Profile
Photos
Comments
I went to see this movie for two reasons and they didn't
disappoint me: Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah. The latter has certainly grown
in statue since her early singing and acting days and the former seems to be
following in the latter's foot steps. Both do good work here.
The film itself is a 'small' film that will seem familiar in all
its parts and yet though there are plenty of terrible things happening they all
seem to be glossed over in Hollywood style. There is child abuse, a murder,
beatings, racial incidents, etc., and yet you get the feeling you are watching a
mellow picture of the South where the women, black and/or white are there for
each other under all circumstances.
Though there are very few similarities I kept on thinking of the
movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" though this is much more of a
tearjerker.
Like the honey the bees make this movie is sweet, sticky, gets
messy and adds a taste of it's own to each frame.
I have seen Dakota Fanning in a few pictures now and still
haven't made up my mind as to whether she will continue to have a career along
the lines of Jodie Foster or it will end after her teen years.
Though this is a picture about a black family, mainly three
sisters, it revolves around the Fanning character who certainly has enough
problems but the drama of the former is diffused by the drama of the latter and
how do you top a 4 year old killing her mother at the beginning of the
picture?!?!? You don't, so the story of the black women is not as powerful, as
meaningful, as it would have been on it's own instead of 'supporting' the white
girl.
All the production values are top notch but this is more of a
Lieftime cable movie than a big screen film. I did find Alicia Keys annoying but
that was more about her than her acting and/or character. Hudson keeps
impressing me and Latifah is a winner in everything she does.
I do recommend this film but, a rarity from me, wait to see it
on DVD.
AJ