0
0
Jazz legend Billie Holiday is known for her smoky voice and her matchless style. But there was so much more to Lady Day than just her stage presence. And Hulu’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday goes behind the music, behind the voice, to explore her ongoing battle with addiction and the federal government.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday follows the legendary jazz artist (Andra Day) through her troubled career, trailed and tormented and framed by government agents. Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger (Garrett Hedlund) hated the free-form style of jazz music—and he especially hated the fact that Holiday wouldn’t stop singing her controversial song, “Strange Fruit.” So he sent Agent Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes) to arrest her on drug charges. And as she kept performing—and standing up to those who tried to silence her—Fletcher became a constant presence in her life.
It may boast a soundtrack filled with some of Holiday’s greatest and most memorable hits, but despite showing the occasional moments of triumph on stage, this certainly isn’t an uplifting and inspiring biography of a jazz legend. Instead, it’s a tragic story of a gifted artist who faced challenges and threats and opposition at every turn.
Day’s Billie is a force to be reckoned with. She has a magnetic personality, and she’ll happily welcome anyone into her circle and offer them a drink (or a line). But she’s also strong and explosive—and she’ll turn on anyone who tries to tell her how or what to perform or how to live her life.
At the same time, she’s also a damaged character who deteriorates before viewers’ eyes. Behind the powerful voice, there’s a woman with a troubled past: a woman who’s given in to her addictions because they dull the pain, who allows herself to be used and abused because it’s all she knows, and who does whatever it takes to support herself—even if that sometimes means hurting those who truly care about her. And it’s so painful to watch this amazing talent crumble under the weight of the pressures and addictions.
Too often, though, the storytelling falters, and viewers will wonder what’s going on—and where in time the film has taken them. Though it promises a story about legal battles and court cases, that’s not much of the film at all. And its frequent tangents and jumps in chronology make it difficult to settle into the story.
With its choppy storytelling and its tragic storyline, The United States vs. Billie Holiday definitely isn’t an easy film to watch. But the legendary performer—and Day’s stand-out performance—will still hold your attention through this turbulent tale.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
