Whitney: Can I Be Me

2017

1h 30m

Documentary

Music

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List

87%

77 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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robert p

What a shame, I've seen Whitney Houston twice in Concert, her voice was pure cream when she handled high notes. RIP Whitney!!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

toby h

'Whitney' is sympathetic look behind the scenes at the singer's heartbreakingly short life. Her amazing voice takes a backseat, to the tragic narrative and never-before seen footage. A fine music documentary.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

Audience Member

tragic and insightful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/19

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evan g

I was never a big Whitney Houston fan- too much pop/too little R&B- but this is a GREAT and devastating documentary among the great music docs. Don't miss it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Revelador documental.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Nick Broomfield

Director

Rudi Dolezal

Director

Tony Anderson

Actor

Burt Bacharach

Actor

David Foster

Actor

Sharlotte Gibson

Actor

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Whitney: Can I Be Me: Trailer 1

1:40

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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isolated by fame, dysfunctional relationships and a crushing drug habit, slowly diminished by the same qualities that originally made her a superstar.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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Katie Driscoll

Vague Visages

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

Dec 6, 2023

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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: John Battsek, Charles Finch, Shani Hinton, Patrick Holland, Vinnie Malhotra, Ben Silverman, Kate Townsend
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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