Rented off Amazon
Historical Fiction
Based off: Sue Monk Kidd’s book of the same name
Released: October 17, 2008
Rating: 2.5 stars
Synopsis:
In 1964, a teenage girl in search of the truth about her mother runs away to a small town in South Carolina and finds a family of independent women who can connect her to her past.
Review:
Of course I have read the book. Let me tell you, if I didn’t read the book this might have gotten a higher rating. Might.
The apple fell way far from the tree. The cast is an amazing group of actors but the direction given wasn’t the best.
June seemed just to be filled with hate one moment then she’s fine at the end. They don’t give her character the depth that she deserved. They don’t give even a tiny bit of detail on why she is the way she is. Also she didn’t teach music in the book. Neil was also the principal not another teacher.
August need more of the older wisdom feel which I know Queen Latifah can do if given the reins to do so.
Jennifer Hudson should have been able to bring in the depth she had in Dreamgirls to her character.
Dakota Fanning did an okay job. I just felt she made Lily too whiny and not a girl struggling to love and forgive herself.
Paul Bettany has done better. Again I think it was direction.
Zach’s character… one he had a black Ford Fairlane not a red and white one. Two he like June wasn’t given enough detail. It was like Lily just knew things about him and said these things to just let the audience know not to build up the relationship.
Oh don’t get me started on how they treated May. Kudos to Sophie Okonedo who did May the best justice she was allowed to give.
Again if I didn’t read the book, I may have found this movie likeable, but it fell flat. I believe it was the writing and direction that failed the movie. The actors did the best they were given. But this movie could have been more. It could have been given more depth.
The Kansan Reader 