The life stories of history's greatest minds. From their days as young adults to their final years we see their discoveries, loves, relationships, causes, flaws and genius.
As the iconic Queen of Soul, who passed away in 2018, Erivo sustains a quiet strength in dramatic scenes that erupts into passionate fire when she's onstage or in the recording studio, taking control of every detail.
Erivo ... has a look of hurt in her eyes that I found haunting... Between Erivo's voice, and this one angle she invests into the character, I give her props.
"Genius" isn't a dud, and it could never be, not with its subject, Vance's commanding performance or the landmark music it's built around. But while it sings, it's not quite worthy of Aretha's crown.
Deriving its episodic subtitles from Franklin songs, Genius: Aretha is a testament to that hard work. And like the best musical biographies, it enhances an appreciation of Franklin's life and career, with an ease and grace that makes it look easy.
This isn't some facsimile of a famous life, but an interpretation of one. Along with the showrunners, Erivo has plenty of ideas about that life, but knows how to express them musically.
