Beloved (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Based on a best-selling novel by Toni Morrison, 'Beloved' (beautifully directed by Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) opens on a seemingly peaceful summer day in post-Civil War Ohio, when a lonely traveler named Paul D (Danny Glover) arrives at a house at 124 Bluestone Rd.. Living there is Sethe (Oprah Winfrey), a woman Paul D knew 18 yrs. ago when they were both slaves on a Kentucky farm called Sweet Home (Paul D mentions to a character midway through, "It wasn't sweet, & it wasn't home"). The loving, but hard-working & stoic Sethe lives with her daughter, Denver (Kimberly Elise), a lonely shut-in who craves for society life. Sethe also has 2 sons, though, they've been gone for years - scared away by the ghost of another child that haunts the house to this day (Sethe assures Paul D as he walks inside, "It ain't evil, just sad. Come on.").
Still, Paul D is upset by the spirit/ghost and - with time - appears to dispel it. Sethe seems grateful. But Denver is less convinced that it's gone. Soon after this, Paul D, now a fixture in the house (& Sethe's lover), tries to win-over Denver's trust. One afternoon, on the way back from a day at a carnival, Sethe & Denver encounter an ailing, dirty, nearly-mute young woman who is stationed by a stump in their front yard. She is Beloved (Thandie Newton). And they bring her inside to revive her. From there, Denver accepts Beloved as the sister she never had, teaching her all aspects of life, including how to walk & speak properly (and not grunt). However, while Sethe & Denver have fallen for this odd visitor ... Paul D is as suspicious of her as he was with the house ghost. Something about Beloved comes across as 'dangerous' to him. And by the movie's end, Sethe's home will be rocked inside & out by a plethora of haunting revelations.
'Beloved' is as powerful & disturbing that a movie can get. Be warned, it's long (2 hours & 45 minutes). And the editing choices within the film make it difficult for us viewers to fully understand what the heck is going on at times. But that kind of lends to the eerie mystique of the film. Now, 'Beloved' is primarily about a woman's sins coming back to haunt her. It's a ghost tale; & it takes us a while to figure that out. But as mentioned, we never quite know what's going on. In fact, I let myself believe (almost the entire film) that no one is alive in this movie; though, that's not a spoiler, in some interpretations, it could very well be the case.
From a technical standpoint, the period detail of 1860's Ohio is sublime. The off-beat cinematography, exceptional costumes, & hair/make-up work is truly great (i.e, Beloved's wild hair, Sethe's back lashings). Conceptually, the film employs the use of flashbacks to pre-Civil War occurrences (on Sweet Home). Through plot twists (& these flashbacks) we see bits & pieces of what may have happened to Sethe - and it's horrifying. Namely, a gang rape by a plethora of white men, & the sight of Sethe's disfigured back. So be prepared. It's gut-wrenching to watch (if only in quick edits). Something else that's admirable about 'Beloved' is that it doesn't sanitize its story of American tragedy, slavery, loss, & survival in typical Hollywood terms. What we see feels real -- shockingly so.
Oprah Winfrey nails the complex role of Sethe; a woman trapped by the consequences of her past actions. Sethe goes through some transformations as the film progresses & Oprah nails it. Danny Glover is sturdy as Paul D. Beah Richards is hypnotic as Baby Suggs (an elderly preacher woman who takes Sethe in when she fled Sweet Home). And both Kimberly Elise & Thandie Newton are revelations in the teen roles. Newton brings a real repulsive, yet oddly sweet turn as Beloved. I know that sounds contradictory, but you have to see it to believe it. 'Beloved' is a long, slow, & sometimes frustrating film to watch. Its power is cumulative (not coming from any one particular scene). But if you're looking for substance; and can stomach a unique, serious tale of what slavery can drive a woman to do to protect her children ... then I highly recommend this film.
Still, Paul D is upset by the spirit/ghost and - with time - appears to dispel it. Sethe seems grateful. But Denver is less convinced that it's gone. Soon after this, Paul D, now a fixture in the house (& Sethe's lover), tries to win-over Denver's trust. One afternoon, on the way back from a day at a carnival, Sethe & Denver encounter an ailing, dirty, nearly-mute young woman who is stationed by a stump in their front yard. She is Beloved (Thandie Newton). And they bring her inside to revive her. From there, Denver accepts Beloved as the sister she never had, teaching her all aspects of life, including how to walk & speak properly (and not grunt). However, while Sethe & Denver have fallen for this odd visitor ... Paul D is as suspicious of her as he was with the house ghost. Something about Beloved comes across as 'dangerous' to him. And by the movie's end, Sethe's home will be rocked inside & out by a plethora of haunting revelations.
'Beloved' is as powerful & disturbing that a movie can get. Be warned, it's long (2 hours & 45 minutes). And the editing choices within the film make it difficult for us viewers to fully understand what the heck is going on at times. But that kind of lends to the eerie mystique of the film. Now, 'Beloved' is primarily about a woman's sins coming back to haunt her. It's a ghost tale; & it takes us a while to figure that out. But as mentioned, we never quite know what's going on. In fact, I let myself believe (almost the entire film) that no one is alive in this movie; though, that's not a spoiler, in some interpretations, it could very well be the case.
From a technical standpoint, the period detail of 1860's Ohio is sublime. The off-beat cinematography, exceptional costumes, & hair/make-up work is truly great (i.e, Beloved's wild hair, Sethe's back lashings). Conceptually, the film employs the use of flashbacks to pre-Civil War occurrences (on Sweet Home). Through plot twists (& these flashbacks) we see bits & pieces of what may have happened to Sethe - and it's horrifying. Namely, a gang rape by a plethora of white men, & the sight of Sethe's disfigured back. So be prepared. It's gut-wrenching to watch (if only in quick edits). Something else that's admirable about 'Beloved' is that it doesn't sanitize its story of American tragedy, slavery, loss, & survival in typical Hollywood terms. What we see feels real -- shockingly so.
Oprah Winfrey nails the complex role of Sethe; a woman trapped by the consequences of her past actions. Sethe goes through some transformations as the film progresses & Oprah nails it. Danny Glover is sturdy as Paul D. Beah Richards is hypnotic as Baby Suggs (an elderly preacher woman who takes Sethe in when she fled Sweet Home). And both Kimberly Elise & Thandie Newton are revelations in the teen roles. Newton brings a real repulsive, yet oddly sweet turn as Beloved. I know that sounds contradictory, but you have to see it to believe it. 'Beloved' is a long, slow, & sometimes frustrating film to watch. Its power is cumulative (not coming from any one particular scene). But if you're looking for substance; and can stomach a unique, serious tale of what slavery can drive a woman to do to protect her children ... then I highly recommend this film.