http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2605646105/
All of these first reviews are going to be from DVD rentals so I will also be reviewing DVD features. Unfortunately there are absolutely no special features on this DVD. No commentary to speak of, no trailers, nothing. It may be due to lack of extra material or it may be due to the dramatic nature of the film, but either way I believe there should have at least been something other than languages for subtitles.
Regardless, the lack of features does not take away from the actual movie in any way. As someone who has lived in South Carolina (where the movie is set) for most of my life I have to commend the filmmakers on their ability to give the feeling of living in the Deep South. The colors are warm throughout- yellows, reds, oranges and pinks surrounded by the lush greens of the landscape give the viewer a real sense of the humidity from summer. Watching this movie made me actually feel the heat. I did notice a shift in color tone towards the climax of the movie when everything becomes blue and purple rather than yellow. I believe this is a way the cinematographer was trying to give the audience a sense of peace in the story. Because this is a drama, there are many conflicts for all of the six main characters. Whenever a particular character is at peace with his or her situation we see their clothing change.
One thing that is constant throughout the movie is the music. Constantly somber, beautiful, and perfectly paired with every scene. Most of the music was played by the character of June (played by Alicia Keys) who is a local music teacher. Perhaps it was just the character but when Miss Keys played the cello in this movie her love of music was unmistakable.
The cast of this movie was top notch. Queen Latiffa, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson, who are all best known from the R&B world, play strong willed African American women in a racist southern town in the early 1960s. Latiffa (August), Keys (June), and Sophie Okonedo (May) play sisters who own and run a successful honey farm. They are sophisticated and educated making them appear to be separated from the world around them. One day Dakota Fanning’s character Lilly shows up with her nanny Rosalie (played by Hudson) asking for a job. The women take the girl and her nanny into their home knowing there are other reasons for their appearance. Lilly has run away from her abusive father T-Ray (played by the ever-amazing Paul Bettany) in order to find information on her mother. Bettany’s character first seems to be completely despicable but quickly becomes the sympathetic antagonist. The cast is rounded out with Hilarie Burton playing Lilly’s mother and Tristan Wilds playing Zach, a worker at the farm.
Honestly, with the performances seen in this movie I am amazed the cast was not nominated for a “Best Group Ensemble” award at this year’s Golden Globes. I especially must give kudos to Wilds and Burton who are both more widely known for their roles on CW’s “90210” and “One Tree Hill” respectively. While only playing supporting characters, I think the two made the movie well rounded.
However, the cast performances did not make the movie. I would recommend this movie if only to see how far Dakota Fanning has come in her career- I am not the only one thinking this movie could propel her into adult movies at last. There is something missing from this movie. It is very emotional and tissues will be needed but the viewer doesn’t come away from the movie with anything. It lacks the spark needed to make the movie worth anything more than two hours of time. The director or the script writer may be to blame but something is wrong with this movie and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I would advise people to see this movie if you want to watch good acting from some amazing women but nothing more.
3.5/ 5 Roses
All of these first reviews are going to be from DVD rentals so I will also be reviewing DVD features. Unfortunately there are absolutely no special features on this DVD. No commentary to speak of, no trailers, nothing. It may be due to lack of extra material or it may be due to the dramatic nature of the film, but either way I believe there should have at least been something other than languages for subtitles.
Regardless, the lack of features does not take away from the actual movie in any way. As someone who has lived in South Carolina (where the movie is set) for most of my life I have to commend the filmmakers on their ability to give the feeling of living in the Deep South. The colors are warm throughout- yellows, reds, oranges and pinks surrounded by the lush greens of the landscape give the viewer a real sense of the humidity from summer. Watching this movie made me actually feel the heat. I did notice a shift in color tone towards the climax of the movie when everything becomes blue and purple rather than yellow. I believe this is a way the cinematographer was trying to give the audience a sense of peace in the story. Because this is a drama, there are many conflicts for all of the six main characters. Whenever a particular character is at peace with his or her situation we see their clothing change.
One thing that is constant throughout the movie is the music. Constantly somber, beautiful, and perfectly paired with every scene. Most of the music was played by the character of June (played by Alicia Keys) who is a local music teacher. Perhaps it was just the character but when Miss Keys played the cello in this movie her love of music was unmistakable.
The cast of this movie was top notch. Queen Latiffa, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson, who are all best known from the R&B world, play strong willed African American women in a racist southern town in the early 1960s. Latiffa (August), Keys (June), and Sophie Okonedo (May) play sisters who own and run a successful honey farm. They are sophisticated and educated making them appear to be separated from the world around them. One day Dakota Fanning’s character Lilly shows up with her nanny Rosalie (played by Hudson) asking for a job. The women take the girl and her nanny into their home knowing there are other reasons for their appearance. Lilly has run away from her abusive father T-Ray (played by the ever-amazing Paul Bettany) in order to find information on her mother. Bettany’s character first seems to be completely despicable but quickly becomes the sympathetic antagonist. The cast is rounded out with Hilarie Burton playing Lilly’s mother and Tristan Wilds playing Zach, a worker at the farm.
Honestly, with the performances seen in this movie I am amazed the cast was not nominated for a “Best Group Ensemble” award at this year’s Golden Globes. I especially must give kudos to Wilds and Burton who are both more widely known for their roles on CW’s “90210” and “One Tree Hill” respectively. While only playing supporting characters, I think the two made the movie well rounded.
However, the cast performances did not make the movie. I would recommend this movie if only to see how far Dakota Fanning has come in her career- I am not the only one thinking this movie could propel her into adult movies at last. There is something missing from this movie. It is very emotional and tissues will be needed but the viewer doesn’t come away from the movie with anything. It lacks the spark needed to make the movie worth anything more than two hours of time. The director or the script writer may be to blame but something is wrong with this movie and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I would advise people to see this movie if you want to watch good acting from some amazing women but nothing more.
3.5/ 5 Roses
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