Dakota Fanning and those "...bees"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/6/09 at 1:15pm

I'm late to this party. I read the book, and though I found some of it fresh and interesting, it didn't really move me profoundly after the initial set-up (which is sort of HUCKLEBERRY FINN with young women). Perhaps it's because I come from that part of the country, and was the age of the central character in 64. I resisted the film because I didn't want to see Dakota chew the scenery or look precious.

So I watched it last night on HBO, and had pretty predictable responses through most of its first third. Liked Jennifer Hudson's throw-away approach, but never really believed the other ladies were sisters. Alicia Keyes didn't seem in the same family as Queen, whatsoever, even taking into account the profound differences in their natures. Latifah's role needed, maybe, a young Felicia Rashad; she was warm and generous but curiously, well, not very regal for a woman named Queen. In her big set piece, the eplication of the black Madonna, which should've been her dramatic coup, she seemed woefully un star-like,alas. (I remember when she was cast, I assumed she was playing Hudson's role.)

I expected to feel as many did, held hostage to the Hattie McDaniel syndrome, i.e. why watch a story about some great African-American female characters in service of one white child?

And yet...

In the final 30-45 minutes, Ms Fanning's work just started to pay off. Her portrayal of the novel's most cliched (if emotionally true) material -- her grappling with abandonment by her mother -- was simply stunning. Heartfelt, real, and not showy. This kid is the real deal, and though I've been indifferent to her cloying, preturnatural sophistication in the past, as a young teen she made a persuasive case, ultimately for SECRET LIFE OF BEES to exist on screen. I cannot imagine it without her deeply affecting emotional work.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 4:13pm

There's an ongoing argument in my household as to whether listening to an audiobook counts as having read it. Personally, I find I am able to listen to things that I might otherwise not make time to and read in print. On the other hand, I realize that having something read to you takes away certain interpretive choices. Anyway, that's beside the point.

I listened to the audiobook of The Secret Life of Bees a long time ago and the reading performance was perfection. Rarely have I enjoyed an audiobook quite as much. The only other that rivals it in my experience, was The Kite Runner, which was read by the author, if I remember correctly.