Tyler Perry has a movie coming out and the studio decided to show it to critics! Does that mean it will be an Oscar nominee? No. It's a massive ensemble cast bringing to life the Tony nominated and award winning play from Ntozake Shange (1977's For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf).
Thandie Newton is Tangie - the promiscuous bartender (originally to be played by Mariah Carey before she dropped out).
Whoopi Goldberg is Alice - Tangie's mother who believes in a strange cult-like religious leader and hopes Tangie will mend her evil ways.
Tessa Thompson is Nyla - Tangie's sister who is a vibrant dancer Alice loves more than life itself, but she has a new dilemma to face.
Kimberly Elise is Crystal - a mother in the building who has two small kids and a troubled, violent alcoholic boyfriend, Beau Willie (Michael Ealy). There's more, but you get the point.
For Colored Girls has one of the finest, most powerful ensemble casts you will ever find, and almost every one of them finds some moment to shock and captivate you. Elise vividly makes you feel the pain Crystal suffers as Beau Willie terrorizes her and the kids, while, alternately, reminding her why she loved the big guy in the first place. Making her situation even more complicated, Elise also has to make us realize Crystal must hide her troubles from her tough as nails boss, Jo (Janet "Acting Stiffer Than The Concrete Holding Up The Empire State Building" Jackson).
Anika Noni Rose makes you cry as her character, Yasmine, goes from full of life to full of anger, rage and fear after a relationship takes a horrible turn, and a dastardly crime is committed against her. Much like Nyla, the audience loves Yasmine and it breaks our hearts to see her happiness destroyed.
Plus, you have to admire Phylicia Rashad as Gilda - the woman who helps manage the apartment building and tries to insert herself into everyone's lives. Because of Rashad, you get two feelings why Gilda is involved. Partly, it is for good reasons as she attempts to be a Good Samaritan. At other times, she lets you know Gilda is judgmental and a bit nosey.
However, Perry seems torn between putting on a movie and staging the play. The original play is almost like a full length poem, so, sometimes, dialogue transforms into poetic verse, but it feels out of place and forced. In a way, For Colored Girls almost becomes an old fashioned musical when a character is going into a wonderful soliloquy, but, then, it becomes a poetry reading.
Would the movie have been better if it was directed by someone else? Maybe.
Perry uses a very heavy hand to create melodrama when the material is dramatic enough. The score imposes on the action when it is not needed, and Perry needs to step back and let the ensemble be as magnificent as they are.
2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4)
For Colored Girls is rated R for some disturbing violence including a rape, sexual content and language.
Anika Noni Rose makes you cry as her character, Yasmine, goes from full of life to full of anger, rage and fear after a relationship takes a horrible turn, and a dastardly crime is committed against her. Much like Nyla, the audience loves Yasmine and it breaks our hearts to see her happiness destroyed.
Plus, you have to admire Phylicia Rashad as Gilda - the woman who helps manage the apartment building and tries to insert herself into everyone's lives. Because of Rashad, you get two feelings why Gilda is involved. Partly, it is for good reasons as she attempts to be a Good Samaritan. At other times, she lets you know Gilda is judgmental and a bit nosey.
However, Perry seems torn between putting on a movie and staging the play. The original play is almost like a full length poem, so, sometimes, dialogue transforms into poetic verse, but it feels out of place and forced. In a way, For Colored Girls almost becomes an old fashioned musical when a character is going into a wonderful soliloquy, but, then, it becomes a poetry reading.
Would the movie have been better if it was directed by someone else? Maybe.
Perry uses a very heavy hand to create melodrama when the material is dramatic enough. The score imposes on the action when it is not needed, and Perry needs to step back and let the ensemble be as magnificent as they are.
2 ½ Waffles (Out of 4)
For Colored Girls is rated R for some disturbing violence including a rape, sexual content and language.
