Director: Lee Daniels
Year: 2009
Book by: Sapphire
Adapted by: Geoffrey Fletcher
Cinematographer: Andrew Dunn
Great acting by Mo'Nique, and surprisingly good acting from Mariah Carey... some good moments from first time actor Gabourey Sidibe, but still not strong enough an actor to pull off all of her heavy-hitting emotional moments.
The inspirational teacher thing is worn out for me, I know they exist, but I'm tired of the fact that they are always the saviors for the kids of the ghetto in American urban-set films.
Also, I don't think the director gives us a tight and coherent style, tonally moves around and the camera draws too much attention to itself at times, zooming in and out during interview scenes, and the camera move that goes up and over Mo'Nique's head is not only distracting, but doesn't seem to have a purpose.
The story is powerful, and seems fair. Some critics have said it portrays black women of harlem as lazy welfare hogs, and I say its all fair game in cinema, I believe this character exists, and if there is only one of them in real life, that's okay, I don't walk out of the theater thinking all people on welfare are just lazy and crazy, not wanting to work. I think it is believable that a character has lost hope, justifiably or not, we can not judge from outside, and that reality for those who have lost hope is not only miserable, but because hurt people hurt people, they go on to make life miserable for even their own daughters.
Hope and change was the message of the Oprah backed Obama campaign, and this seems to come in on the same tone... to all the precious girls out there, you can take heart, there is hope, take control of your life and change it for the better.
It is exactly the film Oprah would love, out of dark reality, there is hope to change.
I would personally prefer to see this kind of American family portrayed with the strict realism of Mike Leigh or the Dardenne Brothers.
No comments:
Post a Comment