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So how is JONATHON DEMME'S BELOVED' Click here and find out!
I met Mr Demme at a party here in Austin last SXSW. His kids were playing in the backyard and he was mixing really really well. He recognized me and came up to say "Hi". After a little bit of small talk, I congratulated him on the early word on his film, I had heard really good things about it. He thought I was talking about the film that was going to show later that evening, STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK. I shook my head and said..."No, no, I'm talking about the screening you did about a week or so ago for BELOVED" I swear to god he went stark white on me. You see it wasn't a test screening, but rather just a small screening for some execs, cast, those types. Around 35 people. I had had two reports that said it was fantastic. He was shocked. Since that time, I have heard not a peep about the film. The trailer I've seen was a bit lackluster, but from sources I have that know Demme very well, they say he says it's his best film. Well, that's one hell of a statement. Here's the review that pretty much backs that up. If you have seen the film... let me know. This along with A THIN RED LINE are two of the films that should be vying for OSCARS if they really are great that we've heard next to nothing on. So let us know... groovy?
I'm a long-time reader, first-time contributor. I haven't seen anything on
your
site about Beloved, the new Jonathon Demme-directed, Oprah Winfrey-starring
film.
I was fortunate enough to acquire free passes at a Chicago preview for
"Pecker"
(of all things) for "Beloved." I'm fairly
certain
this was the first public screening of this film so far. I may be wrong
about
that, but that's what the marketing/secrete service types told us.
Although at first glance, it may seem that this isn't the type of film your
readers would care about, they absolutely should. Demme does a stupendous
job of
mixing emotion and supernatural tension without falling victim to the
cliches
that so many other directors have. Demme even gets the occassional chance to
flex his "Silence of the Lamb" muscle with some truly bloody and gore-filled
scenes. This ain't no "Waiting to Exhale," y'all.
I've never read the Toni Morrison book, but from what I've heard from those
who
have, they stick to the story religiously. My guess is that Oprah had a lot
to
do with that. If I'm not mistaken, "Beloved" was the first of her "book
club"
books. For anyone who thinks this is some sappy Oprah star glamour vehicle,
prepare to be shocked. We even get to see her piss like a racehorse out of
fear
in one scene.
The story is such, for those who don't know: A former slave woman (Oprah) is
living with her three children in a shack near Cinncinati. We enter the
scene
during what appears to be a moment right out of Poltergeist. Shit is flying
everywhere; we hear a ghostly baby screaming, but Oprah looks like she's
used to
this and spends most of the scene trying to doctor her dog that was injured
during this supernatural episode. The two pre-teen boy children grab their
shit
and run out of the house declaring "We can't take this anymore." While the
remaining daughter just looks shellshocked on the stairs.
Cut to Oprah a few months later in front of her house. Suddenly she sees a
haggered looking Danny Glover strolling up her front walk. At this point I
should say that nobody in this film comes off as a glamourpuss; everybody
looks
older than they are, ragged, weather-beaten, etc. Apparently Glover and
Oprah
knew each other some 20 years before, when both were slaves on the same
plantation. They begin a relationship; he moves in, much to the daughters
chagrin. The first time he goes into the house, he senses the spirit and is
almost immediately treated to yet another really freaky poltergeist moment.
Demme must have loved having crap thrown at his actors because that's pretty
much all that happens for the first half-hour of the movie.
Once Glover is firmly established as a household stable, we get the
mysterious
appearance of Thandie Newton's character, Beloved. She seems to walk right
out
of a nearby pond dressed all in black with bugs crawling all over her. Now
Thandie Newton is most certainly on my "TO DO" list, but seeing her with
insects
covering her and crawling in and out of her mouth made me rethink
that....naw,
I'd still do her even with the bugs. Beloved can barely talk, and when she
does
she sounds like the Devil in The Exorcist. In fact, there are many elements
of
the Exorcist in the early scenes with Beloved. She also has that shallow,
raspy
breathing problem that fair Linda Blair had.
The gore and serious tension of the film revolve around the mystery of
Oprah's
past behaviour; her other daughter, who is dead (but how did she die?); the
true
identity of Beloved; and her treatment at the hands of her former owners.
Demme
does a brilliant job of shocking us visually. Presumably, many who will see
this
film already know the answers to these mysteries, but Demme's pictures cut
to
the heart of the film's many horrors.
Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a horror film per se. But the elements
are
there. At the heart of the films are two mind-blowing performances by Oprah
(who
will undoubtedly get an Oscar nom for this) and Thandie Newton, who creeped
my
out in ways I never knew a pretty girl could (except for Rebecca Gayheart in
Urban Legend, right?). Newton will probably get nominated too, but for
supporting acturess, which is a shame because the performance is lead
caliber.
This cut I saw last Saturday ran 2 hours and 45 mintues, which sounds like
but
felt necessary. There's no rush and there's a lot of story to be told, all
of it
interesting. Demme takes time to get to know the characters, not all of whom
are
likeable (now that I think about it, very few are).
All of you hard-core Sci-Fi and Horror fans (I'm one of you), give this one
a
chance. Don't be put off just because a woman who hosts a sappy talk show is
the
star and co-producer. Trust Demme. He good.
You can call me Capone.
Well Capone, if you're in Chicago for the Film Fest up there, I hope you take the time to drop us a line from time to time. Good work!
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+ Expand All
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Hey!! You know why i would go and see Beloved?? Because OPRAH WINFREY GETS NEKKID!! ISN'T THAT DISGUSTING?? They talked about it on ET how she gets nekked and stuff...But we'll just have to wait and see.......
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Here I am in Chicago and it just kills me to hear that there are cool screenings somewhere in the city that I've heard nothing about. I was at Piper's Alley theatre on Friday night for the premiere of "Pecker" and saw no free passes for "Beloved." Was there an advance screening on Thursday night? Where does one come by this information? I scour the papers daily and see nothing. Do I need to beg and grovel to get such information? How do I find out about cool film happenings in the city of Chicago? Please would someone drop me a clue?
-
Ah, I do love hearing about any and all things having to do with Beloved, which has long since been my favorite book. Ms. Morrison is one of the most gifted lyrical writers I have ever had the pleasure of reading and the magic she creates with the English language should be studied by anyone and everyone. I'm extremely glad to hear that the magic Demme brings to the screen has merged and become one with the unbelievable beauty (and by this, I do not mean blue skies and butterflies)and compelling story that is Beloved. I admit my elitest self was and still is a bit concerned with "the Oprah factor"... the idea of millions of complacent housewives watching this thing because "it's Oprah!" was enough to make my skin crawl. However, if Ms. Winfrey had done as well by Beloved as has been reported, I suppose I cannot gripe too seriously.
One small note, Beloved was never on Oprah's book list to my knowledge. "Song of Solomon", another extremely brilliant novel by Ms. Morrison, was, however. I recommend both reads if you haven't read either yet. -
If Oprah gets nekkid, "Beloved" must be a WIDESCREEN film!
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Rebecca Gayhardt, bugs crawling out of mouths, Oprah nekkid....sounds like a real fuckin' party to me!
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Obviously you twits haven't seen Oprah lately, especially her cover photo spread in Vogue. She looks damned good, and while I can't say that seeing her naked is at the top of my list, you all should really just get a life and stop making a big deal out of it.
*steps off soapbox*
That haveing been said, I am really looking forward to this movie. I have not read Ms. Morrison's novel, but I have heard her speak. I hope she is pleased with the movie, and I would love to hear her reaction to it. I really hope this movie is a success because, ouside of Saving Private Ryan, there has been a real dearth of Oscar caliber movies this year. -
I think the rest of the year will hold a few oscar caliber films such as Thin Red Line, Pleasantville, and some other notible indie mentions.
-
I'm very disappointed with Jonathan Demme. I'd hoped that for his next pic he'd do a follow up to "Cousin Bobby" or a sequal to "Married To The Mob." Or better yet, another serious drama like "Philadelphia." Or best of all, I had hoped he'd re-team with Spalding Grey for another monologue film. "Monster In A Box" was decent, but it lacked the panache that Demme brought to "Swimming To Cambodia." Either way, I hope that one day Demme gives us the further exploits of the right Rev. Robert Castle. Ciao!
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See, now, the reviewer's gone and done it: I'm not sure I want to see this. The one thing I hoped Demme would not be crass enough to do is turn Beloved (or: The Greatest American Novel Of The Second Half Of The Twentieth Century) into a ghost story, and that's exactly how this review presents it. I think Demme's over-rated anyway (who else thinks Philadelphia was just plain awful?) but I'd hoped Toni, and even Oprah's involvement would keep the picture true to the heart of the book, not just its surface. Apparantly not. I really hope there are some aspects of the movie that simply went over this reviewer's head, because otherwise this'll be a travesty of unimaginable proportions. Can we get a review from someone who's read the novel, or am I going to have to do it myself?
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I've got to agree with Anton on Philidelphia. It was claptrap on the order of Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (which is not to say Hanks wasn't any good. I felt the film let him down.) As for Demme being overrated, though, I couldn't disagree more. Silence Of The Lambs keeps looking more and more like a classic with every year that passes, while Stop Making Sense, in my opinion, still stands as one of the best "concert" films of all time. Demme certainly hit a valley with Philthadelphia, but his track record suggests that he's far too talented not to bounce back.
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I saw Beloved in boston yesterday,and as someone who has read the book, i came out a little disappointed. Definately not Oscar caliber (for best picture at least). The acting is good, Oprah was good and it was nice to see danny Glover acting again (he makes up for switchback) here. Movie drags though, not enough action to merit a 3 hour movie. Instead of letting the acting tell the story on it sown, Demme has characters tell key elements. It looked like everyone was a little overwhelmed by the material (not surprising based on the book).Was an ok movie but should ahve been a lot better.
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A critique first, man some people come off as illiterate losers. Not you though. Beyond that, this movie has a lot to look up to. Beloved being one of the few books written during this era by a non-white, non-male that has been completely accepted into our current cannon. Beyond that I am wondering how certain aspects like the milking scene are handled in this movie. Does Oprah give into her Soccer-mom audience and pull punches or does she squick their bourgeois tastes. Concerned readers want to know. I'm betting the former, and that would suck, but I wouldn't be surprised. Here's to a section of Ain't it Cool dedicated to independant and artistic films. I would like that. They can't all be "Armageddon."
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Well said, monkey boy...
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Oprah, you fell down the rabbit hole baby. Was I was sitting on the edge of my seat because I was entertained or because I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on? It's a real freakshow either way.
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