Lifetime’s Whitney displayed controversial issues about Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s relationship. Courtesy of Flickr
By Meghan Campbell
For those who have never seen a Lifetime production, it is a very unique experience that no one should miss.
Typically described as somewhat mediocre with sub-par displays of acting, these movies are not your typical cinematic productions.
Despite their shortcomings, Lifetime movies carry a certain charm that keeps bringing viewers back to watch more. These movies, including biopics, have covered topics from the ordinary to the bizarre such as love, drama, murder, drugs, STDs, teenage pregnancy and even incest.
Covering the real-life stories of celebrities, murderers, royalty and more, Lifetime has proved that it is capable of making a movie out of anything. In recent years, it has been converting some of the media’s biggest headlines into its own cinematic interpretations. But, do these biopics offer viewers a deeper look into new headlines, or are they simply sensationalized entertainment?
the opportunity to make a film on the most talked-about engagement of our generation, Lifetime released William and Kate in 2011. Thrown together quickly after Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged, the film depicts the famous couple meeting in college and the story of how their relationship blossomed into their royal marriage. Although there are some inaccuracies, the movie’s main problem is how shamelessly sappy it is. Critics simply could not get past the cheesiness of some of the scenes, such as the couple’s kiss in the rain, a cliche yet classic scene shown in many chick flicks. Despite this, romantics and royalty fans alike appreciated the classic love story, and the movie is currently on the “popular” list on Netflix.
In the past, Lifetime has received criticism for several of its biopics. This criticism mainly stems from Lifetime’s tendency to stretch the truth in order to up the entertainment value of the true stories it depicts.
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret is one of Lifetime’s newer releases on Netflix. It covers Arias’ trial for the brutal murder of her ex-boyfriend. Another biopic covering a trial that rocked the world was that of Amanda Knox and the mysterious homicide of her English roommate Meredith Kercher. The movie Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy, which was released in 2011, fabricated approximately 15 scenes. Both films included dramatic reenactments, but only Knox’s film received severe criticism. Knox’s family in particular was irritated by the movie and claimed that it would affect Amanda’s upcoming retrial. The Knox family as well as the families of all those involved in the crime, were extremely upset with the making of the film due to the inaccurate portrayal of the characters and events.
Similarly, on Jan. 17 of this year, the release of the biopic Whitney received its fair share of backlash from the Houston family. The movie focuses on the relationship between Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown and the struggles they faced throughout five years of their 15-year relationship.
As in many other Lifetime films, the director, Angela Bassett (This Means War), was not afraid to address the couple’s issues with drugs, deceit and jealousy. When it was released after Houston’s death, the Houston family was outraged that Lifetime created the film without the permission of anyone from the family and dubbed the movie “disrespectful.” Despite the disapproval from the Houston family, Whitney was generally well received by audiences.
Lifetime entering the world of Netflix has given viewers the opportunity to explore a large range of the network’s creations. You could settle down to binge-watch the addictive series “Dance Moms” or stick with classics like The Pregnancy Pact. Or, you could delve into Lifetime’s infamous biopics like Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and Liz and Dick to form your own opinions on the movies that tend to stir up so much controversy.
