Python Hyena
Beloved (1998): Dir: Jonathan Demme / Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Hill Harper: Powerful film with a title regarding a girl but it may also reference divine love. Flashbacks showcase brutality of a female black slave who is raped by two white students while their teacher looks on. Her husband is killed after being forced to watch. She becomes pregnant but kills the child to keep it from slavery. Years later her house is haunted by a poltergeist manifested into Beloved. An old friend stops by but he fears the spiritual presence. There is also a daughter named Denver who was delivered by a white woman upon her escape. Jonathan Demme is a suitable director after having made The Silence of the Lambs, also about a scarred past. Oprah Winfrey delivers a powerful performance full of fear, dread and hopelessness. Danny Glover plays her visitor reduced to conviction. He gets her pregnant again and offers to keep her but eventually he will discover her grim past. Kimberly Elise plays Denver, a survivor and perhaps the strongest. Thandie Newton is amazing with her awkward reflexes but the character Beloved is a spiritual wreck. She's a reincarnation yet demonic and completely unreadable. Hill Harper plays Winfrey's husband. Compelling story of gloom with muddled supernatural elements. Score: 6 ½ / 10
navypablo
I guess we are supposed to sympathize with a Mother who kills her children rather than attempting to kill those who have come to enslave them. Well, I for 1 am not buying it. Infanticide is arguably the most disgusting act a human being can commit, for the same reason abortion is: The consent of the one being killed is neither asked nor considered. Besides that rather ominous complaint, I found the films use of bodily fluids and projectile rejections far more than just disconcerting. They were down right unnecessary and morbidly grotesque. I understand what Director J. Demme was trying to convey, that is, a sense of grueling and depravity in spirit. But it comes off as a cheap parlor trick meant to shock the audience into understanding the power of a film that always seems more keenly aware of it's own magnitude than we ever do. The performances are strong, save for Thandie Newtons embarrassingly feeble attempt at depth in the title roll. By the end of the film, you are so ready for her to shut up and cease with her rolling bodily hums that her disappearance is more treasured for it's merciful realization than it's ties and effects on the afflicted characters. This film was also far too long at 2hrs 51 minutes. Perhaps worst of all i left the film with very little sympathy for any of the characters, who all seem vague, weightless and morally ambiguous. Earns a second star for a scant few scenes whose mise' en scene were all together striking. That can hardly be considered an positive review for this unfocused, often pretentious mess.Slavery as a moral rot is unmatched, but this films inability to reach us, considering the talent on hand, is also almost unmatched.
Natty1225
Believe it or not I saw Beloved tonight for the first time in its entirety..because I had seen pieces of it.Very well played....but there were scenes hard to hear, very dark movie...and a little bit confusing .......if beloved was a spirit..why make her so real? having sex and all didn't like it too much but I recognize the good work done.Oprah wanted to send a message but I don't think people really understood it...and also do not understand why I HAVE TO write 10 lines of text if I have nothing else to say
sassytigerr
This movie was captivating to me, but only because I paid such close attention to try and figure out what the hell was going on. When Beloved first appeared, I simply thought she was just crazy, or mentally handicapped. As the movie bored (excuse me, WORE) on, I realized what was really going on; however, there were parts of the movie that just didn't make sense tome. I thought the acting was well done, for the most part--Oprah & Danny Glover turned in excellent performances, but Thandie Newton wasn't very convincing as a...whatever it was she was supposed to be. And I understand Denver's character was supposed to be hard and conflicted with herself, but I thought the actress's portrayal was a bit dull. All in all, I definitely would NOT recommend this film to anyone. But that's just me.
AD
