#26
Posted: 11/8/10 at 9:29am
I can't stop thinking about it. I was up a good part of the night with the film just running through my head.
FOR COLORED GIRLS review thread — Page 2
#27
Posted: 11/8/10 at 9:48am
SPOILER ALERT
Oh my word, his direction was something awful...I mean...how do you get bad acting from Whoopi "Molly-You-In-Danger-Girl" Goldberg? The camera shots of the hands were bad. The children's death scene didn't have enough momentum for me. There were pacing issues inside the apartment. And there should have been more aftermath in that scene. All you saw were the children drop and Crystal reaching for them. I needed to see her screaming and pushing past Beau Willie (his immediate reaction would have been a nice addition as well). And all we got from the other women was them turning their heads...no running toward the children, no pulling Crystal back so she didn't see them splattered across the cement...nothing. That scene had so much potential but all we got was 40% of it. And then the hospital scene...Crystal was writhing in the chair and being consoled by Gilda. But we didn't get a close up, we didn't get any uncontrollable screams...nothing. This woman just lost both children...I mean c'mon! I needed to see her act a plum and complete full. She'd be the front runner for Best Supporting Actress if she had better direction and face time. But I understand that with nine stories to tell that it's hard to get everything in there.
I also dislike how he wrote for his audience and made it a Tyler Perry film rather than adapting the work and making an authentic film. He just had to have Yasmin slap Khalil Kain because that's what his audience (church going black women) wanted to happen (remember the applause for Kimberley Elise dumping her husband in the bathtub in 'Diary...Woman' and Sanaa Lathan getting the sh*t slapped out of her in 'The Family...Together?). Antagonists getting what they "deserve" is a mainstay in Perry films but not clearly evident in Shange's work. And how horrible was the monologue he wrote for Janet's husband...my oh my..."I'm just a man who likes to have sex with another man." Kneegrow, duh! We already knew that Mr. Perry...and the whole "bend you over" part...yeah, that was written to garner a response from the crowd. Oh and let's not forget the "Daddy you can't hit Mommy!" from the little girl...was that not for the audience either? Ugh...irks me.
The monologues were delivered with extreme precision, credibility, and reality. I was impressed and I enjoyed them. Tessa/Nyla's monologue in the beginning was effortless and graceful...she delivered it as a dance while she herself danced. Loretta/Juanita knocked "Somebody Almost Walked Away Wid Alla My Stuff" clean out the park and stole scene after scene. Anika/Yasmin showed why she has a Tony Award in her performance...her acting was great, her talents were evident, and I haven't seen a good snotty cry since Viola Davis in 'Doubt.' And Kimberly/Crystal is the heartbeat of the film. Her role won a Tony in the Broadway production and if there's a good campaign behind her she'll have a good chance at taking home an Oscar. If anyone is nominated I'd expect it to be Elise (from shear merit), Devine (as she's worked with everybody and is likeable...just like Sandra Bullock), and/or Rashad (well-respected actress and her nomination would be one of the surprises the Oscar's are known for...like Mark Whalberg's nomination in 'The Departed'). Thandie Newton also has a chance, but she overacted...she has a tendency to do so (remember 'The Pursuit of Happyness').
Macy Gray was phenomenal in her cameo and I'd love to see her get some recognition. Kerry Washington was good but her role didn't require much.
There was nothing spectacular about the costume design, sound design, or art direction. It was all serviceable. This film deserves a SAG ensemble award for the cast and an Oscar nomination for Elise. Chances are it won't get either. I enjoyed the film for it's source material and actresses, and I'll buy it because of that.
Oh my word, his direction was something awful...I mean...how do you get bad acting from Whoopi "Molly-You-In-Danger-Girl" Goldberg? The camera shots of the hands were bad. The children's death scene didn't have enough momentum for me. There were pacing issues inside the apartment. And there should have been more aftermath in that scene. All you saw were the children drop and Crystal reaching for them. I needed to see her screaming and pushing past Beau Willie (his immediate reaction would have been a nice addition as well). And all we got from the other women was them turning their heads...no running toward the children, no pulling Crystal back so she didn't see them splattered across the cement...nothing. That scene had so much potential but all we got was 40% of it. And then the hospital scene...Crystal was writhing in the chair and being consoled by Gilda. But we didn't get a close up, we didn't get any uncontrollable screams...nothing. This woman just lost both children...I mean c'mon! I needed to see her act a plum and complete full. She'd be the front runner for Best Supporting Actress if she had better direction and face time. But I understand that with nine stories to tell that it's hard to get everything in there.
I also dislike how he wrote for his audience and made it a Tyler Perry film rather than adapting the work and making an authentic film. He just had to have Yasmin slap Khalil Kain because that's what his audience (church going black women) wanted to happen (remember the applause for Kimberley Elise dumping her husband in the bathtub in 'Diary...Woman' and Sanaa Lathan getting the sh*t slapped out of her in 'The Family...Together?). Antagonists getting what they "deserve" is a mainstay in Perry films but not clearly evident in Shange's work. And how horrible was the monologue he wrote for Janet's husband...my oh my..."I'm just a man who likes to have sex with another man." Kneegrow, duh! We already knew that Mr. Perry...and the whole "bend you over" part...yeah, that was written to garner a response from the crowd. Oh and let's not forget the "Daddy you can't hit Mommy!" from the little girl...was that not for the audience either? Ugh...irks me.
The monologues were delivered with extreme precision, credibility, and reality. I was impressed and I enjoyed them. Tessa/Nyla's monologue in the beginning was effortless and graceful...she delivered it as a dance while she herself danced. Loretta/Juanita knocked "Somebody Almost Walked Away Wid Alla My Stuff" clean out the park and stole scene after scene. Anika/Yasmin showed why she has a Tony Award in her performance...her acting was great, her talents were evident, and I haven't seen a good snotty cry since Viola Davis in 'Doubt.' And Kimberly/Crystal is the heartbeat of the film. Her role won a Tony in the Broadway production and if there's a good campaign behind her she'll have a good chance at taking home an Oscar. If anyone is nominated I'd expect it to be Elise (from shear merit), Devine (as she's worked with everybody and is likeable...just like Sandra Bullock), and/or Rashad (well-respected actress and her nomination would be one of the surprises the Oscar's are known for...like Mark Whalberg's nomination in 'The Departed'). Thandie Newton also has a chance, but she overacted...she has a tendency to do so (remember 'The Pursuit of Happyness').
Macy Gray was phenomenal in her cameo and I'd love to see her get some recognition. Kerry Washington was good but her role didn't require much.
There was nothing spectacular about the costume design, sound design, or art direction. It was all serviceable. This film deserves a SAG ensemble award for the cast and an Oscar nomination for Elise. Chances are it won't get either. I enjoyed the film for it's source material and actresses, and I'll buy it because of that.
#28
Posted: 11/10/10 at 2:20pm
"Tyler Perry is no stranger to kitchen-sink melodrama. But “For Colored Girls’’ is the kitchen sink, the washing machine, the curling iron, the sofa, and the ironing board. It’s Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Razzie. It’s astounding. It’s terrible. It’s astounding. Then terrible again. It’s too much — too much screaming, too much crying, too much preaching, too much reaching, too much healing, too much feeling, and, by the time a man dangles two small black children from an apartment window, it’s too much too-much. The audience I saw it with didn’t seem to know whether to clap when it was over or start taking Lipitor."
Wesley Morris on 'For Colored Girls'
Wesley Morris on 'For Colored Girls'
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
#29
Posted: 11/11/10 at 1:54pm
Question for someone who saw the original: was there a homophobic element there as well?
"Hurry up and get into your conga clothes - we've got to do something to save this show!"
#30
Posted: 11/11/10 at 9:13pm
I saw the original and have read the original. The homophobic element was added by Miss Perry.
#31
Posted: 11/11/10 at 10:36pm
What a surprise. And the gay husband is an opera buff.
"Hurry up and get into your conga clothes - we've got to do something to save this show!"
#32
Posted: 11/11/10 at 10:46pm
I'm seeing it no matter what any review says- all that talent, there has to be some surprises for us fans.
I absolutely love Loretta Devine- when I first heard that she was going to be in it, I thought maybe this would be her year- she is so talented and always wonderful in performance- wouldn't it be great if she were to at least be nominated for her work!
I absolutely love Loretta Devine- when I first heard that she was going to be in it, I thought maybe this would be her year- she is so talented and always wonderful in performance- wouldn't it be great if she were to at least be nominated for her work!
#33
Posted: 11/16/13 at 4:53pm
I watched this again for the who knows how many time last night and it still leaves my breathless. How the hell did Kimberly Elise not get an Oscar nomination for this??? Her performance is one I will remember for the rest of my life! That infamous scene is just as terrifying as ever, the scene a few scenes later between Crystal and Phylicia Rashad is breathtaking and the final scene so powerful.
#34
Posted: 11/16/13 at 4:57pm
Yeah, she absolutely deserved a nomination for that.
#35
Posted: 11/16/13 at 9:28pm
I wish the play would have came to Broadway. I am not sure what happened to the Revival but I would love to see this play on stage
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