Beloved, The Movie
Starring Oprah Winfrey (Sethe), Danny Glover (Paul D. Garner), Thandie Newton (Beloved), and Kimberly Elise (Denver)

Written by Toni Morrison (novel) and Akosua Busia

Directed by Jonathan Demme

The movie is about a freed slave named Sethe (Winfrey) who lives in postbellum Ohio. She begins to become distressed by the memories she has of her life before the war. She had a daughter, Beloved, who came from being raped as a slave. She endured physical abuse constantly. What upset's her the most is not the memories of abuse, but the memory of the fate of her child. She was forced to give up the child.

I look into myself and ask myself," What do you think?" Weird yes, however a must. I could never type all of how this film makes my spine curve in. This story literally carries upon it's back a legacy of so many familiar if not greater stories to be told, whether we the viewer are ready to view or hear such a "tale". This film speaks to me. The haunting of one's guilt, revelations, experiences and etc. can be more than a monstrosity than any creep we could ever fathom. The Mother, such a rightful love, to do thee impossible, results in my goose bumps. The tears to be shed for such a life, such strength. This film is by far on of the most potent. This film is so gritty to the right extent that it tugs between your teeth and before you can let go you can't help, but think, "What would you do?". There are not so much wrong answers as there are no "good" answers, but so much of behavior reflects a love. This film's pains me from so many stories told to me as "they" were that person. This film is more than gracious and allows us to stand within someone else shoes, feel their soles and grip the left over comfort. The preachings of the old woman regardless of what you find satisfactory at the end of the day to digest are just "so right". The "tree" makes my eyes swell, but I dare not overrun with emotion, I'll let not one sloppy drop leak. I envy their strength. Cowardice to say if I could do what she did, for better or for worse? Fck who "Oprah" is, after watching this "oprah" is merely a character playing, but a better character. Having viewed such a masterpiece makes my insides weep and at other times feel guilty that I forget these so often pleasantries fought for us. To face your past in flesh would already be breath taking and for me that is what this film delivers, an absent of breaths. The young girl who helped the Mother makes me want to know of her history regardless of how inadequate or useless. I've typed so much, but I will not shy away from the convenience to type more. This film is of a old tale told to us from the present victims, sometimes you may follow and at other times you may be lost, understandable. Pain, fear, guilt and so much embody this story. Perhaps all of what I've typed will drive you off a cliff with expectations far greater than my own, however I can only type just a bit (unbelievable, however YES just a bit of how this film makes -me- feel) of what this film does for me every time, DELIVER. I can assume my review is not professional, however I mustn't worry about if my simple POV is indeed inadequate. I give a strong 5/5. If you takes you more than one watch to completely grasp what "beloved" has to say do so and/ or if it takes you a few years. some things are not to be completely swallowed all in one dose. Music accurate to each of the films pages, actors more than qualified, scene more than right, all in story, more than you may be ready to handle.- Stolee

READ THE BOOK, PEOPLE, READ THE BOOK! The book helped me understand the film and the film helped me understand the book. This is an amazing piece of work. Winfrey gives a moving and observant performance and Thandie Newton is startling. Some scenes are intense, making you think whether you would kill your child. I didn't notice any gliches and I think the film screams for Oscars. I think this whole slave movie thing going on is getting boring but when they are made with such power and great directing and acting, I praise God for it! Demme gives us one of the most touching ghost stories and certainly the strangest, in a while.