Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/08/2005

Average Customer Review: ( 130 customer reviews )
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Diana Ross tackled this role like a hungry dog might attack a piece of raw sirloin. She is astonishing both in her performance and her unique beauty. I literally gasped watching her during the heroin withdrawal scences it is so real, and her ability to mood swing from conivingly sweet, to wild eyed hellion is nothing short of brilliant!

I highly recommend this film especially if you've only seen The Wiz, and think Miss Ross can't act.

12 of 12 found the following review helpful:

Paramount or Motown...Can we get a DVD out...please!!May 15, 2003
By Thomas A Lewis
If I could give this movie 10 stars, I would but Amazon only allows 5. The sheer magic and artistry that Diana Ross translated on celluloid and vinyl surrounding this project is nothing short of a masterpiece. While history tells us that the "Motown Machine" cost Ross the Academy Award she was robbed of, her brutally honest acting as well as her stellar singing still leaves one coming away from viewing and listening with their heads shaking in awe. She NEVER tried to imitate Holiday's distinct sound; Ross knew better. It was Holiday's frantic and unpredictable PHRASING that Madame duplicated and all you have to do is compare her "You've Changed" with Holiday's and they are so identical..it's spooky.
If we can only get this film on DVD with PLENTY OF EXTRA'S MOTOWN and PARAMOUNT...fans of the film will be truly grateful. You'd never imagine just how much. Good job Diana.

29 of 34 found the following review helpful:

Supreme Performance by Ms. RossJan 28, 2003
By Darren
Although she is a magnificent singer and has acted in numerous movies, I believe this to be one of the few films in which Ms Ross ever showcased any stellar acting ability. I agree with the reviewer that implied she left her real acting talent somewhere along the Yellowbrick Road.

This movie gives but a glimpse of the grief, heartache and loss experienced by Billie Holiday in her tragically short life. Some visual images used in the movie are quite intense and emotionally riveting. They make it easy to understand how the 'blues' are truly experienced.

Ms Ross's smooth jazzy vocals resonate the soundtrack with a contrasting clarity to Holiday's original recordings but superbly capture the emotional intensity of Billie's vaccilating depression and addiction.

Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor are excellent in supporting roles. Williams provides the love and compassion that just aren't enough to rescue Holiday from the depths of her addiction. Pryor and Scatman Crothers (in a small role) add some islands of comic relief to the generally depressed mood.

Lady Sings the Blues is for those who want to get a glimpse of the tragic life of Billy Holiday. It's also for those who want to see Ms Ross's best dramatic performance and won't be upset with her 'smoother' vocal renditions of the Lady Day songbook.

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