Which 1995 film starred Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston?

This acclaimed 1995 romantic drama brought together an iconic ensemble cast to portray four friends navigating love, heartbreak, and careers in Phoenix, Arizona. Led by Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston, alongside Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine, the film is an adaptation of Terry McMillan's wildly popular 1992 novel of the same name. Directed by celebrated actor Forest Whitaker, the movie was a major box office success, praised for its honest and heartfelt depiction of the complexities of modern relationships and the power of female friendship.

The film is almost as famous for its groundbreaking soundtrack as it is for its story. Houston served as an executive producer for the album, recruiting legendary producer Babyface to write and produce its original songs. The soundtrack became a cultural event, featuring an all-star lineup of the era's top female R&B artists, including Brandy, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, and Aretha Franklin. It generated the massive number-one hit "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" and remains one of the best-selling movie soundtracks of all time, perfectly capturing the emotional tone of the film.