To get a pulse on fan reaction to Tyler Perry's latest film, BlackVoices went coast to coast with a video camera and asked moviegoers what they thought of this much talked about adaptation. Our team of roving reporters visited AMC movie theater locations in Harlem, Long Beach, Houston, Detroit and Chicago to get opening night reaction to 'For Colored Girls.'
See our exclusive video of Houston fan reaction below. And don't forget to click on the thumbnails beneath the video to see what fans in other cities thought.
For Colored Girls
Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the film 'For Colored Girls' is based on Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play, 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.' The play morphed into an Emmy Award nominated television special and is still being performed around the world. BlackVoices.com presents a closer look to the remarkable cinematic effort.
Anika Noni Rose (as Yasmine), Kerry Washington (as Kelly), Janet Jackson (as Jo), Kimberly Elise (as Crystal), Phylicia Rashad (as Gilda), Loretta Devine (as Juanita), Tessa Thompson (as Nyla) and Thandie Newton (as Tangie) in the rooftop scene of 'For Colored Girls.'
Janet Jackson stars as 'Jo' in 'For Colored Girls.' Jo is a high-powered businesswoman who has virtually willed herself to forget her tough upbringing. "Jo's very driven, and she's not the nicest person on the block," said Jackson.
Jo is married to stockbroker Carl (played by Omari Hardwick). She is also the head at a major fashion magazine titled Robe Rouge.
Jo and Carl (Omari Hardwick) in a scene at the opera in 'For Colored Girls.' This marks Jackson's third outing with Tyler Perry having done 'Why Did I Get Married?' and its sequel 'Why Did I Get Married Too?'
Omari Hardwick is Carl, a stockbroker and husband of Jo (Janet Jackson). "I think he's sexually, not necessarily as confused as the cliché down-low man who's living with a woman but carrying on an affair with a man would be, I think it's a little bit deeper than that," said Hardwick.
Loretta Devine stars as 'Juanita' in 'For Colored Girls.' Devine was a young actor in graduate school when 'Colored Girls' became an Off-Broadway sensation in 1976. She successfully auditioned for a role, but had to turn it down when she was unable to obtain the scholastic leave of absence. She went on to make history at Lorell Robinson in Broadway's 'Dreamgirls.'
Juanita keeps it real with her students in 'For Colored Girls.' Juanita is a nurse who has opened a women's health and wellness clinic at a Harlem community center. She doles out condoms and a message of empowerment to young women, but struggles in vain to resist the charms of her two-timing boyfriend.
Juanita her man Frank (played by Richard Lawson) in an emotional scene in 'For Colored Girls.'
Richard Lawson is Frank, the smooth-talking, faithless lover of Juanita (Loretta Devine). "Frank is a Vietnam vet who came back and is trying to get his life together. One of the ways he does that is to try to impress and charm women; it's the one thing he can control in his life," said Lawson.



Comments: (2)
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By: Dave Lee on 11/25/2010 12:58AM
Excellent acting, directing and focus on story lines regarding the various film subjects. However, even though the play and the film's focus is about the trials and tribulations of Black Women(Colored Girls, I perceived from my attendance and the reading of some movie reviews that Black females did not understand that the film's subject material(s) mirrored or parralells the experiences (mental if not purely physical) of Black Men (Colored Boys Who've Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Wasn't Enough)). I'm not saying that a lot of the reactions I perceived from personal attendance or read in reviews were reminiscent of Black female reactions to, The Color Purple film, but it's for certain that some women (Black) just saw the film as having Black female issues instead of we(Black male and female)issues.
The focus of course and understandably was on Black females, but the bigger picture is that Black males experience similar situations as well. Bottom line is that I thought that it was a great film and Tyler Perry is getting better at his craft.
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By: Louisejezz smith on 1/21/2011 3:43AM
i like this video, very nice quality and Beautifully shown.
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