Lady Sings the Blues: Critic Reviews

How is it possible for a movie that is otherwise so dreadful to contain such a singularly attractive performance in the title role?

The movie is filled with many of the great Billie Holiday songs, and Ross handles them in an interesting way. She doesn't sing in her own style, and she never tries to imitate Holiday, but she sings somehow in the manner of Holiday.

Clearly, it's an affront to Holiday's art, but just as clearly, it's a good piece of low entertainment.

Ross conveys the vulnerability and determination of her character across a very believable arc of maturation.

Though she doesn't look or sing as Billie Holiday, Diana Rosss gives a commendable performance in this fictionalized biopic, for which she received an Oscar noimination.

View this film about Billie Holiday as a completely fictional story, and you'll enjoy it far more than you would otherwise.

Ross so perfectly captures the essence of Billie Holiday's vocal style that it sends chills down your spine.

Berry Gordy's gift to Diana Ross was this lavish, bloated Billie Holiday biopic.

Ross and director Sidney J. Furie seem to feel that the slower the song, the more serious the mood, so at times the film seems to be grinding almost to a halt

Great score, great singing, but overdramatic thanks to Ross.