit hole" on you tube as well. Haha. Been obsessively watching footage all week! Coming across some great stuff, interviews and old performances etc. Whitney in interviews makes me laugh because you can tell she's not always a fan, part of the role she had to play and you could tell she'd rather be somewhere else. she was so blunt and well spoken. You may have seen this already but I found a Q&A with one of the producers of the film and it actually helped me gain a better understanding of the documentary and respect for where they were trying to come from: ruclips.net/video/xQXU4Q9rX-8/видео.html
And I agree with you that when you learn about all of the other demons she was dealing with you learn to lover her more. You know when I think of Whitney I think of the quote "you must sacrifice in order or achieve greatness." She had this amazing gift from God that needed to be shared with the world, in order to share this gift she acted as a vessel. It's like she accepted this invitation from God to do what needs to be done in order to be the greatest of all time. she was willing to accept that challenge from God but she paid the price for it.
GIRL. SAME. Like, Ever since the documentary, that's all I practically do in my freetime: fall into the Whitney Houston RUclips rabbit hole. If the thumbnail has her in it or there's a video title with her name in it - I 11 out of 10 times will watch it. RUclips sort of acts like a time machine in that way, haha.
Shady Whitney Houston interviews are my absolute favorite - no matter what era. She's so witty and quick with her humor, sometimes the people who are with her don't even realize that she's made a joke. I've listened to the Wendy Williams interview you with her at least 10 times. There's so many classic quotes in it.
Wendy: Whitney, Whitney, Whitney
Whitney: Wendy, Wendy Wendy...oh my lawd. Have I waited for this day.
😂😂😂😂😂
Funny that you shared that Q&A with me! I was JUST finishing watching that video when you replied to my comment. It's really interesting to hear the director talk rather negatively about the Estate - especially calling Pat Houston "incompetent". YIKES. It seems the general consensus across the board in the fan community is that Pat Houston is a little suspect.
Absolutely agree with you on Whitney's sacrifice to achieve greatness. All the greats had to sacrifice something in order to achieve that level of greatness. She was definitely a vessel! That sort of reminds me of how Oprah once described Whitney's voice, "It's as if God touched your voice."
That interview gives me LIFE. Whitney is such a boss.
Wendy: Wow Whitney, you're really defensive! Whitney: Well I have to be Wendy, you talk about me every f***king day... Speaking of that awesome interview I came across this skit and almost fell off my chair. This chick did a great job, her other celebrity face-offs are pretty funny: ruclips.net/video/cZ4g9T0oMkA/видео.html
Yes, its interesting to hear a different side to the coin on the Houston estate. Trying to sell her Grammys, Pat being incompetent, family trying to buy rights to the footage etc etc. I guess thats whats good about having someone who was close in proximity but not relationally shed light on her story (the producer in the Q&A I forgot his name)...helps guide the audience to recognize theres a difference between reality, the way things appear to be and everything in between.
HAHA. That is one of the true highlights of that interview. I feel like I've listened to itso much, that I can genuinely start quoting it out of memory:
Wendy: Because I know you and Robyn were girlfriends...
Whitney: And we're still friends...GIRL.
😂😂😂
Oh my lawd. Thank you so much for sharing that video with me. I just about lost it when she started singing The Black Eyed Peas. When she did that on Being Bobby Brown, I was dying. 😂😂😂 That girl did such a great job! And I like how she ended it on a positive note about Whitney having flaws, but still being talented as hell. The only thing I wish she had was a bucket of chicken. That would have been the icing on the cake.
I agree! It was so interesting to hear someone's take on the whole situation, who wasn't part of her camp. That way he has a pretty objective view of what is going on. I can't believe that her family was trying to sell off her Grammys. Like, damn.
I wanna know what happened between her and Robyn? What was the final incident that made her leave. They didn't elaborate. Lifetime movie sucked! I wanna read Bobbies book. I believe Ray J gave her a bad bag. She was worth more to Clive dead. Another thing that blows my mind is How he had the pull to leave her dead body in the motel while partying
SAME. I honestly had no freaking clue about this aspect of Whitney's life so that was a definite shocker for me. If Whitney was coming up in 2017, I definitely feel like she would have been more open about that relationship with Robyn. Hell, I think that actually would have helped her career! But like they said in the doc, it was different times.
Plus, that whole struggle between *possibly dealing with a queer identity and pressures from her religious beliefs/family is definitely intriguing to me. I can't even imagine the amount of pressure she must have felt trying to figure out who she was while being in the spotlight and facing that kind of pressure. Definitely wished they would have elaborated more on that for sure.
I watched the LIfetime movie recently and it was okay. (Definitely not bad like the infamous Aaliyah movie or that God-awful MJ movie with Flex Alexander. That was insulting. And MJ was alive during that time! Like - goddamn!) Although I do think that the movie title was a bit misleading because it was a definitely a movie about Whitney AND Bobby - not just Whitney. Plus, they definitely made Bobby look like a saint in that movie too. (I wonder if he paid them under the table or something, lol.)
I heard that Bobby Brown book is crazy. Like dude said he had sex with a ghost...wut. But I'd be interested to read it still, haha.
That whole thing with Clive Davis continuing his party while Whitney's dead body was upstairs is DISGUSTING. It literally leaves me speechless when I think about it.
inn.my.humble.opinion I don't think she was gay. I believe she loved her. And like one lady said, She loved to be held. Maybe bisexual. But I really don't believe there is a such thing..
Interesting. Yeah...I guess we'll never really know.
Keke Preston Bobby and Whitney definitely enabled one another for sure!
Narly waves Haha, I was born in ‘93. 😂😂 But yeah, since Robyn’s book came out and now reading a lot of stories from other people...guess they actually were a thing at one point. Poor Whitney & Robyn. 💔💔
There is brief scene where Whitney and Bobby visit a club. This was the night Robin left for good I think. I think they may have been in Germany??? Anyway, there's a song playing in the club, does anyone know the title? I remember the song, but cannot remember who sings it. Its been bugging me ever since!
MJ, Whitney and Prince are the best ever. They made the 80's and 90's
This is Gonna b so Insightful🔥🔥🔥👍….
My thing about that movie is their focus on Whitney and Robyn. If woman said she wasn't gay then she wasn't. As a super fan I really think it was inaccurate in many ways. It was sad and it did have its moments. It is good for people who didn't know anything about Whitney. I just hope we get some movies focusing on her musical genius, achievements, and trailblazing legacy! Can't wait to see the family's doc and Clive's doc.
True, true. I totally understand that.The conversation should have ended there if Whitney said she wasn't. But of course, the media and public will speculate as much as they want about the nature of their relationship. Either way, whoever Whitney loved and how she loved is fine by me, I'm a fan and love her regardless.
Since you're a super fan, I'm interested to know the other ways you thought it was inaccurate?
I've personally been in a Whitney tunnel since watching this movie and have been listening to her music and watching anything I can on her non-stop, haha. I probably know more now than I did when I made this video, but I'd be interested to hear you elaborate what parts you thought were inaccurate.
I agree with you that it was a good documentary for anyone who doesn't really know anything about Whitney. Hell, it sparked my interest enough to go back and actually listen through her entire discography, watch her movies, and watch/read any interview I can find within the past 3 weeks.
I definitely want a movie that paints a picture of the full person too! Good and bad. Now that I'm starting to learn so much about her, I actually don't think a 2 hour movie would do her justice because so much happened in her life. I think a miniseries of somesort would be good - that way you can really get deeper & the music. Idk, just an idea!
YES! Cannot wait to watch those documentaries, too. I think they'd be interesting to watch especially after watching this movie.
inn.my.humble.opinion First, it barely documents her meteoric rise and instead jumps right in the middle of her catastrophic fall. It's underscored by a series of so called personal failures like: marital, financial, and health allegations, which a good amount do to the wrong people around her. Like Mike she trusted everybody and tried to pleased everyone.
They tried to say her mother, Cissy, pressured her. That's untrue! Cissy tried to convince Nippy from entering the industry, but you couldn't stop the gift from growing. When Whitney decided Cissy mentored her and taught her, so that she could be no less than the best. Cissy believed if you're going to do it do it right!
Like I said before the continuous of hinting of this lesbian love affair is tired. If the woman said she's not gay than let it be. They have no true evidence. All they witnessed we're best friends/sisters like a lot of women in this world. Media is like vultures waiting to eat upon you Whitney once said. They always have to find a dirty spot with greats like her to prove that they can't be from another world they can't be that great. And they'll murder you to do it!
Last, this was no girl from the hood. She left Newark a year after the riots when she was six. She was from East Orange, a African American middle class neighborhood, at the time. Musical royalty ran through her blood. A model at 16. Traveled in limousines, stayed in five star hotels, recording studios with Aretha. Her life was a fairytale, and she was very much in that world. Contrary to what everyone was saying in the documentary. For the most part she was in control, yeah she had her vulnerable and insecure moments, but don't we all.
As someone who has followed her career I'm just tired of hearing the same tabloid fodder. Let's hear about the good and genius instead of the ugly. I am glad that it sparked an interest in you others, but it also can leave a bad taste and questions for the rest. Giving them the wrong perspective of Whitney. I remember her for who she was, not what she became!
1. In hindsight, yes, I agree that they did seem to rush that part of her life. I would've loved to learn more about Whitney in her younger years and her singing backup for Cissy at the clubs, etc. Idk if it's true, but i read somewhere that Cissy actually once took her to the recording studio and she just so happened to sit in on a recording session when Aretha Franklin was recording "Ain't No Way". Just that image alone of a young Whitney Houston sitting in on the recording session of that legendary song blows my mind. That time period was very informative and instrumental in Whitney's life & career, so it would have been nice to hear more about that period in her life for sure.
2. I'm assuming when you say Mike, you mean Michael Jackson, but I agree with you on this as well. I actually thought the documentary did a fair job talking about how the toxic people that surrounded Whitney was a contributing factor in her "personal failures".
3. Since watching this documentary, I've watched several interviews with Whitney and I started to get confused because Whitney always seemed to talk about her mom with such great affection, admiration, and respect. So maybe the documentary's point about Cissy "pressuring" her is misconstrued. Because like you said, Cissy just wanted to make sure she was going to do this the right way and wanted to protect her daughter from the pitfalls of the industry.
I'm wondering if maybe there were both positives & negatives in their relationship? Just as much as Cissy may have loved Whitney and Whitney loved her, I wonder if Cissy overtime may have harbored some sort of jealousy...idk, just throwing things out there. I do believe that the relationship between a mother & daughter can be a complicated, complex one so you never know.
4. Totally agree with you on the media being vultures! Based on the interviews I've watched during that era in Whitney's life, it just seemed like the media was trying to look for something "wrong" with Whitney and the only thing they could come up with was the lesbian affair thing. It's a sign of the times that the media would even brand being a lesbian to be "something wrong" and also just shows how desperate they were for a negative story on Whitney.
In general, it's the age old tale of "The media loves to build people up to tear people down."
5. Yeah, that narrative of Whitney being from the hood now seems a bit misrepresented as well. I've heard Whitney refer to her dad as a "respectable man in his community that a lot of people look up to" and like you said, her mom was freaking Cissy Houston and part of musical royalty. Plus, her brother at one point played in the NBA and Whitney was exposed to different opportunities & environments like modeling, etc. (like you pointed out). Frankly, that doesn't sound like a family that was "roughing it in the hood" so to speak. So, idk...
6. I agree, that Whitney is definitely someone who had a mind of her own. I've watched interviews with several people who have said that Whitney 100% knew what she was doing - for better or worse.
Sorry for the lengthy response! But I agree, I would love a movie, series, or documentary about Whitney at some point that focused on her creative genius and legacy. That is such an underrated part of her story! She truly was a masterful singer and THE VOICE. In fact, I would literally consider her in my Top 5 favorite artists/musicians of all time. And side note, I absolutely hate this idea that you can't be a real musician or artist if you don't write your own songs. BULLSHIT. How Whitney sang her songs is a masterclass in artistry and I'm tired of that being overlooked.
And I totally agree with you! I absolutely love Whitney - the good and the bad. It's part of her story. And regardless of all the media negativity bullshit, whenever I think of Whitney Houston, I think of Whitney the amazing voice.
inn.my.humble.opinion I'm glad you see my point of view, and I definitely understand what you mean about her relationship with her Mom. You should read Cissy's book or join some fan pages on Facebook!
royal clark Oh I am definitely planning on reading that book! Do you have any other recommendations as to what books I should read? Even TV specials, interviews, etc. I should watch?
I'm really late to this review but if you watch her family documentary "Whitney" Gary, her brother was in the NBA at one point. I think when Whitney was rising. He was let go due to his substance abuse and had to sing back up for his sister. He said his soul was crushed because he didn't want to sing.
I think watching this and Whitney gives you a fuller picture into her life.
i NEED to see this !!
Yes! Highly recommend - especially if you're a Whitney fan.
I think what happened to Whitney and Robyn was “ Bobby “.....Whitney’s one true love was “ Robyn “ ! However in those days that was not acceptable in the Black And religious community of the 80’s. .....so, Whitney’s Mom put an end to it because Millions were involved! To marry “ Bobby “ was more acceptable and she was “ Bi-Sexual “ anyway. Eventually Robyn left under those circumstances and it broke Whitney’s heart and caused her ruin? Sad !
I've learned so much about Whitney since I filmed this video, Andy...and I think I actually agree with you. It's sad to think that Robyn was one of the few people who was and STILL IS there for Whitney. She genuinely cared for her! And the pressures of the time and Whitney's religious background had on her most definitely affected that relationship she had with Robyn.
Idk if you've seen the trailers for the new Whitney documentary, but I actually made 3 different videos about it where I react to the trailers and analyze it. Would love for you to check it out since those videos are more recent!
It’s sad to note that “ Whitney’s Family “ to a large degree, Fed from her and the 250 Million Dollars Whitney made in the Music Industry! This eventually wore her down and along with Bobby’s cheating and Robyn’s leaving, took its toll on the poor girl ! Clive Davis tried desperately to keep her on the “ straight and narrow”, but lost his battle to Whitney’s drug usage !
It’s not often I agree with Donald Trump, but a few years ago he said .....” When Whitney was at the top of her game, she was the very best! Unfortunately, continued usage of drugs brought her down!”
Yeah, when you put it like that, Whitney definitely went through A LOT, in her lifetime. (IDK if you've heard some of the new bombshells that have came out in the upcoming Whitney doc, but there's a lot more we didn't know about her.) And I mean, it's no wonder why she heavily relied on drugs. It's sort of a miracle that she was able to last as long as she did, tbqh.
Hah, what a way to begin that statement. But you know what, on this, I will agree with Donald. It's actually quite scary to see how drugs SEVERELY messed up her life. Drugs are no joke, man.
I feel the same way
The were a pop trinity
I love me some whitney
Miss them all, too.
Excellent review, Excellent comments,
zion24 Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed the film as well!
Wonder why they don't sell this DVD in the USA?
Oh do they sell this on DVD internationally?
@@innmyhumbleopinion I don't think so 😒
I enjoyed this but it made me very sad...,whitney had a hard time and it seems like no matter what she did, she couldn't get away from her demons and all the bad people in her life. I couldn't believe that part where Bobby brown is saying his daughter is getting fat and whitney about to cry. Then there's another part where Bobby is almost teasing his own daughter and whitney was like LEAVE HER ALONE. It also broke my heart that she wasn't able to keep Robyn...Robyn really loved whitney. I can't imagine what she went through to loose whitney and watch her crumble from close up then afar.
I agree, I wanted more in depth moments of truth through out this documentary. It was a bit too distant. I wanted the truth. What was she so heart broken about? Why she had low self worth? What was so pivotal in her downfall? Why did she self destruct? I have so many more questions. I totally get you. It was so sad at the end. Omg! When they showed those drug den pictures with her voice in the background, "so you take more so you don't want anyone to see you cry". Cry about what? What was the unhappiness in her marriage. We don't get the complete in depth Whitney. I believe her miscarriages played a role in her downfall as well. They didn't mention that. She was so unhappy it's just so sad to watch. And the sad part when they went back to her Atlanta home and the family pictures she took with Bobby Brown and the kids at the end. And seeing everyone move on with their lives. Wow. I believe it was her time to go. Enough was enough. So much unhappiness and suffering you could feel it through the damn screen. Wow.
Wow, thanks for the comment, Robn!
I feel like they were sort of implying lots of things that may have led to her having a broken heart (pressure from Cissy/religion, possibly suppressing a romantic relationship with Robyn, Bobby, the Black community turning against her, no control over life, the dad suing her, drug addiction, etc.) - but like both you and I said - it felt a bit too distant & it didn't really get into the meat of things.
But I totally agree with all those questions you have! And I have so many more, too. And I totally forgot about the miscarriage...because they didn't even bring it up! I agree that that must have had an impact on her life, too. I'm surprised they didn't even mention it. I've been on a Whitney marathon these past couple of days since this documentary and actually rewatched that LIfetime movie they did of her - and even that movie mentioned the miscarriage! Like, wtf.
Yes!! The entire endings was just so freaking sad and depressing! Seeing those drug den pictures was so heartbreaking. And don't even get me started on that part when they're taking family pictures at the end. Ugh. It's like watching a car crash take place in slow motion. Damn.
But yeah, I agree. So much suffering and unhappiness in Whitney's life - which is so sad because whenever I listen to Whitney I feel so much joy and happiness! But geeze, this documentary just really made me super, super sad and depressed over her life.
Yeah, that end part with the family pictures, that was it for me. I lost it there, tears and all. Seeing her like that and knowing she will never come back or be able to go back in time to that specific moment. It's simply just a memory now. I don't know why I'm so touched by Whitney's story. It's worth catching up on her life. I've been looking into old footage and videos too, lately. I never understood much of her when I was younger, but now that I'm 23 I sort of understand how life and people can be disappointing at times. Her story is more like a lesson, to young people, to fix your inner problems, your doubts, fears and insecurities before those things control you and your life. To fix whatever is hurting you and heal. Because Whitney never took the time to fix herself, it's like her hurt turned into a wound which just got bigger and bigger.
Her family was the biggest issue in my view. She was introduced to drugs by her brothers. Which I don't understand why? Her parents divorced when she was a teen. And a lot of financial pressure was put on her once she made it into the industry. Her mother put religious pressure on her too. And a lot of people used Whitney for money. From her family to the record company. I'm sure Whitney felt used. She obviously had to keep the money flow coming in and since her father turned on her in the end - that says a lot about their relationship especially how he spoke to her from his sick bed, in that controlling and disrespectful manner. They say that Clive Davis gave her this clean cut image and that she was actually rebellious. I think she was rebellious because she felt that she needed to free herself from all her pressures. Her mom was just SO pressurizing almost to the point of annoyance! She loved her family but when the devil comes into play it messes up relationships.
I can't actually look at footage of Whitney after 1996. It's like those drugs messed up her brain and thinking. Gosh, she was a mess by the 2000s. I don't know, all I know is that she wasn't the same after the Preacher's Wife. It's like her brain was hijacked, it wasn't Whitney anymore. And sadly that's what drugs do to you. It's sad that her family auctioned many of her personal items last year including her wedding dress. I was in shock. Why would they do that? Then I remembered that they were money hungry and that's why I can draw conclusions that her family was the root of her problems.
To add to my previous comment. Whitney should have stopped everything she was doing after 1996 and taken a 5 year minimum break and just chilled out, get clean and get healthy. There was no need to be relevant and make more records especially after The Bodyguard and that 2 year long tour which put an enormous amount of pressure on her and her relationship as well as abusing her voice. She didn't need to sing another day longer cause she was so big at that point and gifted she didn't need to prove herself further. Had she stopped at that point in 1996, the pressure would have settled down and she could have taken a break and enjoyed her life and fix her marriage.
Even though that marriage wasn't the brightest idea. Bobby Brown was immature, much younger than her and not husband material at the time. She tried to force that marriage even though he had kids while dating her - a son from another women a few months before marrying her. But she thought marriage would change him into a faithful man. Well, she was wrong. And everyone warned her. So her marriage was collapsing and she wanted to pretend it was going well when it wasn't. She couldn't face up to her mistakes and bad decisions. She loved him but he took her for granted and made her feel small. He was/is an alcoholic and she was a drug addict and the result of that led to their daughter's death. It's just a horrible story. Smh.
All the things, man. Even just watching her with her daughter just makes me so sad - you could tell how much she loved her.
I'm around the same age as you! Just turned 24 about two weeks ago. I'm pretty similar to you in that I never really understood her story that much when I was younger aside from the crazy headlines.
Maybe as we get a little older and wiser, there's a certain level of empathy that we develop for other people's stories - good and bad. I definitely take her life story as a lesson, for sure. I feel like all her hurt just kept building and building and building throughout the years, & she never really found a healthy way to deal with her issues and didn't really have that many people she knew she could count on.
I don't know much about her family background and story - but as I learn more, I'd have to agree that the family issues didn't really help Whitney that much. It's completely understandable why she would have felt so used by her own family though. I never really thought of the pressure/tension she must have felt having been the main source of income for the family as well as having employed them.
Definitely agree with you that Whitney was probably a very rebellious spirit! There was so much she felt the need to rebel from - family, religion, even the pressures from the music industry & the clean image that Clive and Arista helped create for her. Perhaps this is why she found the idea of Bobby Brown so alluring? He represented everything she was not...so maybe that was one of the reasons why Whitney was attracted to Bobby.
Personally, I can still watch stuff of Whitney post-1996. Actually, the other day I started watching Being Bobby Brown for the first time out of sheer curiosity. And damn - I cannot even believe that that is the same person who was singing in The Bodyguard. It's so bad, but I can't look away. All the years of drugs and alcohol abuse definitely caught up with her by the 2000s - and the sad part is that not only could you see it in her appearance, but you can hear it in her voice.
Yep, I've heard a couple things here and there about the family being greedy. I think they even signed on to do a reality show just a couple days after Whitney died. Did not know about the wedding dress being auctioned off though. That's so sad. Plus, like I said in the video, the family is apparently doing their own documentary after hearing about this one.
I totally agree. Honestly after The Bodyguard, Whitney cemented herself as a legend. No question about it. So if things were bad - which we all know now that post-The Bodyguard, things got really bad - Whitney should have just taken those years to chill and cleanse out all the negativity from her life. That includes the drug use, people, etc. It's sad that the industry, her record company, & her family kept pressuring Whitney to just keep soldiering on when what she NEEDED was to take care of herself first.
Ahh, I didn't know that Whitney was the one who was really pressuring Bobby into the marriage. I was watching this interview she did with Arsenio Hall & he asked her why now, and instead of having a nice answer about how "Bobby was the one" blah blah, she just said "Because I'm nearing 30." lol. She laughed it off and eventually said all the right things, but I lowkey think there was definitely some truth in her first answer.
I mean, to put her life into context at that point, she grew up in the Church where marriage is expected. Then, you had those rumors about her potentially being in a relationship with Robyn because they lived in a house together & Whitney wasn't really linked with any guys. Plus, I'm sure there was pressure from the family to get married at some point in her life. So when she found Bobby, she probably put two & two together and just got married for the sake of getting married.
While I'm sure they had strong feelings about one another, the fact is, both of them were very self-destructive when they were together. They both had their own personal vices - but when they got together, they only got worse.
New Subbie....great vid
YB DAKID_ Thanks for watching and subscribing! Glad you liked the video!
Great review. What I came away with what everyone is saying - how incredibly sad her life was. It's so ironic that a person that appears to have everything (talent, beauty, wealth, fame...) could be so unhappy. Sometimes she just looked miserable. But Whitney even said it herself in one of the interviews that money and fame do not make you happy. Nice piano music in the background of your review. Who was playing?
Thanks, Maurice. Glad you enjoyed!
Yes - I had the same takeaway too. And that is a sad irony isn't it. I feel like a lot of the greats who made people so happy with their work - Whitney, MJ, Prince - led very troubled lives. It's sad to think about.
I've really just started watching a bunch of Whitney interviews as of late because of this documentary and I feel like a lot of the interviews she did in the late 90s/early 2000s were all silent screams for help. The other day I started watching that Being Bobby Brown series on RUclips out of curiosity and I just couldn't believe what I was watching. I was shocked.
I put all the links to the music I used in the description box. Not sure what the actual pianist's name is - but he has a RUclips page where he does a bunch of piano medleys for different artists and movies! Highly recommend you check him out. And I'm pretty sure there's a link in his video where you can actually download his Whitney Piano medley!
Thanks!
Seeing Whitney on Being Bobby Brown was like I was watching a train wreck.
You were born in 93. By the time you were old enough to know about her, her career was in decline. I was born in the 70’s, I loved her and I seen her rise, the stories, the rumours and her fall. It was sad to see her go from the very top to seeing drugs take everything from her. Bobby Brown is a turd.
#RIPWhitneyHouston 🙏🏼
Her career wasn't in decline in 1993, the decline started around 2000s when the drugs were out of control.
1993, she was literally selling millions of copies with The Bodyguard.
She really wasn't in decline until 2002 though she had SOME success, just not to the point of where she was 10 years earlier.
Have you watched Amy from 2014? It's a really good documentary on Amy Winehouse. I highly recommend if you haven't seen it!
I haven't! But a lot of people were comparing this movie to Amy - except they said Amy was better, lol. But I really want to see it though. Thanks for the recommendation, Matteo!
it's really good! But it is a downer like Can I be Me, so have a comedy show/ funny youtube vids at the ready before you watch!
Oh no! Well thanks for the tip!
good job
Thanks so much and thanks for watching!
Kids need a good example of a Legend destroyed by DRUGS well here it is.
Whitney’s message is simple learn from her mistake and say no to drugs.
I will always love me some Whitney Houston but that documentary was hard to watch. All the money in the world and her bedroom looked like some kind of halfway house. Sad.
RIP Beautiful!!
There's definitely a lot of things that happened in her life to contribute to why she kept doing drugs. But yes, her story is definitely a cautionary one. RIP Whitney.
I watched it and it was so sad! From what I understood she had mother and father issue. She had a lot of demons to with, her life wasn't easy.
all these comments show people eager to gossip, no respect for two beings who are not here to defend themselves.... when all of you are gone would you like to see people gossiping about you????????
Considering the documentary itself discussed and covered points relating to their personal lives - it makes sense why a lot of the comments under a video that reviews said documentary are talking about their personal lives.
I hate when all you different people get on RUclips trying to tell a story about something or someone, but don't have your facts straight. You were born in '93. You have no idea what you're talking about. You're spitting out a lot of stuff that the world already knows about, nothing you're saying is new....or a shock. So what is your point of this video. And for your information, Whitney Houston did not die from a drug overdose. She died from heart issues, a heart attack, atherosclerosis.. She had drugs in her system, but even the Coroner stated that the drugs is not what killed her. Before you get on social media trying to be important, do your research better. I don't understand why you & others, who have no clue about our people, is always trying to speak on it like you're so interested. I swear people do anything for attention...😡
Thanks, Trina! ♥️
Whitney sniffed cocaine b4 Bobby. After Bobby, she smoked crack rock. Ok.
Terrence Malbrough Thanks for clearing that up, Terrence! I knew Whitney was introduced to drugs by her older brother, but I didn't know exactly what. So thanks for that!
inn.my.humble.opinion i was not checking u. Lol
Terrence Malbrough Haha, I know. :) I was just saying thanks for the info because I'm just now beginning to learn about Whitney. So any info is new to me!
inn.my.humble.opinion im litterally a Whitney expert, so..u can ask me anything Whitney related.
Terrence Malbrough Oh damn! Okay, wait. So first, I want to know what we're your thoughts on the doc if you saw it? - Especially since you're a Whitney expert, what did you think of it?