Lee Daniels direct from a screenplay by Suzan-Lori Parks, and the result is a mixed bag biography of Billie Holiday. Emphasizing Ms. Holiday's struggle with heroin addiction and the U.S. government's fear of her controversial song, "Strange Fruit", the film is ill structured and poorly edited.
It does, however, mark the arrival of a wonderful talent, Ms. Andra Day, who plays Ms. Holiday. She inhabits the role completely, capturing Ms. Holiday's triumphs as well as her terrible defeats. She also has the vocal chops to perform all the songs herself.
The film co-stars Trevante Rhodes as Jimmy Fletcher, a not so undercover FBI agent who becomes her lover. While Mr. Rhodes does a fine job, as written, the role is very confusing. The film also co-stars Garrett Hedlund as Harry Anslinger, the head of the Bureau of Narcotics, who is not above framing Ms. Holiday for possession. He wanders in and out of the film, enjoying her performances while at the same time trying to put her in jail. Rob Morgan plays Louis McKay, Ms. Holiday's husband, who also wanders in and out of the film, either to beat her or have sex with her. Tyler James Williams gives a strong and one of the few consistent performance as Billie's sax player, Lester Young. Natasha Lyonne plays the actress, Tallulah Bankhead, in a small role with a lesbian implication.
While the film moves in a linear path through the years, the editing is choppy, scenes are filmed in mixed styles for no apparent reason, and often seem disconnected to each other. There is no connective narrative thread to the film. I can't remember another film being this dysfunctional in its storytelling.
It's a shame that such a raw and honest performance by Ms. Day is spoiled by the incoherent script and poor direction. It's a triumph for Andra Day but a misstep for Mr. Daniels.
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