Whitney: Can I Be Me

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Whitney: Can I Be Me

2017

1h 30m

Documentary

Music

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Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield goes in search of the forces that made and then destroyed singer Whitney Houston, who has been described as having one of the greatest voices of the last 50 years.

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Critics Consensus

Whitney: Can I Be Me offers a sobering inside look at the tragic downfall of a brilliant performer, even as it leaves the audience yearning for deeper insight.

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Eric Deggans

NPR

Whitney. "Can I Be Me provides a compelling portrait of a supreme talent isolated by fame, dysfunctional relationships and a crushing drug habit, slowly diminished by the same qualities that originally made her a superstar.

Nov 25, 2019

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Sarah Fonseca

Autostraddle

It's surprising how little Broomfield inserts himself into the narrative...[he] is respectful and Crawford is only present in old footage...

Nov 13, 2018

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Soraya Nadia McDonald

Andscape

Whitney lets us know: The demand for sanitized, postracial soothsaying from black stars as the price for success is more than detrimental. It will slowly, softly kill you.

Sep 26, 2017

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Katie Driscoll

Vague Visages

Can I Be Me plays out like a tragedy of the most cinematic kind.

Dec 6, 2023

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Olly Richards

NME (New Musical Express)

If its grip on important facts is slippery, Whitney: Can I Be Me gives a fascinating look at the making of a popstar before the age of social media.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 9, 2021

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Calum Baker

One Room With A View

An uncharismatic documentary featuring many charismatic people, Whitney is basically watchable but hampered by an inability to push far enough.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 2, 2019

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Audience Member

Sorry Nick but the documentary format has moved on. This is so functional, that other than the odd idea which is hinted at you're left at the end none the wiser. Whitney's life story seems tragic, complicated and very interesting but this doesn't ever get beneath the surface I'm afraid.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

tragic and insightful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/19

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Audience Member

Revelador documental.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

it's obvious only after whitney's death her sell out family would expose all this garbage, not really sure if it's entirely true because obviously whitney's not here to defend herself. They obviously got paid as well it seemed. Bobby was the only loyal one whitney. she would be rolling over in her grave because of her family who's obviously responsible for her death. Worst bio pic I've ever seen to date.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/10/18

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Audience Member

I normally like these type of documentaries, and whilst this is ok, I just didn't really feel anything. Sad to see such a talent destroy herself though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

Felt surprisingly short and as if it could have covered more. Admittedly I have never been a fan or followed Whitney's career, so I knew next to nothing about her anyhow, aside from the hits and the drug abuse, marriage to Bobby Brown etc. I am assuming most interested in this would probably go into it with a bit more background than I did. I did get the impression of a slightly sad, insecure woman, which isn't at all what I would have pictured. Focuses more on the personal than the music, which I appreciated, but still could have gone a bit deeper.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Nick Broomfield

Director

Rudi Dolezal

Director

Tony Anderson

Actor

Burt Bacharach

Actor

David Foster

Actor

Sharlotte Gibson

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Whitney: Can I Be Me: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield goes in search of the forces that made and then destroyed singer Whitney Houston, who has been described as having one of the greatest voices of the last 50 years.

Director: Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal
Producer: Nick Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin
Screenwriter: Nick Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin
Production Co: Lafayette Films, Showtime Networks Inc., Passion Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m

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