| Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia | |
|---|---|
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| Written by |
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| Directed by | Kenny Leon |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Matthew Head |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Robin Roberts Linda Berman |
| Cinematography | Adam Sliwinski |
| Editor | Melissa Kent |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Lifetime |
| Release | April 3, 2021 (2021-04-03) |
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia is a 2021 Americanbiographicalmusical dramatelevision film directed byKenny Leon, written byBettina Gilois and Todd Kreidler, and executive-produced byRobin Roberts.[1] It starsDanielle Brooks as gospel singerMahalia Jackson. Jason Dirden, Olivia Washington, Rob Demery andJoaquina Kalukango also round out the cast. The film premiered onLifetime on April 3, 2021.
The film received positive reviews, especially for Brooks' performance, and was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.
Film critic Melanie McFarland fromSalon wrote in her review: "thanks to Brooks' resolute performance and Kenny Leon's sturdy directing style, "Mahalia" successfully argues for our attention. In the same way that Cynthia Erivo stellar work easily buys forgiveness of the many flaws in "Genius," Brooks reaches beyond the screen and grabs you every time she breaks into song, doubling that power to meet the grandeur of bigger stages. A lesser director would struggle to adequate frame that mighty power, but Leon rises to her level by matching her artistry with visual artfulness."[2] Carla Renata fromThe Curvy Film Critic also give the film positive review and praised Brooks' performance and the film writing: "Of all the Lifetime movies I have screened over the years, this is the best. The attention to detail from hair, makeup, costume and production design all the way down to the screenplay by Todd Kriedler and Bettina Gilois are exceptional."[3]