‘The United States vs Billie Holiday’ Review: Lee Daniels’ History Lesson Mixes Anger and Gloss

EXCLUSIVE: The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Hulu’s dramatic retelling of the “Strange Fruit” singer’s battle against the federal government, originated as a single chapter in Johann Hari’s 2015 book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs.

starring Andra Day as the jazz singer, was named best picture, while the Korean American family drama “Minari” got best intergenerational film. Spike Lee’s Vietnam-themed “Da 5 Bloods” picked up best buddy picture and Regina King’s “One Night in Miami…,” about the fictional meeting of Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Cassius Clay and Jim Brown, got best ensemble.“We focus on films made by and for grownups,” said Tim Appelo, the film and television critic for AARP.

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu is celebrating that Lee Daniels’ The United States vs. Billie Holiday was the streamer’s No. 1 most watched movie this past weekend.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorAndra Day was effervescent on Sunday evening after winning the Golden Globe Award for lead actress in drama for portraying the legendary jazz musician in “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.”She gushed about her experience working with director Lee Daniels and all that he did to make her soar in the role of the troubled singer.“I can’t say enough about the brilliance of Lee Daniels.

First-time nominee Andra Day won the Golden Globe award tonight for her first major acting role as legendary blues artist and civil rights icon Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Lee Daniels‘ United States Vs. Billie Holiday film finally premiered on Hulu tonight and fans have a lot of thoughts about the flick.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday” was the product of a year-and-a-half of research and planning, even before shooting began in late 2019.“These songs don’t sound like a record from that time,” executive music producer Salaam Remi tells Variety.

The Iron Lady” or “Judy” is “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” director Lee Daniels’ movie about the celebrated singer of “Strange Fruit.” The stunner is Andra Day, a musician who is almost totally new to acting.

Andra Day as Billie Holiday, who has already been nominated for two Golden Globes for the performance. The harrowing tale of Holiday’s traumatic childhood and tumultuous life in the spotlight has been famously recounted in the 1972 classic “Lady Sings the Blues,” starring Diana Ross, and on Broadway in the musical “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” led by Audra McDonald in 2014.

Also Read: 'The United States vs Billie Holiday' Review: Lee Daniels' History Lesson Mixes Anger and GlossDay is also an acclaimed singer Obviously it was important to Daniels to cast someone with musical chops in this film, but he also wanted an actress who could imitate Holiday’s signature smoky, lingering sound. Day fit the role perfectly: she’s been a singer for years and released her debut album, “Cheers to the Fall” (produced in part by  Raphael Saadiq and Jenn Decilveo) in 2015.

Lee Daniels tells ET’s Nischelle Turner as the game-changing filmmaker looks back on his career in Hollywood, which includes directing Oprah Winfrey in as well as helming, the first major biopic about the legendary jazz singer since 1972’s.

Hulu's The United States vs. Billie Holiday hosted its virtual premiere on Wednesday night, with appearances from U.S.

EXCLUSIVE: Billie Holiday is getting the feature treatment in The United States vs. Billie Holiday and now she’s also getting a podcast.

Andra Day is about to make a bigger name for herself, portraying legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in Lee Daniels’ biopic,. This marks the first lead onscreen role for the 36-year-old performer, who opens up to ET’s Rachel Smith about the dramatic transformation she went through to embody the 1940s icon.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”Evan Ross appears in Lee Daniels’ “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” as a federal agent.

Billie Holiday has always been a monster of a role. Diana Ross tackled her on film and Audra McDonald did it on stage.

Andra Day was prepared to suffer for her art when assuming the role of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday.

Lee Daniels didn’t want to touch the story of Billie Holiday. “Lady Sings the Blues” already existed after all.