luci
ForumsNet Member
Gender: 
Posts: 12045
|
 |
"Their Eyes Were Watching God"
« on: Mar 8th, 2005, 11:47am » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Did anyone watch this on Sunday Night? What are your comments? 
9-11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6
ABC
Oprah Winfrey's new movie is based on the classic novel by Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston. It is the hopeful story of a woman who, in the course of two marriages, finds herself emotionally suffocated, sexually stifled and utterly unable to express the life force that beats within. How appropriate, then, that the film should pre-empt "Desperate Housewives."
For Janie Crawford, magnificently brought to life by Halle Berry, life in 1920s Florida has few options. When the grandmother who raised her (Ruby Dee) realized she was more woman than girl, Janie was hastily paired off with a much older farmer. Unable to stand the isolation, she soon runs off with an ambitious entrepreneur, Joe Starks (Ruben Santiago-Hudson), who quickly turns the all-black hamlet of Eatonville into a thriving community. Leading the prosperous life of Mrs. Starks would be a dream for most women in town, but it's not enough for Janie.
After a short while, Janie realizes that she can't be the free spirit she wants to be and also be Mrs. Starks. "I had an inside and an outside now," she says, "and I know how not to mix 'em." Eventually, though, and at the risk of social opprobrium, she seizes the opportunity to love and live as she dreamed.
Even condensed to film, the story retains much of its power and romanticism, thanks to the adaptation by Suzan-Lori Parks, Misan Sagay and Bobby Smith Jr. There is a life-affirming quality here and an emphasis on the importance of change and the need for self-fulfillment. However, the motivation that drives Janie is somewhat, perhaps inevitably, muted. The first two men in Janie's life are portrayed as decent and generally kind, if not overly sentimental. In a place and time when a couple did well to afford life's necessities, Janie lived almost like royalty. That makes her fervent desire for self-expression appear slightly less urgent.
Winfrey called this her favorite love story of all time. She said she pegged Berry for the role a dozen years ago, though it wasn't offered until the day after Berry won an Oscar for "Monster's Ball" three years ago. It was worth the wait. Berry endows the character with a presence and femininity that is instantly appealing and sure to resonate with Emmy voters. There are noteworthy performances as well, from Santiago-Hudson as Joe and Michael Ealy as the passionate if occasionally reckless Tea Cake.
Darnell Martin presents the stark and the steamy equally vividly and with a color palette that lends authenticity to the period piece.
OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS:THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD
ABC
Harpo Films in association with Touchstone Television
Credits:
Executive producers: Oprah Winfrey, Kate Forte
Co-executive producers: Quincy Jones, David Salzman
Producer: Matthew Carlisle
Director: Darnell Martin
Teleplay: Suzan-Lori Parks, Misan Sagay, Bobby Smith Jr.
Based on the novel by: Zora Neale Hurston
Director of photography: Checco Varese
Production designer: Ruth Ammon
Editor: Peter C. Frank
Music: Terence Blanchard
Costume designer: Eduardo Castro
Set decorator: Casey Hallenbeck
Art director: Paul Sonski
Casting: Robi Reed
Cast:
Janie Crawford: Halle Berry
Joe Starks: Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Tea Cake: Michael Ealy
Nanny: Ruby Dee
Pearl Stone: Lorraine Toussaint
Phoebe Watson: Nicki Micheaux
Amos Hicks: Terrence Howard
|
Sponsored by: The Fans!
Home
Help
Search
Members
Chat
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Add Poll
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print