Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
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, Detroit, Houston and Chicago, Illinois to get opening night reaction to 'For Colored Girls.'
See our exclusive video of Long Beach 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.
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By: cleopatra Gold on 11/13/2010 12:35PM
Already saw the movie. Loretta Devine/Whoopie Goldberg/Phyliscia Rashad ... seasoned, polished, Diva performances! Their names should have appeared BEFORE JJ...simply because of their status & contributions. JJ character is repeated too much, again she plays the same character -- with the same issues ... this is already 'old'; time to see JJ do some thing very 'different' on the big screen. Ms. Tandi-truly enjoyed your performance. My viewpoint is: every one struggles with LOVE, HOW TO BE LOVED, WHAT IS LOVE, WHERE IS LOVE...acceptance, forgiveness & moving on in life.
Now that many of us are helping Mr. Perry & others become millionaires -- what other big plans & goals will we see in the near future?!
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By: shasha on 11/15/2010 10:33AM
I hated this movie. the problem is that it is called "FOr Colored Girls," and the movie should black women living negative lives, all of them were in sad situations. To me this was saying this is the type of lives colored women or black women have and I strongly disliked the pessimistic message. Why cant he do a movie showing how black women have good lives... I have a good life and this movie pissed me off. People already look at black lives in a dark light and his move helpes this to contiune.
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By: JJohnson on 11/15/2010 11:03PM
The movie is called "For Colored Girls" because it was partially named after the book that the story derived from hence the title. The book was called For Colored Girls When the Rainbow Isn't Enough. I remember reading it in Junior High back in the early '80's.
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By: Jewel on 11/16/2010 1:19PM
In addition to what JJohnson replied to you, each woman in the book and play are referred to by a different color of the rainbow. This work speaks specifically to the dark issues that many black women have dealt with, but often without help or attention. For instance, almost every week the media focuses on a missing white woman who almost always is found to have been killed by her husband or lover. How often does the media highlight the missing or killed black woman? Aside from that, the movie is not a statement about the condition of black women in general.
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By: Jewel on 11/16/2010 1:21PM
In addition to what JJohnson replied to you, each woman in the book and play are referred to by a different color of the rainbow. This work speaks specifically to the dark issues that many black women have dealt with, but often without help or attention. For instance, almost every week the media focuses on a missing white woman who almost always is found to have been killed by her husband or lover. How often does the media highlight the missing or killed black woman? Aside from that, the movie is not a statement about the condition of black women in general.
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By: just another viewpoint on 11/14/2010 2:41AM
I remember the poem and I saw an re-enactment of a play. With the movie the producer was allowed more of a story with a possible connection. If you understood the poem then you could appreciate the movie. I was able to take young teenagers to see this movie and the conversation generated as a result of this movie was phenomenonal. To hear the young adults both male and female share their opinions about the characters and how they share the pain and asked question about relationships and with discussions determining they can love themselves in spite of the difficulties of life and asked questions and listen to their instinct. If a movie can make a positive impact and help us to ask questions, then I appreciate the viewpoint.
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By: rhonda on 11/14/2010 12:53PM
I refuse to sit through any more movies where I am there for almost two hours and am depressed by the terrible lives of people... until the last ten minutes of the film. In the last ten minutes, the character is suppose to get some kind of inspiration and revelation on life. I won't do it any more. That's what I got from Precious and that's probably what I would have gotten from 'Colored Girls.' I am one who won't see it.
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By: Dolly on 11/14/2010 1:15PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the movie and especially enjoyed Thandie Newton's performance. It's a movie truly worth seeing. Thanks Mr. Perry.
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By: Barbara McCoy on 11/14/2010 9:08PM
I enjoyed the movie. Some of it was over the top!
Sort of boring to see the devoted wife end up with the gay husband. I know these things occur, but more on how these women move on would be nice. Perhaps, show them a few years after the pain has subsided and they have managed to successfully move on in life would be very inspiring!
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By: tgtsing on 1/10/2011 10:48PM
i love the movie. will go see it again. can relate to it. this is some of tyler's perry's best work. should be nomonated for an oscar. the black communtiy really don't want to believe that these troubles happens among our people but it does. we seem to the worse toward one another. america is now saying a brotha and a sista no longer can be one since so many brotha are making a home with mostly the white sistas. my life as a black female will only be for a brotha. don't knock colored girls. i' can say this the acting was the best i have seen in years. the sistas and brothas brought it. go tyler can't wait to see the next movie. one thing tyler can be sure of he' got my money.
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