Waiting To Exhale
The movie was adapted from the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and also stars Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon. The story centers on four female friends living in the Phoenix, Arizona area and their relationships with men and one another.
All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man.
The movie is notable for having an all-black cast. The success of the film proved that there is an audience for black movies.
The LA Times called it a "social phenomenon".
Plot summary
Savannah Jackson (Whitney Houston) is a television producer who holds on to the belief that one day her married lover (Dennis Haysbert) will leave his wife for her. Bernadine Harris (Angela Bassett) abandoned her own career and desires of having a catering business to raise a family.
Her husband (Michael Beach) is now leaving her for a white woman. Robin Stokes (Lela Rochon) is the long-time mistress of Russell (Leon Robinson).
After dumping him she has problems finding a decent man of her own. Gloria Matthews (Loretta Devine) is a beauty salon owner and single mother raising a teenage son.
After years alone, she falls in love with a new neighbor, Marvin King (Gregory Hines).
Soundtrack
Full article: Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack)
The soundtrack to the film featured many African-American female artists. Blige, "Sittin Up In My Room" by Brandy, and the Top 10 single "Count On Me" by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans.
Trivia
Director Forest Whitaker was the unanimous first choice of the film's producers and screenwriters.
Houston's role in the film bore a resemblance to the character she played in the music video to her single "Saving All My Love for You" - a woman having an affair with a married man.
Forest Whitaker stated in an interview with Ebony Magazine that Robin Givens and Halle Berry were among the women who auditioned for the role of Robin.
Whitaker claimed in an interview with US Weekly that Sarah Jessica Parker and HBO "stole my show and are trying to get me."
Although Whitaker had earlier directed an HBO drama called Strapped (1993) for which he received Best New Director honors at the Toronto Film Festival this film was his first job directing a full-length feature film.
The movie has been featured in two episodes of The Simpsons: All Singing, All Dancing, where the family were put on hold for it but were told "not to hold their breath", and E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt), where it was mentioned in conversation.
The scene where Bernadine sets her husbands' personal belongings and car on fire was referenced in an episode of The Steve Harvey Show. She is about to set them on fire with a lighter, and states "I'm about to go Angela Bassett and I don't have any lighter fluid." Ultimately, Steve intervenes to prevent this from happening.
The songs "It Might Be You" (by Roberta Flack) and "I'm Gonna Make You My Wife" (by The Whispers) were both played in the movie, but were not included on the soundtrack.
Cast
Whitney Houston as Savannah 'Vannah' Jackson
Angela Bassett as Bernadine 'Bernie' Harris
Loretta Devine as Gloria 'Glo' Matthews
Lela Rochon as Robin Stokes
Gregory Hines as Marvin King
Dennis Haysbert as Kenneth Dawkins
Mykelti Williamson as Troy
Michael Beach as John Harris, Sr.
Leon as Russell
Wendell Pierce as Michael Davenport
Donald Faison as Tarik Matthews
Jeffrey D.
Sams as Lionel
Jazz Raycole as Onika Harris
Brandon Hammond as John Harris, Jr.
Kenya Moore as Denise
Wesley Snipes as James Wheeler (uncredited)
Giancarlo Esposito as David Matthews (uncredited)
Awards and nominations
Angela Bassett
Image Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture:
(Angela Bassett) Winner
(Whitney Houston) Nominated
Outstanding Soundtrack: Winner
Outstanding Motion Picture: Winner
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: (Gregory Hines) Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:
(Loretta Devine) Winner
(Lela Rochon) Nominated
MTV Movie Awards
Best Female Breakthrough Performance: (Lela Rochon) Nominated
Best Song From a Movie:
Brandy - "Sittin' Up In My Room" Winner
Whitney Houston - "Shoop Shoop" Nominated
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