I was first put on to this film by my older brother, DJ. He shared an article about the film Self Made from major news source. The source criticized the film's authenticity and even went as far as to state the demasculizing behavior toward Madam CJ Walker's husband was the reason for his infidelity.
So here's my thoughts: The film was informative. I learned some things I never knew about Madam CJ Walker. Octavia Spencer is an outstanding actress. She is well suited and versed for parts of this nature. Tiffany Haddish, however, was not. Don't get me wrong, Tiffany is an amazing comedian and deserves her place in the spotlight. This role just wasn't for her. She seemed out of place and uncomfortable, which made the film hard to follow.
Speaking of follow, did anyone else get sidetracked by the music? The movie takes place in the early 1900s. Playing current music, confuses the audience and distracts them from the storyline, setting, and the overall performance of this film.
Self Made was okay for me. It was lacking that umph I needed to feel inspired or proud. However, you have to decide for yourself. Check it out on Netflix and let me know your thoughts.