I'm not sure why this film got such a bad rating....it's truly one of the nicest films I've seen in a long time! I brought my daughter to see the movie today -- we both had tears in our eyes throughout the movie. The acting was superb, as was the casting. Normally I like to read the book before seeing a movie, as usually the book is so much better. I am glad that my daughter talked me into going to this movie. I think cinematically, it was one of the prettiest movies I've seen in awhile. You are taken from laughing one moment to feeling as though your heart is being tugged out of your body in the next moment. I will definitely be recommending this film to my friends!
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kirkfam-118 October 2008
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ferguson-627 October 2008Greetings again from the darkness. Having not read Sue Monk Kidd's novel, I was expecting a sappy, soulless, chick flick that would have me rolling my eyes for a couple of hours. Instead, director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball) delivers a very engaging film with a message and some very strong performances.
Dakota Fanning plays Lily, who accidentally killed her mother at four, and has since lived with her white trash, redneck despicable father (Paul Bettany). Lily and her nanny Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) runoff to some small town dot on a map thanks to a clue Lily's mom left on one of her few remaining personal items. They arrive at the home/business of August, June and May Boatright (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sopie Okonedo) who harvest and bottle the best honey in town. What follows is a smörgåsbord of odd family life that slowly gives hope to young Lily.
Based in 1964, the film dips its toe into the Civil Rights Act and the ongoing racism of the south, but focuses more on the strength of love and family ... even in a Pepto Bismol home! The performances are all very strong but three standouts are Dakota Fanning, Paul Bettany and Sophie Okonedo.
Ms. Fanning is now 14 years old and she delivers a remarkable performance ... and what feels like the first where her screaming skills aren't overused (War of the Worlds, Man on Fire). She strikes me as a young Jodie Foster ... one who has just transitioned from child actor to real actress. I can't wait to see where her career takes her. Mr. Bettany is such a shock here as he typically plays a well dressed, under-spoken Brit (which is what he is in real life!). As a southern redneck whose bitterness rages against the world, he not only pulls it off, but manages to make grits seem even worse than I previously thought. Ms. Okonedo (so amazing in Hotel Rwanda) pulls off the always difficult task of making a "special" adult seem very real and vital. A most touching performance from a top notch talent.
This is a good story with strong performances, though to take the next step as a film, it needed to dig a little deeper into its wide range of characters and settings. Still, definitely worth seeing. -
QStrum14 September 2008I caught an exclusive screening of this film a week back and I must say, it might be the best film featuring a mostly black cast since "Antwone Fisher." The story centers around Lily (Dakota Fanning), a poor, lonely little girl in the deep south, who deals with a tragic past and a miserable, cruel father (Paul Bettany). Her life revolves around dreams of being every bit like her deceased mother and her relationship with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson).
In the midst of the civil rights movement, Rosaleen finds herself in some trouble with the locals, inspiring Lily to flee with her to a South Carolina town that she believes holds the secret to her mother's past. In this town, they find refuge with the Boatwright sisters (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo), who take them in on the strength of a story concocted by Lily. Through their cultured world, filled with beekeeping, a lucrative honey business, religious beliefs and love, Lily finds the security she has longed for and finds the answers to questions that haunted her for years.
The director (Prince-Brythewood) did a great job at making us care about the characters, even the miserable father played excellently by Paul Bettany. Alicia Keys shows that some R&B singers can actually perform well in a movie, playing the snooty June Boatwright. However, the best performances has to be between Fanning and Okonedo, who played the gentle, simple minded, manic depressive May Boatwright. If Okonedo reminded me less of Thandie Newton's character in "Beloved," I would've predicted an Oscar nomination depending on this year's competition. Maybe there's one in store for Bettany? Its all left to be seen.
The film has its flaws. It dragged for a good portion of the first thirty minutes as we watch Lily and Rosaleen mill about, doing mundane things in their pitiful lives. But then it really picks up when they meet the Boatwright sisters. The characters were balancing on a thin line between empathetic and sympathetic. You never want to be in the latter. And the filmmakers couldn't resist being a bit schmaltzy on occasion, making most of it play like a good after school special with nothing beyond two dimensionality. And my biggest problem with the film... anti-climatic.
Overall, its a solid film and definitely worth the time in seeing. -
kari_d6 November 2008I surprisingly enjoyed the movie more than I thought and would give it a solid 7. It was well scripted, the filming was fantastic, and the acting was good - it was a very pleasant movie. I read the book, so I knew what the plot was about, so no surprises there (although I wish it included one detail that was in the book about the shooting). There was nothing truly spectacular or exciting to give it an 8 (but nothing truly spectacular happens in the book either, so the movie couldn't really change that), but nothing terrible/poor script/poor acting, which you usually find a bit of in a 6 or 6.5 stars. I saw it in the theater and it was the perfect "girls night out" movie. Also good for mother/daughter. Otherwise, wouldn't pay $10 to see it. It would be a great rental - see once and return.
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reelinspiration18 October 2008Writer/Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Sundance hit, "Love & Basketball," has now brought the beloved, acclaimed best-seller, "The Secret Life of Bees" to the screen.
1964, South Carolina. Lily Owens (played with open-eyed honestly by Dakota Fanning) is raised in a loveless home by her cruel, distant father. Fourteen year old Lily longs for a mother she never knew. When her only friend, their black maid Rosaleen, is assaulted in a racist incident, the girls are forced to go on the run.
Lily and Rosaleen end up on the doorstep of the Boatwrights, the black sisters who own a successful honey farm. Lily concocts an elaborate lie to persuade the maternal August Boatwright (played with warm dignity by Queen Latifah) to temporarily take them in. They are met with some resistance from the guarded June (Alicia Keys), a classical cellist and civil rights activist. But they are welcomed enthusiastically by the open-hearted May (played with touching vulnerability by Sophie Okonedo). They soon find that hyper-sensitive May is moved to tears by the mention of anything sad.
August teaches Lily how to tend the bees, and May whole heartedly embraces both girls. They are soon accepted as part of the family. But Lily still needs to find the truth of why her mother left her.
This is a coming of age story and parable about how to cope with the painful truth and find forgiveness. As Lily's young love interest puts it, "It's not just about the truth. It's about what you do with it." The two sisters illustrate different ways to deal with the hard truths of life. June has closed her heart and built a protective wall to keep out hurtful emotions. While May has completely opened her heart and feels everyone's pain. Her heart is open to joy but it is also an open wound.
I loved being in this world and a part of this loving family - so much that I stayed for a second screening. This is due in part to Gina Prince-Bythewood's excellent adaptation and the wonderful acting of Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, and especially Sophie Okonedo - who is literally the heart of the film.
If you're looking for a sweet way to spend the afternoon, "The Secret Life of Bees" will supply the honey.
Movie blessings! Jana Segal reel inspiration dot blogspot dot com -
jotix10023 April 2010We are taken to rural South Carolina where T. Ray Owens (don't you like those Southern names?) and his wife Deborah, are fighting, while their four year old daughter, Lily, is watching her father beat up his wife. The reason appears to be connected with the fact she wants out of a bad marriage. During the struggle there a shot is fired, killing Deborah.
Years have gone by, Lily is a teenager when we meet her again. T. Ray is has kept his mean attitude, not only toward his daughter, but toward Rosaleen, their live-in maid, as well. The time of the action is the 1960s when blacks saw a ray of hope by the laws that would allow them to become first class citizens, something that up to this point, had been denied to them. Rosaleen feels she must register to vote. Unfortunately, she is assaulted by some white folks that beat her up. Lily, who has had it with the situation at home, rescues Rosaleen and both flee to a town called Tiburon, a place that is engraved in Lily's mind.
Lily and Rosaleen are directed to the house of three black sisters that make a living out of the bees they tend to. The sisters have peculiar names. There is May, who appears to be mentally challenged. June is a young woman that evidently has received a formal education. The eldest sister is August, a proud lady, who takes pity on the new arrivals. August takes Lily under her wing, introducing her to the art of keeping the bees that provide them with a comfortable living. The honey produce is much appreciated all around.
Unfortunately, it is still the South. Tiburon has its share of bigots. Lily, who has connected with the kind Zach, accompanies him to town to catch a film. The theater was still segregated. When Lily sneaks out to the balcony, a group of white men pulls Zach away, beating him mercilessly, and taking him away. May, is distraught upon hearing the sad news. Eventually, Zach is brought home, but May is not there to greet him.
When T. Ray finds Lily, he wants to take her back with him. She, on the other hand, does not want to have anything with a father she does not love. Lily has found a heaven with the kind sisters that take her in without asking anything. At the end Lily finds out the truth about her mother and the connection with the sisters.
Gina Prince-Bythewood adapted and directed Sue Monk Kidd's beloved novel of the same title. To her credit, she has stayed away from the sentimentality that could have easy been the wrong approach to bringing the story to a cinematic form. The Boatwright women are depicted in vivid detail as each one deals with the newly arrival of Lily into their midst. The era of the bigotry in that part of the country takes second seat to the relationship between the Boatwrights and Lily.
Queen Latifah's August shows a regal lady that is too wise as well as nurturing. Dakota Fanning, now a teenager herself, works effortlessly with Lily, something that appears to come naturally to her. We especially liked Sophie Okonedo, a sensational actress, that moves the viewer with her take of May. Paul Bettany is seen briefly as T. Ray. Alicia Keys plays June. -
DICK STEEL30 November 2008It's been two years since we last saw Dakota Fanning on the big screen here, in a film which was a adaptation of the literary classic Charlotte's Web. And what a career it had been for this child actress, now an adolescent, to have grown from scream queen (no thanks to her stint under Spielberg's War of the Worlds) to one controversial role in Hounddogs, which I doubt would make it to our shores here.
Based on a novel by Sue Monk Kidd and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Secret Life of Bees is one powerful drama above love and the looking for love, as well as running along the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. It's easy to dismiss this as a chick flick because of its predominantly female cast, but that would be a mistake to make in making it an excuse to miss this film altogether. For all its worth, it's chock full of extremely well delivered performances from veterans such as Fanning herself, together with Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson (proving that she's no flash in the pan), Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany and even Alicia Keys!
Set in the time of Summer in 1964 Southern USA where the Civil Rights Act was just signed and in effect, the sentiments amongst the racist bigots still run high in a charged environment still hanging onto their old segregated ways. Fanning's Lily Owens carries the weight of her guilt buried deep in her subconscious from a tragic event that happened when she was four, and ten years later, after receiving the last straw of punishment from her abusive dad (Bettany), runs away with her caretaker Rosaleen (Hudson).
As if led by an invisible hand, they soon find themselves under the extreme goodwill of the Boatwright sisters, who earn a living through the cultivation of bees for honey, and a series of incidents that bring about some tying of loose ends, and the discovery that these strangers do tie back to Lily's own quest to finding out the truth about her mom, to debunk the lies as told by her father. And of course this allows opportunity for some serious girl power bonding between the characters as they find that they have a lot more in common, as well as the sharing and spreading of love through their ranks.
The trump card that this movie has, is the excellent performances by the ensemble cast. Fanning leads the pack and gives a wonderful moving performance as the gangling Lily, who thinks that she's quite a jinx with plenty of bad karma to go around, bringing about unfortunate happenings to her hosts which provide the dramatic twists and turns to what would otherwise be a flat movie. Jennifer Hudson had much to do in the first act, though her character got quite muted by the time the trio of the Boatwright sisters August (Latifah), June (Keys) and Okonedo (May) come along. Queen Latifah brings about some serious gravitas in her role as the eldest with the largest heart, and you cannot deny her chemistry with Fanning. Keys on the other hand plays the sister the exact opposite of August, being aloof and starting off with intense suspicion as to the intent of their guests. And Okonedo's role could probably be the most unorthodox of the lot, a fragile soul who has her own wailing wall to deal with the harsh realities of life.
The Secret Life of Bees is well worth the admission ticket, and you'll be hard pressed not to be touched by the film, or moved by the themes it explores, especially when the third act comes by leading to quite a number of powerful revelations and a solid conclusion. Set against its intended backdrop, it's a reminder of tolerance, which the world lacks these days, and of course it's not always hammering in such heavy themes as it has its fair share of romance as well, and for what it's worth, Fanning has her first on-screen romance in this movie, and if I'm right, has her first on-screen kiss as well.
You might be surprised when I say this, but this film has won me over enough for it to be considered as a contender when I shortlist my list of ten top films of the year. Definitely recommended! -
fraifgen13 March 2020The Secret Life of Bees is a fascinating story about coming of age as a young girl, Lily Owens, who runs away from home to find a better life. The movie starts off showing the everyday life of Lily Owens, played by Dakota Fanning. The viewers are shown her abusive father T-Ray, played by Paul Bettany, constantly giving her a hard time, making her life miserable. One morning, Lily accompanies Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson, into town where Rosallen intends to vote. On the way, however, three men taunt Rosalleen who responds by spilling chewing tobacco juice on their shoes. The men call the police which causes Rosaleen to get thrown in jail. Lily, wanting to get away from her father and find more about her mother, breaks Rosaleen out of Jail and flees to Tiburon, a place that Lily has embedded in her mind for quite some time. After they arrive in Tiburon, Lily finds 3 women that know more about her past than she first realizes. They all have something new to teach lily. Since Lily never got to learn from a mother of her own, they act as motherly figures who protect and watch over her. The book really encapsulates the flooding of different emotions that Lily feels throughout her journey, however, the movie does not do as best as a job that it could have done. Overall, the movie felt very rushed and did not feel as fine-tuned as it could have been. A major thing that both hurt and helped the movie was the cast choices. The movie had very powerful people that fit their characters well but some others did not do as good of a job that exemplified their character in the best way. An excellent character that fit his role well was T-Ray. Paul Bettany did a terrific job of showing the viewer the character that is full of hate and sadness. The viewers can tell that T-ray is a person who bottles up his emotions and takes it out on others. T-ray was a beautifully played character that showed me he was a more complex person deep down rather than a hateful father towards lily on the surface. Because of such a good casting choice, one of my favorite scenes in the movie is when T-Ray is torn open and we are shown the side of him that loved Deborah so much. T-Ray is reminded of how much Lily looked like Deborah and starts believing that she is Deborah, yelling at Lily telling her not to leave him again. Bettany's role in this scene was very professionally done, he did a good job in selling to me the emotion he was going through and made the viewer feel the inner turmoil he felt. A casting choice that could have been improved on was the casting choice of Lily. Dakota Fanning was a great choice in overall acting for normal scenes. However, when a part in the movie needs Lily to be distraught or heartbroken, Lily does not show the viewer how sad the Lily in the book really was. For example, when Lily learns that her mother left her with T-Ray and fled without her, Lily was supposed to feel emotions of a mix of sadness and anger. Fanning did not show the viewer the number of emotions she was feeling at that moment in time. When Fanning cried, it did not feel genuine and that ruined the mood of the scene. The movie did many good things that made it feel more genuine like the scenery, but some of the cast choices could have been worked on. The movie left many details from the book that contributed to the plot and helped the reader feel the emotions and thoughts the author was trying to convey. These changes did not ruin the movie but left out key moments that made the viewer understand what the characters were thinking. One change that the director could have left in, was the scene with Lily and Rosaleen cleaning up the spilled honey jars Lily had broken after she found out the truth of her mother. This scene was very beneficial to the plot because when Lily was breaking the jars, it was a moment of breaking down, she was heartbroken and was letting out her anger. Then, when Rosaleen helped her clean up the broken jars, she is helping Lily recoup, symbolizing the rebuilding of Lily's broken heart. A scene like this could have encapsulated the love Rosaleen has for Lily and how she acts as a stand-in mother who is always there for Lily. The movie was an ok remake of the book, it had many great parts that helped it be a story one could get lost in but many aspects could have been worked on to make it much better than it could have been. I do not recommend watching this movie until you have read the book first because the movie skips many parts that would have helped the viewer understand and enjoy the movie more. The movie is a 2.5 out of 5, some parts were enjoyable, however, most of the movie felt rushed. If the viewer had not read the book before, the movie, they would be confused since many important facts and events were chosen to be removed. The movie is perfect for parents and children 14+. Since it touches on very important topics like racism during 1965, it has racial slurs. Looking past the faults, this still is an educational movie that teaches the viewers of Racism and woman power which is very helpful in learning America's history and the things that happened back then.
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jemps91828 January 2009Written for the screen and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Secret Life of Bees is set in 1964 South Carolina, when the Civil Rights Act was still being enforced and not taken very well in the south, where racism was still at an all-time high. Against this backdrop unfolds a heartwarming, girl-power drama based on Sue Monk Kidd's novel about 14-year old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) who accidentally killed her mother when she was little. Lily runs away from her abusive father T. Ray (Paul Bettany), taking with her their housekeeper Rosaleen Daise (Jennifer Hudson). They find solace in the Pepto-Bismol-hued home of the Boatwright sisters August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys) and May (Sophie Okonedo).
Fanning is now tall and gangly but is still riveting on screen with her amazingly controlled emotional range; she seems to be one of those actors who can do no wrong. Bettany is a surprise, playing a vicious redneck that can still manage to elicit some twisted form of pity from the audience for his lot in life. I was hoping his story could have been fleshed out further. Latifah has come a long way from comedy and veritably anchors her scenes, while Keys transitions wonderfully from musician to movie star playing the beautiful but haughty June. Okonedo played the retarded twin May with great sensitivity and depth.
A Hallmark sort of movie with a clear target market, The Secret Life of Bees is a warm and toasty pause from the usual Hollywood fare. Recommended viewing with galpals when PMSing. -
nottoman31 October 2008I don't go around throwing 10's around for movie ratings, but I extremely impressed by this movie. The emotional and visual scope offered by the story, the cinematography, and the acting, gave all viewers with eyes to see and ears to hear, a wonderful treat. I'm sure not everyone loves this particular type of movie, but if you haven't been desensitized by the CGI and special effects of many of today's movies, you'll appreciate the very core of this movie, which is the human struggle - especially the depiction of the search for identity, and the need to give and received compassion from those living on this big blue marble together with us. A reminder of the racism of a not too far distant time, and the timeless theme of love, death, friendship, and compassion, add the effective seasoning that helps us all relate in some very tangible way to this movie. Enjoy it with someone you care about, and taste the honey.
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ctomvelu129 November 2009Dakota Fanning plays a teen named Lilly who has lost her mother. She goes in search of answers and ends up in the home of a woman (Queen Latifah) and her sisters, who own bee hives and bottle the honey for a living. Living with the women, she finds purpose in life. A subplot has her unpleasant stepdad looking for her. The story is set in the 1960s Deep South, so there's plenty of racial discord. The movie may remind some of THE COLOR PURPLE or FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. For those old enough to remember, it also bears overtones of A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING. Fanning is heartbreaking as the troubled child and Latifah plays the family matriarch like she was born to it. A good movie, but too long (well over two hours) for its slender plot.
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skroehr26 October 2008These are cynical times, and the U.S. is still struggling with it's feelings on race, even today. The more of these types of movies, the better. Simple human love comes through in every frame. After a summer of superheroes and sex humor comedies, this was the most life affirming and refreshing film I've seen so far this year. If the academy doesn't recognize some folks from this film, they'd be remiss. I smell Oscar all over this film. Queen Latifah was wonderful as usual. Sophie Okonedo played an emotionally damaged woman with perfect pitch and demeanor. Paul Bettany's performance of the alternately hurt and hurtful father was a challenge. You needed to both hate him, and sympathize with him for the role to be effective, and I thought he pulled this off well. Just simply a moving story, a great script, top notch acting, and all beautifully shot. I place it in the must see category.
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huntermartin-7587524 October 2018The Secret Life of Bees follows the story of young Lily Owens to find out about the past of her Dead Mother and to also find herself as a person, finding some other mothers along the way. The movie provides a solid theme of the importance of motherhood and what it means to really live ones life, perfect for women of all ages. The film follows the details of the book very closely and offers some nice alternative scenes/ scenarios. This doesn't always work however, as dialogue and actions that may have seemed sweet or caring in the book just come off as unnatural in the movie. I would recommend this movie to women in their teenage or motherly years, as it has a nice lesson for both demographics and any others that hadn't read the book may not be as interested. I myself enjoyed the movie as it added a bit more character to characters such as May and June, while not taking away from the importance of August and Lily. My only real gripe with the film is it's pacing seemed a little off, but that can happen easily when you have a time jump. All in all, if your wanting a movie that is sweet but presents humanizing situations, I would recommend to watch it.
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This movie was disappointing. I had just finished reading the book (which was excellent!) when I watched the movie, so I had very high hopes and expectations. Unfortunately, the movie was just not true enough to the spirit of the book to do it justice. First, there was not enough time spent on character development to make you really care about Lily's well-being, or the tension between Lily & June, or to truly despise T Ray and his evilness. August is not portrayed as being as wise as she seems to be in the book, and I don't think that it was from a lack of acting ability by Queen Latifah. I understand that Hollywood sometimes feels it has to cut out or combine characters from a book to make a movie "work", but by minimizing the role of the Daughters in the movie and their impact on Lily, we lost a large portion of the idea of "sisterhood" and "family" not only applying to blood relatives. Other things from the book were included without seeming necessary. Why bother mentioning Jack Palance and the "colored woman" who are expected in town? That information ultimately has no bearing in the scene where Zack is arrested, although it is the motivation for the white men and black boys being in town (outside the theater) in the book. The final scene where Lily asks her father about her mother is also disappointing and has been "Hollywood-ized". In the book, Lily did not ask if her mother had come back for her--she already knows that her mother was coming back for her the day that her mother died. What Lily asks T Ray is if she was actually the one who killed her mother, since she has always been unsure whether or not T Ray was telling her the truth. It may seem like a minor difference, but Lily has spent 10 years searching for the truth and questioning whether she is to blame for her mother's death--not wondering if her mother loved her enough to come back for her. As a last note I will just say that if you enjoyed the movie, please read the book--it is SO much better!
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rbritton21 October 2008I went to see the movie "The Secret Life of Bees" over the weekend and I was just blown away by the stellar performances of all the actresses! I was especially blown away by one performance in particular and that was the performance of Sophie Okenedo (May Boatwright)--she is just a "power house" actress! I am a fellow southerner (Alabama) so this movie really was relatable for me. All three of the Boatwright sisters held a special southern quality that as a black female I grew up around. August (Queen Latifah) had the strength, maturity, business sense, kindness & "southern hospitality", June (Alicia Keyes) had the proud "no-nonsense" attitude, and May (Sophie Okenedo) had the home-skills, innocence, gentleness, along with wisdom beyond her years which was so endearing which could also be said of June because she possessed what we call "mother wit". They all three were refined and cultured. In my small town quite a few black people's homes had a piano or some type of musical instrument (whether you were rich, middle-class, or poor) or people in your family had some sort of musical or singing ability and this storyline was no exception. Dakota Fanning's character (Lily) and Jennifer Hudson's character (Rosaleen) quickly soaked this in like a sponge because as they both admitted "they had never met negro women who were so cultured" ended up rubbing a little off on Jennifer Hudson. And let's not forget the men in this movie--they were terrific also! Thanks to Jada Pinkett-Smith for bringing this story to the big screen! I encourage everyone to go out and see this movie and like me you will shed a tear or two (and I am usually not an emotional person)but if you don't then you need to check the "batteries" in your tear ducts because they may be "expired".
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ethanlong-8935025 October 2018Secret Life of Bees is a great story about a girl who yearns for a mother. This girl is Lily, and is living with her distant father. She ends up running away with her housekeeper, who is more like family to her. The two end up at the Boatwright sisters house, where they are welcomed. These women find themselves in many different situations, and look to each other for help.
The overall theme and ideas put into this movie are very relatable to reality. The whole idea of this movie is overcoming struggles in life, and searching for your inner self. People such as teens and young adults would likely be the intended audience. The biggest flaw with the movie is time management. The movie seems to rush through some parts just to get to the next scene. Scenes with the biggest impact seem to have been drained of their details and importance. This can really rid the movie of it's overall theme and story. -
tam_burks17 October 2008Personally I felt the performances were outstanding. Alicia Keyes was wonderful,Queen was the pillar of strength, Hudson proved that her Oscar wasn't a fluke,but most importantly you are able to watch a cute and charming little girl actress give a phenomenal mature performance worthy of Oscar consideration. Dakota Fanning is a delight to watch.I wanted the story to end in a more positive manner.I believe that the end of the movie should have been when all the women are united on the steps with Lily,after her father leaves her behind.It is a very unique story and I believe many will be moved by these incredible talented women,whether black or white. It does have a few slow moments,but the film is intriguing in a way that made you desire to see more.Absolutely some of the most beautiful cinematic shots. Overall a great drama!
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haidenlee24 October 2018The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 adaptation of the Sue Monk Kidd historical fiction novel. It takes place in 60´s during the civil rights movement and is about Lily Owens who flees her abusive father in search of learning more about her mother. She ends up meeting 3 beekeeping sisters who graciously take Lily in. It's a film akin to To Kill a Mockingbird in that it's a coming of age story for a youth, but also uses these maturing experiences the lead goes through to illustrate the era that the film took place. The movie does a very good job of following the book and fans of the novel will not be disappointed. Many lines are ripped right from the book and most actors´ portrayal of these characters do a good job of following the established personalities from the novel. The film is tightly written; however, the pacing can be inconsistent. It feels that many times the plot will slow or stop to allow for any one random thing to occur that may not even build character. The cinematography was average and did not falter much, and the tone of the movie has a very warm, summer vibe. It feels like the era, and it feels like it takes you there. The emotion was a major point for me. Every character exuded personality and became very likable, even if they weren't at first, and even if a character was unlikable, (as some very definitely are), it was very easy to sympathize with their struggles and what made them who they are. While I personally liked the film overall, I can understand why some would not enjoy it, and it has its fair share of flaws. I would recommend it only if you like the kind of slice-of-life slow paced movies that this compares to, but if you read the book and thought it was a good read then I would certainly say to give the movie a try.
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robert-temple-114 October 2009This film is wonderful, exhilarating, joyful. The cast are all spectacularly talented, and this film is another of those 'secret classics' which don't get the Oscars but actually deserve them. Gina Prince-Bythewood, the woman director, has made an intensely sensitive film about women, and it ain't no chick flic, it is serious stuff. I was knocked out by the sheer talent of the actresses. An eye opener to me was the incredible Queen Latifah. Apparently she is some kind of 'hip hop queen', but I wouldn't know about that, preferring Bach myself. She also 'raps', and I am one of those people who does not like or understand what they call 'rapping' at all, so I am glad she spared us that in the film. I notice from her bio that she was a basketball star in high school. Now that I can well believe, as she has the same 'body confidence' that another basketball player, Barack Obama, has. The director made a feature film about basketball earlier, so maybe that is how she and Miss Hip Hop the Rapper came together. But this woman Queen Latifah is a major example of Something Else. She has super-star quality. Really, I wanted to just rush up and hug her, that is how wonderful I think she was. However, the finest job of acting in this film full of genius is to my mind undoubtedly that of Sophie Okonedo, who plays the character May Boatwright, whose older sister and protector is Queen Latifah. She portrays a girl so tormented by 'not being quite right in the head', and so over-sensitive that she bursts into tears at the slightest thing, that it is hard to believe she is acting. It is a poignant performance, expressing to perfection the desperation of such a person who knows there is something wrong with her but can do nothing about it. The third sister is played by Alicia Keys, in real life a talented musician as well, and she portrays an over-intense hard-as-nails young woman terrified of marital commitment. Into this family comes the now teenaged Dakota Fanning, 'running away from home' as it were. She is making some progress with her speaking. Instead of 80 percent of her words being mumbled it is now down to about 20 percent. If she could ever master speech so that everything she said was comprehensible and audible, she could become a major actress, as her acting abilities are coming along nicely, and she effortlessly dominates scenes as long as Queen Latifah is not around (who has a greater command of the camera). I must say however that Dakota Fanning looked very tired to me, and maybe she ought to take a few months off, as she could burn out if she doesn't watch it, having worked non-stop practically since she was in the womb (I'm amazed she didn't star in something as a foetus). As for the story, it is very moving and emotional, a study in human conflicts, traumas, and feelings. This is the kind of film that women make, whereas men prefer making films where everybody gets killed. There's a gender lesson there somewhere! In this film, not even hope gets killed. So that means there is still hope. Jennifer Hudson gives wonderful support as the character Rosaleen, who accompanies Dakota Fanning as she flees from her father to take refuge with these women who had once known her dead mother. This is a happy-sad story that tears and warms the heart at the same time. Any woman would love it, and even some men might like it in between all the crime movies and battle scenes which they normally watch, where the quality is so often judged quantitatively, i.e. by the body count or by the sizes of the explosions. Here the only quantities involved are the degrees of emotion, which are in the upper nineties at least.
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Chris Knipp25 October 2008'The Secret Life of Bees' has a fine cast and strong atmosphere but its story never quite goes anywhere. Dakota Fanning is a 14-year-old white girl in 1964 rural South Carolina. She runs away from her abusive father (Paul Bettany) with his black housekeeper (Jennifer Hudson) and joins an all-woman black household led by Queen Latifah, who has a big house painted dark pink and 28 acres inherited from her grandmother and raises bees and bottles honey with a black Madonna on the labels.
Each of three sisters has the name of a summer month and each is a distinctive character. Queen Latifah is August Boatwright and she's--well--Queen Latifah--a tower of serenity and warmth. So is Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), the runaway housekeeper, but she's shaken up, having been beaten by racists for trying to vote and taken by the girl on the flight to the honey farm to escape police custody. June (Alicia Keys) is a severe young woman, a cellist and music teacher constantly pursued by another teacher, Nell (Nate Parker), whom she flirts with but steadfastly refuses to marry. May (Sophie Okonedo) is a strange creature plagued by sorrows since the death of a twin; a mere thought of sadness can send her off to the wailing wall in the yard that is her solace.
Lily (Dakota Fanning) has told a glib story about being orphaned and seeking an aunt but she's really come here because she knows her mother once did.
The underlying story of what happened to Lily and her mother and her father is a mystery that never gets satisfyingly explored, even though that exploration seems to be the underlying point of Lily's existence--other than settling in with the Boatwright ladies and learning about bee-keeping. August has some information to offer Lily about her past which is heartwarming, as all her moments are, but not particularly enlightening. Obviously Lily is looking for a substitute family and she has found three mothers, but other than bathing in the glow of loving kindness it's not clear what the story's about. Whatever the bees' "secret life" is, we get only a glimpse of it.
The real point of events in the present moment may be Lily's flirtation with August's godson, Zach (Tristan Wilds), who also gets beaten up by white racists as an offshoot of their friendship. So the need for civil rights action at this crucial, troubled moment in American history keeps getting hammered in on us, but it tends to seem an abstraction so long as Lily and Rosaleen live in the Eden of the bee farm presided over by Queen Latifah. There's something touching about Lily's neediness and Fanning's way of glomming onto Latifah seems quite real. But Lily is a void. As she says, all her life has been a hole trying to be filled, because of her missing mother. Though at the center of things, she's really most of all merely an observer. She's one of those characters who's noting everything down in her head because she's going to grow up to be a writer just as Zach wants to grow up to be a lawyer. In her own way Dakota Fanning, with her aged child's face, is as arresting as the others, but somehow as a personality she seems a bit thin. Haggard rather than luminous, she's so precocious she seems to have long ago abandoned real childhood and turned to child roles as a shtick. Yet she has a way to go before becoming a grown-up actor.
The English actor Paul Bettany has the thankless task of playing a character even more incomplete and unhappy than Lily.
The idea of a white person who's saved by blacks at a time when it's the blacks who need the saving feels uncomfortable to me. Nonetheless with all these fine actors and the warmth--there's no other word--of the Boatwright sisters' household and the authenticity and skill of all these actors, it turns out that despite all the honey and honey-making, treacly sweetness is avoided. Three are lots of nice moments--but unlike 'The Color Purple,' which this resembles, there's no deep emotional power. Nor does 'The Secret Life of Bees' provide an atmosphere in which subtlety can occur, as indicated by the fact that nearly all the white characters are either ardent civil rights activists (or activists in the making like Lily) or full time KKK members. The American South of 1964 seems a world mythologized rather than recreated, and the realities of what it would be like for a white kid to live in a southern black family are not broached. -
sonya900281 November 2008The Secret Life Of Bees, is a marvelous new drama. It's focus is 13-year-old Lily Owens (played with a deft emotional range, by Dakota Fanning). The film takes place in 1964 in the southern US, during the birth of the civil rights movement.
Lily is haunted by the fact that she accidentally shot her mother, when playing with a pistol as a toddler. She also develops a strange affinity for bees, which is bewildering to her. Lily's violent father is abusive towards her. The Owen's black housekeeper Rosaleen, is a mother figure and confidante to Lily.
One day, Lily goes to town with Rosaleen, when Rosaleen plans on registering to vote. Racist white men confront them, taunting Rosaleen. When Rosaleen refuses to tolerate their behavior, the men give her a vicious beating. The police soon intervene. Rosaleen is arrested, and held in custody at the medical ward of the local jail.
Outraged at what happened to Rosaleen, Lily goes to the jail and frees Rosaleen, before the guards find out. Lily and Rosaleen then hit the road, leaving Lily's brutal father far behind. The two come upon a store in a small town, which stocks jars of honey. Intrigued with the unusual labeling on the honey jars, Lily asks the clerk where the honey comes from. She's told that the Boatwright sisters make the honey.
Lily then asks the clerk, where they can find the Boatwright sisters. And she's told that they reside in a huge, 'bright pink' house, a 'ways up the road'. So, Lily feels strangely compelled to find the Boatwrights, for reasons that she doesn't quite understand.
After traveling a long way, Lily and Rosaleen spot a bright pink house, in a remote area. Tired, hungry and needing shelter, they knock on the door of this house. The three women who answer introduce themselves as the Boatwright sisters, named May, June, and August.
At first, the Boatwrights are reluctant to take in Lily and Rosaleen. They relent, when they realize that the two have no where else to turn. August, the eldest sister, lets Lily become their beekeeping apprentice. Rosaleen is allowed to stay on as the Boatwright's housekeeper. While living with the Boatwrights, Lily unravels the mysteries of her dead mother. Much to her astonishment, Lily discovers how the Boatwrights are deeply involved in her mother's past.
Above all, this film celebrates love, and its power to transform human lives in amazing ways. The brilliant performances by the female leads, make this movie the gem that it truly is. Films with strong, positive women in leading roles, are still not as common as they should be. The Secret Life Of Bees, is a powerful film that's heartrending, uplifting, and a definite must-see. -
I remember seeing the trailer for The Secret Life of Bees and honestly, the movie looked completely different than what I was expecting. I have not read the book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but after watching The Secret Life of Bees, this story just touched my heart and I felt like this film couldn't have come out at a more perfect time than this year with our first bi-racial president. I think we always could use a history lesson or reminder of how far we have come these few decades. The actors, Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning both pulled in beautiful performances and really make this film powerful and touching. Another surprise performance that I really enjoyed was Alicia Key's, I've never seen her in film before, but she did a great job. It's a strong drama that holds itself very well and is very heart warming.
Lily is a young white girl in the 1960's southern America in the peak of racism. At only 14 years old she has a lot on her shoulders, she accidentally shot and killed her mother when she was just 4 years old, her father is extremely abusive, and her best friend is her black nanny who takes her into town and gets beat by several white men and is arrested for not apologizing afterwards. Lily breaks her out and runs away with her, they ask a black family for hospitality. The head of the house hold, August takes them in despite the suspicions from June and May, the other girls of the house. But Lily soon finds herself surprisingly when she least expected it and now has the most loving family in the world.
The Secret Life of Bees is a charming film, I would say worth the price if you want to see it in the movie theater. This film reminds us of the little things and the happy feeling of love. Sounds cheesy, but it's true and honestly I think anyone could enjoy this movie if you open your heart up to it. The performances were great and the story is heart warming. Dakota is growing into a fine actress and held herself very well next to Queen Latifah. So I would recommend The Secret Life of Bees, I think somewhere down the line, this will be a little treasured classic.
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michael1139127 October 2008Let me just say that the movie NEVER had dull moment or even a second in the ENTIRE film!!! Set in South Carolina 1964, Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) who is haunted by the memory of her late mother, tries to escape her lonely life and bad relationship with her father (Paul Bettany), to get past her horrible incident with her late mother. So, she and her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) flees to a South Carolina town where it holds the secret of her mother's past. Lily and Rosaleen finds the intelligent Boatwright sisters: August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys and May (Sophie Okenendo) where they take Lily and Rosaleen in, to have a place to stay for a while.
The Secret Life Of Bees is a movie of what you call a "tearjerker" and that's what it is, the movie will touch your heart and teaches you about life, care, love & forget about your horrible past and move on. As for performances, everyone delivers and a couple of Oscar-worthy ones too. Dakota Fanning and Sophie Okenendo are the ones that delivers the Oscar-worthy performances. Come Oscars season, don't be surprised if any of those both actresses will be in the envelope (they deserved to get those nods!!) Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson (R.I.P her brother and mother who just passed away one day ago.) delivered their best performances yet even Jennifer (I thought this was her best performance yet and better than ever Oscar-winning performance in Dreamgirls.). As for the supporting actors: Bettany, Parker and Wilds, they did great as well.
The Secret Life Of Bees is one of this year's best films, rush out and buy a ticket for this wonderful and amazing film!! -
SnoopyStyle12 November 2014At age 4, Lily Owens accidentally kills her mother (Hilarie Burton) as she struggled with her father (Paul Bettany). It's 1964 South Carolina. Lily (Dakota Fanning) is about to turn 14. Her father is a cold abusive man. They run a peach farm and Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) is her caregiver and only friend. Civil Rights Act has just been passed. Rosaleen gets beaten for trying to register to vote. Lily breaks her out of the hospital before they finish the job. They are headed to Tiburon because that is what's written on the back of her mother's picture. Lily finds jars of honey for sale which leads to August Boatwright (Queen Latifah) who lives with her sisters May (Sophie Okonedo) and June (Alicia Keys). Lily befriends a teen black boy Zach Taylor (Tristan Wilds) who comes to work with the bees.
The material wants to be better. It deserves to be more epic. It could be more compelling considering the subject matter. Before getting to August and her sisters, this movie is intense. Hudson getting beaten after spilling the tobacco juice is a real big scene. Paul Bettany is a good villain. The problem is that the story at the house takes a break. The house exists in a bubble and the tension somehow floats away. The story meanders and it never truly recovers its early intensity. Also, there may be one too many side stories. As with some novel-turn-movies, it may not be something that could translate quite as well as what's on the page. -
emeryconsultant26 October 2008I was disappointed in this movie, which moved so slowly I thought I was watching paint dry. Having read the book, I knew the plot already, but even someone who doesn't know what's happening will likely get to bored to care by the time something happens. Dakota Fanning as Lilly turns in another great performance, but Rosalie displayed almost no personality. Mayand August were static; every line was delivered with the same tone and facial expression. As for the theme of the strength of women, this gets lost in an emphasis on race, instead of vice versa. Two white people in the movie are worthy of the air they breathe. Every black person is cultured, fair, kind, etc. No balance at all. I recommend renting it. At least then you can fast forward.