Starring: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Beah Richards Directed By: Jonathan Demme Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Walt Disney Video Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 18, 1999 Running Time: 172 minutes Theatrical Release Date: October 16, 1998
Description: Oprah Winfrey (THE COLOR PURPLE) and Danny Glover (LETHAL WEAPON IV, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) play the unforgettable lead roles in a powerful, widely acclaimed cinematic triumph from Jonathan Demme -- the Academy Award(R)-winning director of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. On a difficult journey to find freedom, Sethe (Winfrey) is constantly confronted by the secrets that have haunted her for years. Then, an old friend from out of her past (Glover) unexpectedly reenters her life. With his help, Sethe may finally be able to rediscover who she is and regain her lost sense of hope. Also featuring outstanding performances from Thandie Newton (GRIDLOCK'D) and Lisa Gay Hamilton (TV's THE PRACTICE) -- you'll agree with critics everywhere who've hailed this landmark adaptation of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as one of the year's finest films!
Amazon.com: This layered film, a labor of love from director Jonathan Demme and star Oprah Winfrey, covers a lot of turf in its nearly three-hour running time. Part slavery fable, part mother-daughter tale, part ghost story, Beloved demands an audience's full attention from its dramatic, slightly bewildering opening, when a family dog comes down on the wrong side of some angry, unseen force. But Demme and his talented cast provide an unforgettable payoff for those who surrender.
The film traces the life of Sethe (played in her middle years by Winfrey), a former slave who has rebuilt what seems to be a peaceful, productive life in Ohio. Yet through chilling, sparing use of flashback, Demme slowly unveils, as does the Toni Morrison masterpiece on which the film is based, the horrors of Sethe's former life, and the terrible event that led to the haunting of Sethe's home.
While the horrors of slavery and the bloody event in Sethe's family leave undeniable impressions, the film's brilliance is also evidenced in smaller, equally satisfying ways. Rachel Portman's spiritual-influenced score is as uplifting as it is haunting, and the glimpses of the post-slavery African American world--as with a simple family outing to a local carnival, or a ladies' sewing-and-gospel circle--make this a treat for the intellect as well as the heart. The members of the cast, especially Kimberly Elise as Sethe's struggling daughter and Thandie Newton as the mysterious title character, are supremely affecting. --Anne Hurley
Very Strange Story Tell me what you think of this plot: A child comes back to life to confront the mother who cut her throat, only she is a grown woman, but still talks like a child. Meanwhile this so-called ghost manages to seduce her mother's "boyfriend" who has come back after 18 years. The ghost manages to get pregnant by him. Then the "ghost", totally naked and pregnant is brought out on the front porch by her mother and disappears in a couple of minutes when a group of church ladies start chanting and singing spiritual songs from the road in front of the house. Then the mother goes into depression for having lost the child that has come back to her and her other daughter goes to work for rich white folks to support herself and her mother. That's Beloved in a nutshell. And let's not forget another ghost that you don't see at all; just her poltergeist activity, except you do see that ghost in the flesh near the end of the movie (and in flashbacks to a prior time). And people think this is a great movie? It's a very strange movie and I couldn't tell what the message was supposed to be, if there even was one. The one redeeming thing about the movie is the period costumes and scenery, which is very beautifully done. It takes place in the 1800's and you certainly do feel that you have been taken back in time.
One of the most underrated films of the last 25 years "Beloved" was never meant to be an easy story -- certainly not for its subject matter, nor for its narrative structure, but its power lies in both. Part ghost story, part history, part love story, it weaves a number of diverse elements together in a manner that echoes slave narratives.
One day this movie will get the credit it deserves. Demme and Winfrey took a very difficult book and made a film that works. Some moments are absolutely stunning.
I agree that Rachel Portman's score deserves special praise -- I only wish some musical moments that were in the film were actually included on the CD, like the scene where Sethe visits Beloved's grave after realizing the girl living in the house is her long-lost daughter.
I also wish the scene with Amy Denver had been extended. The Amy in the book is haunting -- the girl in the movie is just sad.
Nevertheless -- this remains one of my favorite movies.
The Perfect Movie I recieved the dvd in record time, I am very, very, very happy with my purchase.
Debra
Don't Understand The Negative I just rewatched this film after about 10 years, and I was blown away again. As someone who thinks the book is one of America's greatest novels of all time, I have to say Jonathan Demme and the cast of Beloved created some flawless work. I don't think I will ever understand the negative reviews of this film or the novel for that matter. When I read people say "disgusting" or "gross" about the film, I get very worried that people don't understand how disgusting and gross American slavery was. This film is about free slaves, people that had the worst cruelties known to man acted out on them. Over 60 million people were destroyed by slavery, and people can't handle this film? This is a film about American's being haunted by the past. It is about American's trying to survive after they were enslaved and then lived in a country that set up a system that would treat them like non citizens. This is a story about motherhood and fear. It is a beautiful film, with some intoxicating images, flawless acting and complex ideas. Maybe read the book, breath and then watch AND listen to this film. Please open your minds.
Despised Im glad to see that Im not the only one who doesnt like this slop. People have a peculiar habit of embracing a movie because Oprah Lewinsky's name attached to it. The setting of the movie takes place after slavery. The whole thing is about Oprah(whose character name I forgot) murders two of her children during slavery so that the slavemaster wouldnt put her children in slavery. She kills one of them by bashing the baby's head against a wall and she slashes the throat of the other child. The child who neck got slashed returns later(played by Thandie Newton) to haunt her mother and makes her life a living hell. The movie has every sick element you can think of: bestiality, public urination(did we really need to see Bloprah pissing in public?), incest(Danny Glover's character literally banged "Beloved") etc. The acting is sloppy, and the movie is very dull plus Beloved's antics get annoying real quick. I'll admit that I got a cheap laugh at her drooling and talking like the little boy from The Shining(you know the one who says REDRUM every 5 seconds) but she is still a pain and Hoeprah's acting was pretty weak too. Even the talented Danny Glover part in this movie was sad. The whole movie makes little sense and you shouldnt even bother wasting time watching it. I was bored out of my skull when I viewed it in its entirety at my sister's house up in Boston. After watching it, I vowed to never get that bored again! Two thumbs way down.
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