While The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a heartfelt ode to a singular talent, it comes across as a bit too assured of its own merits and the dramatic heft of its subject to be bothered to simply tell the compelling story ...

As far as feature-length directorial debuts go, one would be hard-pressed to identify one as impressive and awe-inspiring as Shaka King’s tour-de-force Judas and the Black Messiah.

An example of extremely talented actors shoehorned into a plodding piece that loses its power and credibility before dissolving into a procedural thriller.