Tyler Perry may have a lot to prove with his upcoming film For Colored Girls. Perry is known for his black romantic comedies and critics doubt the filmmaker's writing skills are sharp enough for such a poignant drama. The film is an adaptation of Ntozake Shange's award-winning Broadway play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. The powerful work is a collection of, what Shange calls "choreopoems," about the complexities of black female identity and our struggles. The play debuted in 1974 but her message about black girl blues still resonates today: abuse, infidelity, poverty, sexism, defining our sexuality, fighting for respect. The list goes on. I hoped Perry would successfully take on such a challenging project because of his passion for addressing some of black women's woes. As a black woman who loves movies, I've been thirsting for a good drama starring black actresses for a while. I mean real good like The Women of Brewster Place or Soul Food. Perry chose a stellar cast -- Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington and Tessa Thompson. His rendition takes place in a modern-day urban America. The acting is solid. Unfortunately, much of the script is not.
The first half of the film tries to connect all of the women through nine storylines. But watching their lives link feels choppy at times as it jumps scene to scene. However it comes together more seamlessly by the second half. Another problem is how Perry incorporates poems from Shange's original work into the script. Kerry Washington plays Kelly, a social worker married to Hill Harper's character Donald. In one scene Kelly explains to Donald she's infertile because of an STD she contracted years ago. She goes into a poem about a lover who cheated on her with one of her college friends: "Three of us like a pyramid. Three friends one laugh, one music, one flowered shawl knotted on each neck..." I read the play prior to watching the film and know this poem. But in this scene the poem doesn't fit and may confuse some in the audience, especially those unfamiliar with the play. Another instance where prose comes off awkward occurs when Rashad's character Gilda babysits Crystal's (Kimberly Elise) children. Crystal and her husband get into a violent argument next door. Gilda tries to distract the kids and performs a few stanzas about her love for Hatian Revolution leader Toussaint L'Ouverture. It's difficult to pay attention to Gilda while Crystal is screaming and getting pummeled by her alcoholic husband.
The recurrence of dated language is another drawback to the film. The word "colored" appears a few times in the dialogue when actresses perform poetry. Shange wrote the play back in the '70s. The film is set in the present and black people don't use the word "colored" anymore. Watching a character type on a laptop then hearing someone describe themselves as "colored" a few scenes later doesn't feel realistic.
For Colored Girls isn't all bad. The acting is strong and will not disappoint. Kimberly Elise stirs you as always. Loretta Devine is funny and vivid. Thandie Newton delivers as a troubled, selfish sex addict. She and Whoopi were matched perfectly as a mother and daughter with serious tensions. Singer Macy Gray's eerie portrayal of a back-alley abortionist will make you rethink ever having unsafe sex. It was a hauntingly-good scene and well directed. I felt the nervousness and vulnerability of her pregnant patient. And there are times where Perry effectively integrates Shange's poems into the script. Yasmin's (Anika Noni Rose) crime report to the police officer, in prose, is almost placid yet intense. Goldberg's and Newton's characters go into a poetic exchange filled with a lot passion and pain. And I enjoyed Devine's colorful performance about a man almost running off with her "stuff" or her love and self.
For Colored Girls is not my favorite Tyler Perry film, but I recommend you see for yourself. Make sure to read the play first. It will help you gain a better understanding of the film. Although I hoped for something better, it was refreshing to watch an ensemble of talented black actresses in non-demeaning roles. Some of the best actresses in the industry are part of the cast. Notice I said not the best black actresses, but the best in general. I appreciate Perry for his effort because I imagine he wanted black women to feel empowered after watching the film. A few scenes moved me. Still, I left the theater feeling a little down because dramas starring black women are rare. A television or movie drama starring a black female cast is about as common as the Texas Rangers going to the World Series. Perry will probably do well at the box office because of the buzz surrounding For Colored Girls and his fan following. Hopefully, Hollywood execs will take note and this will be the start of more dramas starring black actresses to come. Hopefully.
This post was originally published on Cocoa Fly
Follow Jenee Darden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Cocoafly
I actually completely agree that the parts from the book/play seem out of place in parts, some are spot on, but others aren't. The writing (minus the original writing) was just sub-par, but what I expected from my knowledge of TP movies and plays. To be quite honest, I recommend just reading the book, its an excellent choice for a book club for women, or for both men and women for that matter as the content raises some serious issues. Or trying to find the play on video, its great as well with the choreography! I will say that that the acting was great, every actress did a good job playing their part. I would recommend the movie to see, but I would always recommend the book over the movie any day.
@ScorpioGirl--Good argument. On one hand you have people who are frustrated with these sad storylines about black women who are down, beat up and worn out. I know some people who didn't see the film for that reason. But to your point, the issues TP raises in the film aren't just limited to black women. Poverty, incest, rape,etc hits home for many women of all backgrounds. Thanks for your comment.
We must be from the same era because you thoughts about Tyler Perry's movie was the exact same thoughts as mine. I too thought this movie was comparable to Crash as it was very thought provoking and each and every character could easily remind you of a friend, yourself or just someone you know. I thought Tyler's Why did I get married 1 was his best serious movie, but this movie by far is his best. I also read the book, saw the play and now this movie just adds to the trilogy of a job well done. I thought this movie was excellent and I have told everyone they need to see this movie. If you cannot relate to at least one person in this movie, you are not from planet earth.
http://banthenword.org/news/publish/BNWSnapshot/For_Colored_Girls.shtml
More importantly is this a date movie or a no way movie.
Some movies women are just better off seeing with their friends.
OMG, did she really say that??? Where did you guys FIND this woman? I'm no fan of Tyler Perry, but was in search of a smart review about the film, since I'm a huge fan of Ntozake Shange. Note to the hiring editors, please don't assume that just because someone's skin is brown that they know jack about black culture (or have the talent to write about it). I expect more from HP. Do your homework, youngster. That was pretty weak. Guess I'll stick to the NYT for smart movie reviews.
Also, I have a theory that HuffPo posters are intentionally rude to stir up debate. Why in the world else would you be so harsh to someone who wrote a perfectly fine review? Civility is underrated.
I just returned from a movie screening a few hours ago with Kimberly Elise on hand for Q & A. This is undoubtedly one of the best films I've seen all year. And I've seen so many films already, I've lost count. (Just this week alone I've seen 4 films.) This review so clearly magnifies a lack of connection with the internal pain, suffering, struggle, and ultimate triumph one may experience along the arc of life.
Thankfully, the audience with whom I watched the film viewed it with rapt attention. We hung on every word Outstanding: the acting...each performance is simply incredible. Important: the overarching message. Timeless: the experience of black women in America.
Oh, Janet Jackson, by the way, does not disappoint.
The inspired and energized movie-going audience couldn't stop praising the film on the way out the theater.
This film is sure to be nominated for the top awards! Tyler Perry's best film to date!! It surely surpassed all my expectations!!!
Did you really just call Ms. Darden all that for having an opinion that fell short of worship? That's rather unkind. You're the one who is disconnected from reality, any reality. You're clearly an industry insider and I suspect have some connection with this film.
Perhaps equality is somewhere on the horizon when black film makers are allowed to put out average product, without bearing the burden of having to be twice as good as their white counterparts
to get noticed by the national audience.
It is VALID to level reasonable artistic criticism at this man, but to minimize his achievements as some kind of underhanded 'get-over American-style' is hater-hype.
Your perception of his body of work is valid as per your point of view, however the cumulative expression of it comes off as a rant.
We just are. The enlightening truth about Africans Ascendants in America is that our experience, though unique in historical context, is IN COMMON with the work-a-day experience of every other "people" in this world.
Our challenge is to acknowledge within ourselves that perceptions and stereotypes that we work overtime to not perpetuate or to refute on a personal and interpersonal level is energy best put to use toward healing! I AM ALL OF IT AND NONE OF IT, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE, and I CLAIM IT ALL because cumulatively, that is my history, experience and cultural reference.
AND I can laugh at myself with myself and discern with I am the joke, in on the joke and when the joke is about me. Tyler Perry does not work to intentionally embarrass or dehumanize "me."
I do need to see him about the movie Precious APSA Damn P.
The patriarchal paradigm that we now exist in that exalts the masculine principle above the feminine to the extreme of repressing and denying it IMHO is reeking havoc on our social order, and has caused mass confusion in our social expectations and relationships -particular in the area of power.
That we have not healed sufficiently to where AA men and women have re-established secure, socially supported notions and definitions of trust and mutual respect that minimizes the need to covet dominance and control is evidence that we are not saved (not in the religious sense).
Many AA men resent the feminine power, particularly its hold and sway over their thoughts, deeds and actions. If men and women were to re-alize the duality of the masculine/feminine principles in each gender, there may be less manifestation of the need to control the other gender, recognizing the principles and roles that exist within each, thus working to balance them within themselves, respectively and in the context of relationships, diffusing the power struggle.
Then we can move towards conscious liberation from an artificial social construct that is in disharmony with our traditional social order: Matriarchy, as nature proscribed!
I concur with your observations about the portrayal of the AA feminine principle in many movies directed by AA men. They need healing, too!
However, I will say that I have been concerned about placing material that is as dramatic and impactful as this play is in the hands of Perry. He has so much to work with, great actresses who barely need directing and fantastic material but I am just not a fan of commercial style.