this be botch in a hundred way . factual error aren not the point all biopics play with the truth for dramatic reason and but the story here be inept . the story start and end nowhere and invest none of the event with significance . there no sense of drama and no building of tension and no interesting character and nothing but diana ross bumble around the set look awkward and project little personality . how do one re create a 1920 harlem whorehouse and manage to make it look as interesting a a motel 6. and the singing there no doubt diana ross have a voice and but she doesn not display the slight connection with the material . no one could imitate billie and but one would hope for some kind of interest interpretation to help pull off the impersonation . but ross phone in the tune and with little feeling or style . most of the other character be cardboard and with richard pryor do the weird role of his life a a timid and comical piano player . absolutely unwatchable for anyone but die hard diana ross fan and and for billie holiday lover and movie buff and sheer torture .