13 Awesome Performances In Otherwise Disappointing 2021 Movies
6. Andra Day - The United States Vs Billie Holiday
Every year, we get a fair few awards-baiting biopics that have a great performance at the front but are otherwise pretty flawed; nonetheless, many such films are, honestly, perfectly OK. The United States Vs. Billie Holiday, on the other hand, is honestly something of a dud and the only thing that makes it particularly watchable is Andra Day's performance in the title role.
This is actually her acting debut, but you would never have guessed that. Day performs the role of the legendary jazz singer with all the verve and confidence of an acting veteran and radiates charisma from the off.
More importantly still, she does a terrific job with the film's dramatic moments and represents the lows of a troubled life in a truly heartfelt way.
The fact that Day did so well while having to contend with the restraints of bland writing and flat, TV movie-like directing only makes her work even more impressive and in the end, she is the only thing that lends this movie any dramatic weight at all. Therefore, weak as the movie was, it was difficult to complain about Day being nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.