Last Sunday, my mother celebrated her 55th birthday. Like the bad son that I am, I failed to get a card, send flowers or chocolates but I did call to wish her a happy birthday & invited her on a mother son date for the following Saturday (yesterday). She gladly accepted & I suggested a movie & dinner. After she accepted, she said that she wanted to see “The Secret Life of Bees” & loudly exclaimed that she wanted some ribs from Famous Dave’s. With all that said, the date was set in stone.
So today, I called mamma to let her know what time I was picking her up & she sounded happier that a schoolgirl during our brief convo.
It’s now 3:25 & I am knocking on mamma’s door, she steps out looking sugar sharp, with her new wig on topped with a purple beret that matched her jacket, tight dark jeans & shiny new boots. I teased her & said she looked like she was trying to get chose at the movies & we both laughed. Her old has piece of shit husband, did not find it funny but oh well.
Twenty minutes later, we roll up to the theater, purchased our tickets, then got in line at the concessions stand. Before we got to the cashier, mamma asked if I liked butter on my popcorn; I told her yes, but not too much. After I paid for our snacks, the cashier handed us the icees & medium popcorn & mamma was like, I will put the butter on & I was like ok. Well after I saw what she did, it was not ok. She basically gave the popcorn a butter bath & the bag was so damn greasy, all I could do was laugh. I told her that she had to hold that sack of cholesterol flavored popcorn. Funny thing is, it was good as hell & I winded up holding the bag because she did not want to mess up her jeans. LOL!!!!!
Anyway, let me talk about the movie. I can sum it all up in a few words; “The Secret Life of Bees” is THE must see movie this year!!!
I did not read the book (are you surprised by that???) & I really did not know what it was going to be about so it was all new to me. Comparing it to other movies, It was a mix of the “The Color Purple”, “Beloved”, “the Joy Luck Club” & “Mississippi Burning”.
The story, although a cliché by many standards, offered something fresh to movies that involve racism, sisterhood & love. The relationships in the movie were not complicated but at the same time, they were very complicated & dangerous even.
One thing that I found really interesting about the movie is the timing of its release in terms of the presidential election & how Jennifer Hudson’s character “Rosaleen”/”July” was so proud to register to vote after the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Also seeing how proud Alicia Keys’ character “June” was a strong proud NAACP volunteer (who also looked good as hell in that tight t-shirt & short afro) in the dirty south was inspiring.
It would be really interesting to see what Southern Black & white moviegoers think of the underlying theme of the movies.
Without saying much else, I liked it so much, Suite Suzy & I are planning on seeing it together this week.
If you saw it this weekend:
– Didn’t Queen Latifah play that role to the fullest? I don’t think another could have played it any better.
– Didn’t you want to jump through the screen when “Zach” got snatched out of the theater? In my mind, all I thought about was Emmett Till.
– Wasn’t “June” the ultimate love hater?
– Didn’t “May” make you wish you had your own wailing wall?
– Wasn’t “T. Ray” just like “Mister” from the “Color Purple” but just white and with fewer children?
– Have you ever seen peaches that look that good in real life? I do not like peaches but I would eat one of those?
– Don’t you just love cultured Negro women?
– Didn,t the relationship between “Rosaleen”/”July” & Lily reminded you of the relationship that of Sethe & Amy sharded in Beloved?
-Doesn’t Dakota Fanning always play the perfect little white child.
I am not expecting answers & this is not a quiz, I’m just saying.
On another movie note, I have seen a few other flicks recently starring Negroes that I also think are worth checking out.
“The Family That Preys” – I know this flick got a lot of backlash & hate, but I truly liked it & appreciated the disjointed stories & TV lengthy soap opera appeal. I give the movie a strong DVD recommendation or wait for a good Sunday to see it at the dollar show.
“Lakeview Terrace” – A must see, especially if you like to see Samuel L. Jackson. I mean like crazier than he was in “Pulp Fiction” when he had that “Tasty Burger” at the apartment. This movie flick will also be added to the DVD collection.
“Miracle At St. Anna” – Not necessarily a must see, but I loved it & it will be making the DVD collection! “Miracle At St. Anna” also made it to the list of movies that made me cry. The last movie to make that list was “Antwone Fisher”. So sad that most movie critics trashed this movie. Perhaps they were not ready to hear about a WWII story from a Black perspective. I’m just saying,
Shay / October 19, 2008
I was on the fence about seeing “The Secret Lives of Bees” but after reading your post I think I’ll see it. I was concerned that it would be filled with ‘magical negro’ moments and annoy me; from the previews it just seemed predictable, redneck hatred and forbidden black/white love (damn sounds like this election)and a motherly asexual black female character that has all the answers (please tell me Queen Latifah’s character is not like this).
Anyway, I did see “Lakeview Terrace”; it was good and “Preys” was decent; I hope Tyler Perry continues to grow as a screenwriter/director.
Tafari / October 19, 2008
Shay, some of your suspicions are correct to a point but I would not let that deter me. Hey what's a movie without a Magical negro???
ll kidding aside the "redneck hatred and forbidden black/white love" kept me on edge because you always know what will happen but like I said, I think that this flick offers something fresh.
I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
"I hope Tyler Perry continues to grow as a screenwriter/director." Me too, he has to evolve & I think he is on the way.
Tafari
Shai / October 20, 2008
I am glad to see more men going out to these movies. I saw on another blog that a man went and enjoyed it.
I haven’t finished the book. I will be going probably this weekend.
I did not think I would like the book. I decided to go out my comfort reading zone and try. The book is good. As a poet, many ideas come up after a profound statement is made in the book.
muslimahlocs / October 21, 2008
i want to see religulous but that might be just the thing that tips the scales against me when my file is reviewed. i mean, what if it is really funny?
heliniorimsa / October 22, 2008
It was shocking drama for me. Even it is a story that we can cry from the start. The directer has added the strength and the power of holding hands together and also the power of women. Secret life of bees is the most voting movie for me and saw the movie at http://www.80millionmoviesfree.com
Tafari / October 22, 2008
Shai – I liked to hear your thoughts on the flick & how it stacks against the novel.
True artist find inspiration in the most unsuspecting places & you always have something hot to spit!
Muslimahlocs – LOL!!! Go see it!!!!!!!!!!! I actually want to see it perhaps in the next week or so. I love BIll Maher.
Heliniorimsa – That service is expensive!!!
Tafari
AnnaC / October 23, 2008
I am glad to hear that you liked it…. I am hoping to get to see it this weekend! I read the book and LOVED it!
So cute that you saw it with your mom…. I am probably going to see it with my mom since we are on our road trip until November 3.
Over 1200 miles and everyone is still alive.
Shai / October 27, 2008
The movie was lukewarm for me. I can say much of the dialogue from the book was in the movie.
I liked the book. The movie needes a like more umpth.