For Colored Girls (2010) User Reviews (86)

You're supposed to be commenting on the contents of the movie

[cassysim · 5/10 · 7 November 2010]

This is very much a piece of art. Determining the value of a piece of art is very personal. This movie may speak to some and may bore others to death. This movie needed editing, probably shaving a good 30 minutes off wouldn't have hurt. It has some very powerful scenes and is definitely not a movie to see because you want to just relax and laugh.

That being said, I am very disappointed that one poster decided to comment not about the movie but about their own personal prejudices about black women, and probably black people in general. I'd like to point out, that NOT ONE woman in this film was on welfare. NOT ONE woman in this movie was living off "the tax payers" and NOT ONE woman in this film was living on easy street. If you just want to rant about your own personal prejudices then go to one of the political blogs. This is supposed to be an honest discussion about the movie.

Tyler Perry's Best... but there are flaws

[kevbowdc · 7/10 · 4 November 2010]

After reading the early reviews of For Colored Girls, I walked in not really expecting much but a lot of drama. I have to say that i mostly disagree with the bad reviews, but I understand the issues with the movie.

Lets start with the good: The acting was great. Loretta devine's voice was very annoying at times, but she made me laugh and knew how to play with the character. Anika Noni Rose did very well from being on top, then falling, then picking up the pieces. She has great potential for being something great. Tessa Thomas made me fall in love with her!!!! OMG!!!! With hard work, she can do something spectacular. She did very well with her emotional scenes and was very believable. Whoppi was hilarious but it wasn't Oscar worthy. She's still got it though. Kerry Washington did well with what she was given. I wish she stood out more but it was great seeing her on screen. The entertainment factor was on point. There were some scenes hard to watch and some things unexpected, but it kept you enthralled in the film

THE BAD: OMG... JANET!!!!! I had so much faith in her performance but once again, I was let down. She just doesn't have it! Her lines and acting was so frozen and she looked like a mannequin in tears. Its so frustrating because I know she can do so much better. Phlyica Rashad's character was absolutely wasted. But for what she was given, she was amazing. Tyler should have used such a great actress more extensively and I was waiting for Phlycia to steal my heart. I did love the way Phylicia recited her poem to Thandie in her apartment room. Her reading was sooo believable and well executed. The transition from the poem to the Tyler's language was so drastic and not fluid at all. You could easily tell when the actresses went from his writing to the books. It just didn't work for me but it was challenging working with great choreopoems. I love Thandie Newton to death and she did a good job acting in this movie, but in some scenes, she overdid it. It was a little too much that she was giving, but overall it was a good body of work.

Finally: OMG!!!! Please give Kimberly Elise an Oscar Nomination. She took my breath away with her performance. It was heartbreaking and spellbinding. If she doesn't get a nomination, I will be floored. She is long overdue and her acting was superb!!!!!!!

Overall, this is Tyler's best but he still has room to grow. Just go and see the movie for yourself and please have an open mind. Good job Tyler and I expect you to grow from this point forward.

Tyler's Best So Far...

[dst121386 · 7/10 · 9 November 2010]

Let me start off by saying that I am NOT a fan of Tyler Perry's past movies, television shows, or plays. They are not funny and over the top. Just not my cup of tea. However, I thoroughly found this movie worth the $10.50 I paid to see it on opening night. Some of the other reviews were surprising. At no point did I feel the movie to be slow. In fact, I thought the movie constantly pounded on our emotions to almost a point of exhaustion. I also thought that the prose to fit fairly well with the dialog. There were times when two people were talking at the same time that made it difficult to follow, but I understood the intent and liked the effect. Tyler has made progress in his directing abilities. He still has work to do, but this was by far his best work. I look forward to seeing this movie again.

As for the acting...Rashad, Devine, Elise, Newton, and Rose were the standouts. In fact, I cannot see anyone except Loretta Devine in that role now...she owned it! Whoopie is still a superb actress. I agree with many other reviewers, Janet Jackson just does not have it. I question Tyler's judgement in picking Janet for a fairly meaty role. Clearly she patterned much of her part from Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" and did not pull it off. She looked terrific though! Other seasoned more proved actresses could have done a much better job with that role. Halle, Vivica or even Robin Givens anyone? Bring your tissues. Pay attention. It is a good movie.

So many excellent performances

[tammyaphillips · 7/10 · 7 November 2010]

It is always a joy to see talented Black actresses given meat-on-the-bone material to chew on. And the brothers did not disappoint especially Michael Ealy. He broke my heart and made me sick at the same time. The interjection of the poems reminded me of a musical: dialogue then someone breaks out in song. It took me a minute to get use to it, but I eventually appreciated the "differentness".

While most involved did a wonderful job, the standout performances came from Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine, Michael Ealy and Anika Noni Rose. I thought Whoopi was too old for the character she played and Janet's characterization needed far more passion than she was able to present. The visit to the "death room" was out of place in the contemporary world Tyler Perry created.

But For Colored Girls was an experience. The movie made me thankful for my hard-working father who was always there, my brother-in-laws who treat my sisters well and for the many men I have been blessed to know who would not, could not rape, brutalize nor disrespect a woman. Hil Harper's character should have had some company. But then it would not have been Ntozoke Shange's story.

The performances make this movie worth your time.

Successful Stage to Screen Transfer

[gradyharp · 10/10 · 24 February 2011]

Tyler Perry has performed a little miracle in transferring Ntozake Shange's exquisite play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf" into an opened up and expanded film. The dialogue still is deeply embedded in Shange's poetry but the narrative Perry added makes the stage experience a flowing cinematic story: the result is a powerful film that happens to be populated by some of the finest actresses of today.

The plat cannot be faithfully summarized, as it is a cluster of vignettes of ten women in crisis. Each character is given the name of a color of the rainbow, but they also have real names and the men in their off track lives actually do appear. It would be unfair to single out any one of these actresses as best because their roles are all different and make demands on the actresses in different ways. Whoopie Goldberg is the religiously inclined mother of Thandie Newton (a woman of physical needs that cannot be satisfied despite nightly change of partners) and Tessa Thompson (a high school girl with aspirations crushed by an unwanted pregnancy); Janet Jackson is a bitter, wealthy magazine editor married to the Down Low Omari Hardwick; Loretta Devine is a community service giver in a relationship with the undependable Richard Lawson; Kimberly Elise (breathtakingly magnificent!) is paired with the war-torn PTSD alcoholic and abusive Michael Ealy; Kerry Washington works for child services despite her infertility in her marriage to Hill Harper; Anika Noni Rose is a lovely innocent dance teacher brutally treated by Khalil Kain; Phylicia Rashad is the tenement house manager who is the central mother confessor to her tenants. How these women's lives are interconnected is fascinating as a story/screenplay: how these gifted actresses deliver the poetry of Shange is beyond anyone's expectations.

There are many issues this film deals with - single mother, violence against women, death, loss, partner abuse, etc - and each of the issues is poignant and keenly defined and acted. How this film slipped under the line for awards is anyone's guess. It is not to be missed.

Grady Harp

Superb Acting saved this film

[TamPalm · 7/10 · 6 November 2010]

I had very little background on this film before I saw it. Perhaps had I seen the play or read more about the concept of the work, my opinion would be better or worse. But as it stands, I enjoyed it...at least to the point you can enjoy such a heavy piece of work. I left the theater feeling I did when I saw "Precious": glad I saw the film, recognizing it was a special piece of work, but ambivalent about the over-the-top darkness that resonated in the film. Both films try to take you to a place you've never seen on film, a place you didn't even think film would go ie murdered kids and graphic tales of molestation.

The strong: SUPERB acting, from most involved. Rashad, Elise, Devine, and Rose brought Oscar-worthy performances. Perry will get props here for choosing a wonderfully-talented cast to pull off a challenging piece of art. Thandie Newton and Kerry Washingtong both did respectable jobs as did Whoopi Goldberg and the younger cast member whose name escapes me. Another strong element was the concept. I don't know if it was pulled off to a tee, which I will mention later, but I found the poems brilliantly written and delivered and the concept of documenting intertwining lives interesting.

The weak: The exception to the superb acting cast would be Janet Jackson. Once again, Perry tries to force her to be better than she is, and once again, he/she comes up short. As another commenter stated, she just doesn't have it. I will give her props on finding a way to garner up the tears on cue when going through her poem lines, but as a whole, she is stiff and unmoving as an actress. But she does wear her color (I guess they all have colors or something?) red well. Maybe that's why she was chosen for the role? Who knows except Perry why he continues to go that same well for his films. I digress there though.

Another glaring weakness of the film is that once again Perry's lack of good instinct as a director is evident. WHY for the love of all things holy did he have the cast recite ALL THE LINES OF THE POEMS? Did he not watch the film in the edit room and see that the poems were too long-drawn out for a film and could easily be too much for the audience? Where are his instincts? Even movie-watching instincts. It seems he should have recognized that the script needed major tweaking. It's troubling that even now, after all his success in his many films, he still has not captured more sophistication as a director. The film could have easily been sliced down by at least 30 minutes and been just as effective--actually moreso--than it was.

I do not know if this is a weakness of the film or if the original play was written for just this effect, but it is obvious that the author hated men. Virtually all the men were portrayed not just as mean or insensitive, but as devils. And there was no subtlety. The blatancy of the double standard was rather insulting and off-putting. But again, perhaps that is where the author meant to go with the piece.

In sum, while there were major areas that could have been improved, I have to call foul on some of the critics' assault of this film, and their proclivity to compare it to other--admittedly weak--Tyler Perry works. Though Perry's fingerprints are all over this film, including the garden variety Madea-esquire funny lines from the resident overweight character to the stoicism of the well-to-do professional with the troubled marriage (Jackson's character is practically a mirror image of her character in other Perry films), I do think this film is of better quit than most of his offerings, and he should be given credit for elevating his game a little bit. Perry knows his audience well and though it can be argued that he sometimes seems to "dumb down" for laughs or whatever, he has to be given credit for being loyal to his fans. Time and time again, he gives them what they expect--a safe thing to do yes, but an amazing show of loyalty nonetheless. This film should not have a score as low as the 3.6 it has right now. The great acting alone carries it to at least the mid-way mark. Though I want to give it a 6.5 and could thus go for a 6 or 7 on the IMDb scale, I am going to up-rate it to counter what I believe is unfairly low number at the current moment.

To Tyler Perry, From a Colored Girl.

[cortez_t · 3/10 · 1 December 2010]

PLEASE STOP DIRECTING!!

I had a feeling I was done for when I saw the corny, student film style opening credits (For Colored Girls, For Colored Girls, For Colored Girls...) Uck!!

Peel away your ego Tyler Perry!!!!! Hint: someone else directed Precious, that's why it went as far as it did!!

You should have let someone like Baz Luhrmann direct "For Colored Girls..." I've seen and read this play and I've always loved it! The film could have been so much better!

The other actresses were SO great that you should have hired unknown actresses that were actually strong actresses to play Janet Jackson's role, Thandie Newton's role, and Whoopi Goldberg's role.

Janet Jackson was PUSHED. I didn't believe her. Janet needed to train her voice, she was in her throat when she confronts her husband with her fake tears. It look like you guys were adding tear drops at every take. FAIL!

Im a HUGE Whoopi fan but i didn't like her either. Viola Davis would have been stronger.

Perry I wish you would stop directing. You have money now, produce! And, find good directors to take over the projects you're interested in.

Perry waste good actor's talent. I want to see Kerry Washington, Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad get Oscar nods, but because of you it's probably not going to happen. If a good director worked on this production they would all be nominated, they're amazing!!!

I've seen and read the play, "For Colored Girls..." it's fantastic!!! If Tyler Perry wanted to keep the poetry as he did he should have made it a musical like the stage production or let someone like Baz Luhrmann direct it. A more talented director wouldn't have actresses breaking into poems in the middle of a scene, just because. He needed to find a more artsy and less disturbing way of adding the poetry.

Thandie newton should NOT be cast in "urban" films. She has not perfected the accent or the behaviour and it's disturbing! She takes away from the beauty of those characters. She's a spoof of what that character should be.

It's OK to hire more unknown actresses!!! If their talented, like Tessa Thompson, your productions would be so much better!! We don't need you throwing Janet Jackson and Whoopi Goldberg in our face. We don't care. THEY CAN'T ACT!!

Tyler Perry sensationalized bad situations instead of appropriately directing a tragedy.

Disappointed!

Awesome in every way

[leslies-892-883848 · 10/10 · 8 November 2010]

This was by far one of the best and most realistic movies I have seen in a long time. I was actually shocked to see bad reviews that were so blatantly disrespectful to those of us who liked the movie. i.e commenting that if we liked it we must think Mc.Donald's is good food. Our goal here is to comment on the movie.

Yes it was graphic, yes it was vulgar and yes it will make you cry. However, the women in this movie all had issues I know myself and most other women of color could relate to in some way. If you were one of the people who may have thought there was just too much going on in this movie to be real I would say praise God you were afforded the opportunity to live in a box your entire life. I am a triple degree college graduate who came from the ghetto and an abused home so I know this stuff really happens. I am just happy for a change it wasn't sugar coated.

This was one of Tyler Perry's best work even if it did make me sad. Sad because I can just think of all the people I know and women who are just like those in the movie living on no hope or false hope. In the end it reminded me I need to do a better job in sharing my Witness the gospel of Jesus Christ. Great Movie!!!!!

Not a Standing Ovation, but a Commendable Job

[mamamia126 · 6/10 · 26 November 2010]

As a huge Ntozake Shange fan, I was not skeptical, but rather CURIOUS as to how her work would be translated on-screen, especially when I found out Tyler Perry was the director. I have nothing against Tyler Perry and actually find most of his movies pretty enjoyable, but they're definitely a bit cookie-cutter, stereotypical, and trite. That's why I give him kudos for this film, as it was certainly a pleasant departure from his previous work. I was pleased with his direction and the realistic portrayal of most of the characters in the film. (A couple were overdone, but I shall get to that in a moment.) There was definitely a slight fluidity issue, but nothing that overshadowed the overall success of the film. When I talk about fluidity, I mean the cohesion of scenes, but I definitely liked the way that Shange's actual poems were incorporated into the film. It didn't seemed forced or like Perry just stuck in the recitals because he knew they needed to fit in somewhere, but well thought-out and fitting with the dialogue.

The cast was pretty strong over-all. Kimberly Elise, by far, led the pack with her amazing skill. Every time she graced the screen, the emotion and sorrow in her eyes pierced through my heart. She was absolutely PHENOMENAL and I expect her to be well recognized come award season. Thandie Newton was GORGEOUS as always, and did great, but seemed slightly overdone at times, especially when she tried to speak ebonics. (But that is expected, as she has a natural foreign accent.) I've noticed a lot of people criticize Kerry Washington's character as "overdone," but I really liked Kerry in this film and believed her completely. Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, and especially Phylicia Rashad also stood out to me, though they had some of the lesser roles. All three did wonderfully with what they were given. Janet Jackson...eh. I don't know what it is about her, but I have never been impressed with her acting. I don't know if she's not digging enough or if screen just isn't her forte, but she never feels believable to me and I feel uncomfortable watching her. I would definitely call her the weakness in the film.

A controversial topic regarding this movie is its "theme" (many label it a Sisters movie) and the message it portrays. A male friend of mine who was dragged along to see this movie with his cousin found it highly offensive to black men. I'm not going to lie---it certainly does label black men as "douches." All black men, with the exception of Kerry Washington's husband in the film, are portrayed as either emotionally, verbally, sexually, or physically abusive, selfish, and heartless---which as we all know is NOT true in real-life. There are plenty of great black men in this world that are educated, good providers, loving, respectful, honest, and that know how to treat women like princesses. I don't think was a man-bashing movie, but more-so a film that highlights many issues women experience that come hand-in-hand with broken families, absent fathers, violent men, rape/sexual abuse. I would recommend this to not just all black women, but to women of all races, as we ALL know someone---whether it be ourselves, our moms, our daughter, our sisters, our aunts, our cousins, our friends---who can relate to the struggles shown For Colored Girls.

Left the theater depressed!

[gwendolynklee · 3/10 · 11 November 2010]

While this movie obviously had great talent, it was so depressing I barely made it through. Every woman had a heavy burden, from being HIV positive from her husband, having her children dropped from a 5th story window (the worst part), being raped by a casual acquaintance, being pregnant as a teen and having a back alley abortion, and more......it was all just about too much to take in one sitting. I don't have a problem with drama, but this was overload. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Much of the dialog was in prose and though it had a few great lines, it was difficult to follow/understand. When we left the theater and talked we found we'd both wanted to leave early in the movie...I wish one of us would have made the move!!!

Academy Voters PLEASE Consider the Acting in For Colored Girls

[jnshouch-1 · 10/10 · 5 November 2010]

My husband, mother and I saw this at midnight. It was Phenomenal, Realistic, Gripping, Captivating and Awesomely acted. Perfect casting. Any woman can relate and men as well can see and hear struggles that their mothers,sisters, wives and friends never talk about. Its deep and passionate. I can not understand the critics that say the poetry is not in sync with the film. I think TP captured the realism of each woman's situation and how it not only affected them but others around them. The scene involving Chrystal's loss and Jo's witnessing it was a earth shattering piece that Tyler captured beautifully as Janet's character is forced to take off her blinders, ignore no more, melt her coldness and change. Each actress played her part well. This movie needs Academy attention. Each actress should earn an academy nomination but Kimberly Elise #1 should win . Janet's facial expressions,capturing the essence of her character's persona thats so deeply hidden she has become a human in a shell like mannequin alone should win like Judy Dench supporting actress for 8 minute performance in only four scenes as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love.

ups and downs run all through this film

[Shut_up_James · 7/10 · 18 March 2011]

The emotions are not the only ups and downs in this newest Tyler Perry film. I have a great respect for what Tyler Perry has done. His films, however simple, send out positive messages and have incorporated music and humor like we don't often see any more.

This film, unlike his others, is adapted from a platy. A great one at that (so I've heard).

I'll be quick.

The acting is beyond perfect. Why was Janet Jackson not nominated for an academy award? Her performance was flawless. Kimberly Elise is always amazing and she does not disappoint. Let's just say there was not ONE bad piece of acting in this film. Them men were great as well. Kimberly's husband is eerily intimidating. Amazing work.

OK...

Here's why the movie didn't get a 10 from me.

The characters randomly vomit out poetry from the original play. However beautiful, it takes you out of the film. There is so much tragedy in the film... the poems could have been voice overs or in a diary... but not spoken aloud. That's the films biggest downfall.

Overall, this is a movie that needs to be seen. These are real problems that are faced by real men and women. Great job Tyler Perry. Can't wait until your next film!

Tyler Perry stumbles

[dbborroughs · 2/10 · 9 January 2011]

Tyler Perry's awkward adaption of the semi-classic For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. The play is a cycle of poems that are not "dramatic" in the sense of a film but it is the sort of thing that works on stage.

As a fan of many of Perry's films I have to say I'm giving him points for trying really hard but at the same time it's a misfire. Part of the problem is that Perry and his team never manage to sculpt the material into anything that approximates a film you want to watch. The characters aren't characters but archetypes stuck in the decade that the source was written- the 1970's. The result is a general feeling of why am I watching this? Personally I think Perry has been pushing himself too hard with his TV, Film and stage work pushing him to the point of collapse (recent performances of his latest stage production were canceled because Perry was exhausted) and past the point of actually turning out anything of quality. His last film- Why Did I get Married 2 was a boring waste. Colored Girls runs close to that but get a half a step up because its not a pure Perry Production.

A few years ago I said that it was very likely that Perry would win an Oscar if he got a handle on his the fast and loose way he makes films. I was very much of the opinion that he he focused on one thing outside of Medea he might take home a bald man statue. Unfortunately Perry has moved in the wrong direction and the film I doubt he will ever win an Oscar.

I'm also curious is anyone other than me is getting tired of the Perry specialty of films about put upon black women, who's lives are pain and that through god and some other transcendence they become better. I'm sure there are women who live this way- but to my eyes its another stereotype similar to the one that has all black men criminals, absent fathers and gang members.

Why everything is around race

[azizwelles · 7/10 · 7 November 2010]

I saw the movie last night and frankly is not that bad some people most of the time criticize without going to the movies and watch it Tyler Perry might have in the past made some corny movies but Four Colored girls is his BEST so far i'm not saying it's a perfect 8 or 10 but give the man some credits and stop being so racist some people even compare Perry with Miley Cyrus acting that is so Lame before commenting take on a movie take some time to go see it you will be amaze how people can be good at what they do there's plenty of "Non-Hollywood" actors out there who are better than a lot so Called Good Actors they might never have a chance to be and Big Budget movies but they definitely BETTER than some Movies Icons that you guys are crazy about, I really think Tyler Perry Deserve some credits for his work Stop Blaming the guy unless you can do better

A Very Good Adaptation of Great Source Material!!! GO SEE IT!

[therealwardell · 9/10 · 5 November 2010]

I was among the first of the regular people to view the film last night at a Midnight Screening. I'm an actor and very familiar with Shange's work, having seen it numerous times & its on my bookshelf. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, even more than I thought I would. (I am NOT a Tyler Perry Fan, although I have seen most of his melodramas)This film is clearly a departure from his usual style, and for the most part he gets it really right!! As had been stated by numerous critics, the film tends to slow down if not come to a totally stand still when the actresses began to deliver the poems juxtaposed with TP's own dialog. There is a lack of fluidity more so in the first half of the film than the second, but I was not in the least really bothered by it. All of the Women give Incredible Performances, save for Whoopi Goldberg, who is wonderful in the film BUT, I feel needed more takes than she was given to really dig deeper. I feel like she thought, I'm in a Tyler Perry movie, this ain't Steven Spielberg directing me. However, she is still enjoyable I mean her character is just OUT there. Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad should both be on ALL of the Awards ballots this upcoming Season! Kimberly is absolutely FANTASTIC and Phylicia is nothing short of the actress she has always been....extraordinarily BRILLIANT! The scenes they share together, particularly the one towards the end of the film is Oscar Worthy in itself. Phylicia and Loretta handle Shange's language with such specific rhythm and cadence that you forget you're listening to a poem. I wish all could achieve this, however all of them handle the poetry effortlessly and beautifully. Janet is…..OK, but just OK. She is very limited in her acting range and it CLEARLY shows in a film with these other fine incredibly seasoned actresses. Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington also are just wonderful. Enough of me writing, JUST GO SEE THE FILM! Its really good, and great for a TP film. If that says anything.

Go rent it!!!!

[Devries49 · 25 May 2011]

I've been wanting to see this movie for awhile finally my friend got netflix and I borrowed the movie and watched it. The movie is very good and SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE sad. The acting was great Kimberly Elise,Loretta Devine,Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose were outstanding. I personally think that Elise should have been nominated for an Oscar. Also I shocked the film wasn't nominated for any big awards like golden globes or the Oscars. The musical score and cinematography were great and should've been nominated as well for the Oscar.This is a good and emotional movie if like Tyler Perry's movies than you'll like For Colored Girls

High Art...

[Letswrite · 7/10 · 12 December 2010]

I'm not shocked at the reviews of this film for the simple reason that it is high art. High Art in the academic sense, means it's not a mass product, mass produced in the factory that formulates today's popular culture. And as one reviewer already said, I'm certainly not a fan of Tyler Perry's "low art" films, and his depiction of the African American female in particular. HOWEVER, the beauty of this film is that he transcends his normal texts. I have not read or seen the play but any writer, who writes often, knows, to use poetry as dialog is not at all easy. In For Colored Girls, I'd like to say Bravo to Perry, poetic dialog is so beautifully scripted and weaved into the progression of the story. One of my favorite scenes is between Whoopi Goldberg and Thandie Newton when they confront each other after an unfortunate incident with the character who plays Netwon's sister and Goldberg's daughter. How each character speaks over the other and only listens to the other when she says something that validates her existing negative assessment of that person. I thought that was quite profound. There were so many scenes that I loved and none of them were disjointed, all of them built one upon the other to form one very cinematic story. Actually one OVER, dramatic story. And that would be my one criticism--and I think it's a major fault.

Every plot point cost so much. There was such an imbalance of the tragic and the non-tragic. And I think this one fault could be the shot in the foot, he didn't foresee. But nevertheless, those who appreciate high art, will appreciate the masterful use of poetic dialog in this film. I was extremely impressed.

If they gave an academy award for crying ...

[sethart-1 · 1/10 · 8 November 2010]

I imagine that Janet Jackson's agent said that Ms. Jackson will be in this film if she gets a good crying scene, because the Motion Picture Academy looks favorably on actors and actresses who cry. Then Thandie Newton said, if she gets to cry, I want to cry also! Then Kimberly Elise said, if those two get to cry, me too! And word got around, and the entire cast demanded equal crying time. Aside from the rivers of tears, there was an ocean of poetry (at least they said it was poetry, although it sounded more like plain old prose to me). I'm not sure what relation the "poetic monologues" had to do with the story, but I guess you had to be there. I wonder how this film will do with audiences. I'm not sure most audiences are ready for more than 2 hours of unrelenting misery.

A gorgeous, layered, over-the-top emotional ride...I really liked it

[secondtake · 8/10 · 22 November 2010]

For Colored Girls (2010)

An artful, gutsy, moving experience.

You could easily see this movie and say that it's overly artful, overtly gutsy, and an overwhelmingly moving experience. You would have to like this kind of high drama to get into this at all. Very high drama. I do, and so I loved this movie.

If you've seen "Crash" you know how this movie is put together--a series of high powered characters in tough situations are followed separately in an interwoven and increasingly connected urban universe. This is a work about women, African-American women, and about their ultimately horrible plight in a world of greed, horror, and men, who don't come off very well. So they turn increasingly inward, and to each other, to survive.

Director Tyler Perry has great material here--the Ntozake Shange play that wowed Broadway in 1975. One of the strengths here is one of the things people find irritating--the characters speak at times in long lines of poetic monologue. It isn't realistic, but it's beautiful, and in fact it really is poetry, and is part of the overall style. This helps form the overall aura of the movie, as well, of highbrow seriousness in a gutsy, often low income narrative. The story gets tweaked for 2010, though some of the themes don't make sense for our times, most glaring the backstreet abortion.

The acting is fabulous, and uniformly so. Everyone is able to really pour it on, which is difficult when they are sometimes speaking through actual poetry. And so through all the tears comes a realization that this very artificially outrageous drama has deeply deeply serious intentions.

If you like movies for how they are made--the editing, the filming, the set design--you'll be impressed. It's highly artful in a Hollywood, expensive way, an uncompromised production. Of course, as a viewer, you have to like that, especially when it gets artsy, as when a mother and daughter speak in two simultaneous monologues and the camera, and the sound, film back and forth between them, while still delicately keeping both threads continuous and palpable throughout. And the moment has huge symbolism, too, because it's about how they never understand each other, even when they pretend to try.

If there's a large problem here, it's in the endless excess. There is more tragedy, and more emotional crisis, than you can handle in a movie. I think it starts to be a parody of itself, and toward the end you are just ready for a catharsis. The choreographed ending is a little predictable and breezy, too, though even here, when the women gather on the roof, there is still a complex, interwove poetic power.

Forget the cynics and the impatient, if you can, that have slammed this film. It's not a typical Tyler Perry movie at all. It's a smart, beautiful film, and in some ways a great film.

Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier...

[crazy_Lil_angel4534533 · 6/10 · 22 November 2010]

When I saw the previews for this movie entitled "For Colored Girls" I initially scoffed and refused to offer up a penny to watch this movie. But after it's release, I had heard overwhelmingly positive feedback about the movie from peers (mostly black women) and friends - So, I decided to watch the movie because Tyler Perry never ceases to entertain me ;)

First and foremost, I must say that IF YOU ARE A MAN YOU (probably) WON'T APPRECIATE THIS MOVIE. This really is the type of movie you watch with your girlfriends...or even by yourself (that way when you cry, no one you know will witness it).

There were many strong points in the movie, but there were also some cringers..

Cringe-tastic/Eyebrow Knitting Moments: 1, One big blotch that stands out in this "masterpiece" is the awkward recitation of poems, most of which weirdly placed to fit certain circumstances. In fact, the first two poems that were said, I didn't even understand because there was such an abrupt transition from modern day talk into elaborate, flowery, (and dramatic)storytelling.

2, The problems discussed in this movie (abusive relationships, date rape, broken relationships, abortion) are not just limited to black women. These issues are universal, and I'm not sure I really see the need to label the whole movie "For Colored Girls" And as a black women, I would like to see black women portrayed in a more positive/influential light.

Despite those main burps, this movie had some notable moments. 1, The acting is superb - from everyone. Normally, I'm not a fan of Janet Jackson or Kerry Washington, but I must say that every actress gave a phenomenal performance in this movie. I would say that Janet has definitely grown as an actor, and I respect her more after watching this movie.

2, The movie makes you think, and each women's situation leaves you with a different lesson. Amongst some of the lessons viewers learn: (1)Don't trust someone you barely even know. (2) Get involved! If you see someone being abused - get help. If you see your child going down the wrong path - guide them in the right direction. (3) If a man's not treating you right, leave him! No one deserves to be treated like a doormat or a punching bag. (4) Take Responsibilites for your actions. If you've made a mistake, don't deny it and keep making the mistake over and over...and most importantly MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger (and that is the truth.)

Some people say that this movie is an insult to black men. I say, this movie is not about black men. It's about women in pain experiencing difficult situations, and surviving through it. The lack of great black men should not be important since this movie's central idea is not about great black male role models.

Overall, I think the movie was pretty okay, especially considering that the director had the difficult task of transforming a play into a film. I would recommend, as others have said, watch the movie for yourself. Come to your own conclusions, and don't walk into the theater with a closed mind or a fixed attitude.

=D

A Copy/paste cliché ridden, heavy- handed fire &brimstone morality study

[jvporter · 3/10 · 18 July 2012]

There are just too many negatives in this film.

1. Why are the overwhelming majority of the women in this film pecan colored, with long-hair? A vicious distortion of the 'real life' its supposed to be portraying.

2.The writing one dimensional and is at or below the 6th grade level. Janet Jackson's office scenes were so thin and badly written (phoned-in for sure) I was actually embarrassed for her!.. poor child had nothing to work with!

3.The set-designs, strictly 101.

4. The poems of were a cute artistic insertion but mid-way through became laboriously pretentious considering everything else in this movie had the subtly of a Hummer.

Why do "Black" films still, to this day in age, feel the need to "teach" the most banal life lessons? It's 2010. We've already had domestic abuse & HIV scenarios hammered into us for years already. NEXT!

This movie is an after-school special, for colored people.

Better than Expected

[penny-119 · 8/10 · 7 November 2010]

I will start by saying that I am not a Tyler Perry fan. I don't generally watch or enjoy his movies. I was also hesitant to see this play turned into a movie, but my husband really wanted to see it, so I went somewhat reluctantly to see how TP would butcher this play.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, the play is not something that can be easily rendered into a movie. It's more of a performance than a traditional "play". There is not a coherent plot, and even the vignettes are often incomplete stories. The men that are central actors in the womens' stories are completely voiceless and have no role in the play whatsoever. The dialog from the different characters is beautiful and elegant and haunting, so to be true to the story you have to keep the language that is used.

So, it's a difficult situation to be in, no plot really to paraphrase or "adapt" with very precise language that needs to be incorporated to keep the beauty of the piece. It is a task that a better filmmaker than TP should have tackled....but it's doubtful that anyone who had the talent AND the juice to make this movie actually would have, so TP is all that's left.

The film is choppy at parts...NOT seamlessly interweaving the added plot-driven dialog with the elegant and colorful soliloquies from the original play. Also, some of the particular poems seem oddly-placed, and out of context.

However, the performance of the pieces did give a meaning that reading the play does not. Pieces that I understood in one way when I read them took on a different and more potent meaning when I saw them being performed in the context of the film. The delivery of most (not all) of the poems and the character portrayals generally was excellent.

There is some overacting (Kerry Washington in particular stood out as overdone to me), and some of Tyler Perry's typical caricatures (if you are a light-skinned man with a high paying job....you are a bastard!), but if I evaluated this movie based on whether my understanding and experience of the text was expanded by this film, I would say it was.

Perhaps if I had seen the performance I would evaluate this film less kindly, but I think that if you come in understanding 1) it is a lofty performance piece being rendered as film, and 2) it has incorporated some of the performance aspect of the play into the film, I think you could appreciate it and enjoy it.

Thandie Newton is the brightest colour in this rainbow!

[jamie-brenner · 6/10 · 23 January 2021]

A stand out performance from an effortlessly raw and relatable Thandie Newton. Whilst accepting the beauty of the poetry it has been adapted from, the plot is weak and at times easy to lose interest in, but the performances from these leading ladies of colour does move and empower you. Perfect as a play but hard to realise on screen, but you can appreciate the truth in the poetry and respect the effort to maintain its integrity and meaning. The monologues are powerful and beautiful individually but fail to hold the story together. Touching performances. Poor story. Good try.

Decent but not Box Office quality (belongs on Bravo channel)

[dninc79 · 5/10 · 5 November 2010]

This is and will be a signature piece to Tyler Perry, however it's so boring i don't know if it's worth the full 15.75 to watch it..

This movie is watchable and tolerable unlike his other rehashed, VERY cliché' flicks but it just falls down the tubes with the entertainment portion, i was bored to death, The movie is basically Waiting to Exhale, Whats love got to do with it and Precious all thrown together in a big Gumbo pot however i did enjoy Kimberly Elise acting which probably saved this entire movie from being thrown out a week into it's release. Janet Jackson, I LOVE YOU GIRL! but baby! Stop!!!!!! You cannot act! i've punished myself long enough waiting for you to have a break-thru acting role that would get you another Oscar but girl.. you've lostit.. When she cries it's like watching tear's fall from one of those baby doll toy's, they are so forced it's painful to watch.

Phlyica Rashad did a fantastic job with the poorly written portions she did have, she made due with what she had and ran with it.. put this women in more movies and give her bigger scripts!

Obviously Tyler Perry doesn't need anyone to tell him he does or does not know how to direct but he does have a lot of work to do..

I had to give this 5/10 because although there were flashes of great acting and directing it just was not worth the money.. seriously.. Wait for it to get on TV, you wont be as mad or empty when your leave.. Luckily i got to watch it for free but i saw some frustrated and confused people leaving and a lot of people just did not talk about the movie after they left out, everyone just filed out quietly and went to their car's as if they were dazed..

this movie would go well in anyone's collection if you like Black art's such as the color purple, roots, etc...

Through the Eyes of Tyler Perry

[terrikairos · 14 January 2021]

Do not except this to be the film version of the liberating work by Ntozake Shange. This is Tyler Perry's interpretation of that womanist text, which barely coheres to Shange's work. It is worth watching if only to inspire viewers to return and learn the original text by Shange.