Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story Review: One Remarkable Journey

At just 41 years old, Keyshia Cole is a Grammy Award-winning R&B legend, reality show phenomenon, and now star and executive producer of Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story, a captivating biopic about the not-so-glamorous parts of her successful life. Raised in Oakland, California, Cole was adopted by family friends of her drug-addicted mother, and had a father whose identity she didn’t know until she was an adult.

On her path to musical comeuppance, Cole held onto a deep-seated effort to defy the odds with a faith in God and now, with millions of records sold, she is living proof that women don’t have to sell or reveal their bodies to have their actual talent respected. Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story traces Cole’s journey of not letting a rough start in life stop her from reaching her dream and using her talents as a singer.

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Who Is Keyshia Cole

Cole started off as a background vocalist for MC Hammer, working as a hairstylist too during the struggle years in early adulthood, and eventually signed with A&M Records. She saw her career soar while championed by A&R rep and her eventual music mentor, Ron Fair, along with her original manager, Manny Halley.

It was 2005 when Cole released her debut album, The Way It Is, in her signature raspy soprano voice and matter-of-fact relatable style, and the album was certified platinum in no time. Soon, she was also the star of one of BET’s most-watched programs in the entire network’s history, named after her album. This, too, is when fans were introduced — and grew to love — Cole’s beloved mother, Frankie Lons, whose battle with drug addiction was part of the show’s unyielding spotlight.

This, coupled with the familial drama between Cole’s sisters and extended family, eventually led to the show’s demise, and played a role in Cole’s eventual divorce from NBA star Daniel “Booby” Gipson. This month, as part of their June celebration of Black Music Month, Lifetime TV has released a biopic that takes viewers on a gripping journey from Cole’s younger days in Oakland through her years and current status as a successful recording artist and TV star.

Directed by D’Angela Proctor (Line Sisters) and Manu Boyer (Girl in the Basement) and written by Angelica Cheri, This Is My Story stars and was executive produced by Keyshia Cole, who portrays herself in this biographical portrait of her life. It serves up a fascinating story about faith, determination, and uncompromising integrity.

Even fans who know the stories that Cole has so openly shared through her reality shows and also in interviews over the years, will be drawn from the opening scene to relive it all again. It’s enthralling to watch it all play out on screen. Cole is a living example for young girls — all people actually — that you don’t have to negate the core goodness and integrity of who you are to attain success and though the situations she endured are laced with grit and pain, this is one refreshingly triumphant film.

Keyshia and Her Cast

Lifetime

Without flinching, Cole looked the circumstances of her life cold in the eye and has lived a life that pretty much said — and still says — “bring it.” During an exclusive Q&A session after a private screening for her film, Cole shared with MovieWeb and others in attendance that she only wanted to do the film if she could portray herself. This was probably a very wise decision on her part and on the filmmakers’ part to go along with it. Cole’s personality is so distinct and so genuine that who better to tackle the role than Cole herself?

One of the reasons why Cole’s fans love her so fiercely is that she has always had a firm footing on being unapologetically herself. Even in her performance for the film, while it is clear that Cole’s most natural appeal to fans isn’t acting, that is why it works. Cole just is and viewers will embrace this spot-on ‘performance.’ While there aren’t any huge line readings with award-winning potential for Cole worth noting, there is a steady and believable delivery that carries the film. Because there aren’t any catastrophic moments of disbelief, viewers, especially fans, will embrace every single emotion and every single line she delivers because of who and how real Cole is.

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The contrast that will take a little bit of suspension of belief, for fans, could be for Lindsey Blackwell in her satisfying portrayal as “Young Keyshia” in earlier scenes of the film. While Blackwell is sassy enough and clearly talented, not to mention absolutely beautiful on camera, because the real Keyshia is so authentically genuine in the rest of the film, some fans might feel that Blackwell doesn’t serve enough of Keyshia’s edge. It’s unlikely that general audiences will feel this way, but very possible for die-hard fans of Cole’s.

The redeeming thought is, perhaps Cole herself didn’t have quite as much edge in those earlier years. It’s a notable difference, but only because Cole has willingly shared so much of herself with fans. Her ways of saying and doing things are etched into the minds of many. While this is definitely not a dealbreaker on whether to love this film, fans, particularly, may notice.

Lifetime

What fans will undoubtedly embrace in Keyshia Cole: This is My Story is Debbie Morgan’s (Eve Bayou) knockout powerhouse performance as Frankie Lons, Coles’ drug-using mother whose heart, realness, and hilarious one-liners were captured with unabashed authenticity. Morgan is perfect in the role and fans who watched and embraced Lons over the years, and mourned her death in July 2021, will agree with bittersweet applause.

In an exclusive quote to MovieWeb after the screening, Ron Fair went on record to say, “Debbie was fantastic. We’re very fortunate that Debbie said yes. This is a monster performance for her, probably an Emmy Award-winning one. Frankie, the character in real life, is impossible to portray because she was such an edgy and memorable personality, but Debbie delivered. She elevates the whole movie and brought a level of acting professionalism that really sealed the deal on the film. We were thrilled to have her.”

Related: 10 Movies That Accurately Portray Drug Addiction

Others in the well-rounded and well-placed cast are Douglas Dickerman (Ozark) as Fair, Aspen Kennedy (Cloak & Dagger) as Boobie, Alfred E. Rutherford (Lace) as Manny, Andrew Dicostanzo (The Girl from Plainville), Cindi Davis (Money Back Guarantee), and Brittney Level (Genius) as Cole’s sisters Neffeteria and Elite. Notable, too, is the warm presence of Joseph C. Phillips (The Cosby Show) as Cole’s adoptive father, Leon, and, Tonia Jackson (Outer Banks) in her complicatedly callous, but ultimately empathetic portrayal as Cole’s adoptive mother, Yvonne

What You Won’t See in the FIlm

Keyshia Cole

During the Q&A after the screening, Cole shared that she knows there were a lot of things that were left out of the film and fans will recognize some of that as well.

For example, it is a well-known fact among her fans that Cole had just agreed to collaborate with slain rapper Tupac Shakur right before he was gunned down in Las Vegas. It would have been interesting to see how Cole coped with that devastating shakeup of fate.

In very frank revelations, Cole also shared another scene that was cut for brevity and perhaps to not dig up an old beef. She said that when she initially met Fair at a party in North Hollywood – a scene that is a pivotal part of the film – while she did, at first, hand him a demo, and while she did then decide to sing her song “Love” for him live and a cappella right there on the spot instead, something else happened that they didn’t show.

“I also almost had a fight with Christina Aguilera that night,” Cole shared with the audience. “There’s a lot that didn’t make the movie,” she joked.

Lifetime

Cole explained during the Q&A, “There was so much more story to tell. We just didn’t have enough time to tell the fans that have listened to my music over all this time. Ultimately, I just wanted to focus on and dedicate it to my Mom in remembrance of her so that her story, too, can live on throughout the rest of my life and my children’s lives.”

And yet, Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story is fulfilling. In its unflinching look at a remarkably ordinary and beautifully talented young woman who has lived a life with extraordinary challenges and triumphs, it is inspiring and empowering, and a must-watch for Cole’s allegiance of loyal fans who will hunger for more at the movie’s end.

Said Cole, “For the most part the film is just a reflection of my life and the love that I have for my Mom. I hate that her life ended the way it did, but the truth is, this is just my life.”

Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story premiers on Lifetime on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 8 PM.

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