Reviews

This is the best romance movie I've seen in quite some time. The beauty of this film is the teasing backstory of the neighbors and friends observing the budding romance between the two principal characters. That the viewer has to read the entire dialog forces them to pay closer attention to the details and watch the body language. Djibril is obviously a decent man with exceptional talent and impeccable integrity; however, he humbled himself for the good of those he loved.

A story of a person working illegally without a path to legal papers would be a mundane story without the mother's wisdom, determination, and intervention. Julie was lonely, miserable, frustrated, and hopeless, but she only realized it when Djibril showed her genuine love. Excellent historical context and realistic development. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. It will warm your heart and provide medicine to your soul. This story is the ultimate romance movie.

I enjoyed the movie because it followed a logical sequence that captured the genuine vernacular of the period. The attitudes of the characters in the movie are not fictitious; they represent the real attitudes of an oppressing group. The condescending stereotypes and attitudes did not die with the end of the era, some of the accompanying lifestyles did. Some of the families who employed house cleaners and other domestic help were not rich or even middle class people. They under paid their help with sub-minimum wages and expected much more return than investment. They enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of the black domestic workers who served for little pay. The most important aspect of "The Help" is the moral implications of how domestic workers affected the lives of the children they raised, befriended, and loved. Despite the mistreatment they often endured, many of the workers attached themselves emotionally and the families rarely reciprocated. Some of the young children identified with the domestic service providers more than they could relate to their own biological parents. The maids often instilled a strong sense of self-esteem and a proud, but healthy, confidence into the children they raised for white people while they struggled to do the same at home. The dichotomy between their surrogate roles within white homes and their reality often produced major psychological torture and emotional turmoil. The same superior attitude that demands special privilege and entitlement prevails today, but the issue is no longer just black and white nor is it confined to the South. "The Help" dares to scratch the surface that illustrates a mild realization of the actual degradation imposed upon an innocent cross section of American society. I highly recommend this movie to every American who likes history, especially in light of our society's preoccupation and fascination with many aspects of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. This movie will serve as moral tonic and a dose of reality for families and school aged children old enough to understand.

This movie is as good a romance movie as anything since the days of Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. It has humor, a clear distinction between the good and bad characters and enough romance to make a strong person weep. The movie was obviously a low-budget project with less than grandiose expectations. The Soundtrack was marvelous, as others have so eloquently stated before. Terron Brooks may have won a Grammy for his singing had this soundtrack been marketed through mainstream channels. All the characters, even the not so likable ones, did a great job in the picture. Were the lighting, filming and color always perfect? No! That's exactly why I changed my vote from a "9" to a "10." The Director, Producer and actors for this film should all be applauded for a job well done. They did what they had to do with what they had to work with and that is why I watch movies in the first place. Please, please, please put Lisaraye, Terron, Renee, Tico, Bobby, Chris, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lou Myers, Debbie Allen and all these characters back on the screen for another go round. Every time I play the title song "All About You," my guests want a copy of the recording, but its hard to find. If Terron comes to my town to give a concert, with or without Renee Goldsberry, I will be the first in line at the box office.

This movie is good from start to finish and every aspect is nearly perfect. The acting, plot, premise, genre and character development are text book superb. This movie explores the good cop versus bad cop game and the viewer is sometimes not sure which is which. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who likes suspense, comedy, drama, adventure and a little cynical satire. Past history and police corruption are the main areas of exploration for this film. The heroes are not saints and the bad guys are not total devils, but the viewers will have an opinion in the end. Humor and serious drama are blended well and the characters skillfully and deliberately exploit that intent.

The movie is listed as a drama but it is more like a psycho-thriller. It is a very sad movie with a very sad ending and the hero character is not a hero at all. Reggie Gaskins designed this picture for him to look heroic, but it was poorly done. Six stars is a bit generous but some of the isolated scenes were good enough to redeem this film. All the actors are good actors with obvious talent, but the script was worse than terrible. The tragedy of the movie is the fact that the viewer is in total darkness the entire movie. The movie has no hero, just a comedy of misunderstandings with jumped conclusions. If the movie had ended differently the movie could have been saved. The victim never found out the truth about what was really happening to him. There is nothing entertaining about this movie.

The real shortcoming of this film is the ridiculous idea of Lois Lane moving on to a new relationship almost immediately after Superman's disappearance. Since Superman didn't leave any information about where he was going or why, it should have been assumed that he was dead. Her reaction should have been more grief than anger, unless the movie forgot to tell us about a missing piece. The fact that the son is five years old and Superman had only been gone between five and six years distorts the time line. When did she meet Richard? How soon after their meeting did they become an item? Did she carry the child for nine months? The time line is troublesome. The film has a reference to an article written by Lois Lane about spending the night with Superman. I am incensed by such a reference. The entire storyline makes Superman seem like an irresponsible mortal. The comic Lois Lane would never have cheapened the reputation of Superman with such a revealing article, even if it had happened. Lex Luthor finding the Fortress of Solitude is ludicrous and stupid. Superman was always careful about the security of the Fortress. Luthor's easy access to the Fortress is troubling. If a sequel is made to tie up the loose ends within a year the writers may redeem themselves, otherwise, I will stick with reruns of the other Superman series of the past.

This movie explores a side life that few movies even try to show. Carlos is a complicated, sensitive and confused young man who has great talent and loyalties to family. He is blessed with a wonderful God-given talent as a cartoonist. He harbors a bit of anger towards his father, whom he believes mistreated, his dearly departed mother. Despite the resentment, he still loves his dad and honors him. Romance, drama and adventure are skillfully woven to produce a heart- warming tale of triumph and reality. The movie explores the marginal difference between poverty and dreams of business success. The thin line between the legitimate hard working businessman and the under-the-table life of opportunistic predators is well documented in this production. Carlos is the good guy everyone loves and wants to see succeed, but he has his own demons to face. Carlos craves validation and affirmation from those closest to him but it seems like he can only find that type of appreciation from strangers. Many will see the silver lining of a dark cloud, while others will totally miss the point because they are far too removed from the premise of the film.

This program was originally billed as a sitcom, but it slowly evolved into a cross between "Battle of the Sexes" and a kiss and tell reality show like "Love Connection." Every episode contained sexual tension between the ex-lovers who continued to share the same apartment. Although the relationship was supposed to be history, jealousy and envy were the constant emotional darts hurled at one another. Each one secretly still loved the other and desired to resume the relationship but neither was willing to swallow their pride. Each episode involved one or the other trying to establish a new relationship with another party, only to experience passive interference from the ex-lover. Will was a sexy and handsome ladies man with nearly intolerable arrogance. Abby was a tall and beautiful woman, but almost "too sweet and innocent" to have thrived in a relationship with Will for the number of years they spent together. She was a bit whiny and played the victim card quite often. Will, however, was so stuck on himself that he was nauseating and too self-absorbed to notice her plight. His leap from Dwayne Wayne on "A Different World" to Will on "Abby" was challenging for his "good guy" image. The chemistry between the two main characters was so perfect that the show should have succeeded. Both lead characters are very talented and attractive actors who appeal to the opposite sex.

This movie is a good film. but it does send a mixed message at the beginning. The viewer is led to believe that the movie is a serious "Godfather-like" clone, but one realizes after about 30 minutes that the movie is really a comedy-suspense spoof, with a touch of whodunit. The line is not clear about who the good guys and bad guys are until the end of the movie. Marlon Brando is superb, as are Matthew Broderick and Penelope Ann Miller. Most people will laugh through a third of this movie and sit on the edge of their seat for another third. Clark, the Broderick character, is just trying to earn some extra money for school and his ambition and naiveté combine to make him the perfect "stooge" for a bigger plan. Tina, the Penelope Miller character, plays the perfect seductress who gains Clark's trust. The film also contains a decent romantic element. I highly recommend this movie.

The movie accomplished it's goal and that is to entertain the viewers and to add a little "preachy moral lesson" to the story. The movie was originally released as a "made-for-TV" movie featuring Suzanne Somers and I have only heard of it on late night cable once since 1996. The movie adhered to all the old school rules of TV and did it with taste. Bad guys can't win, evil and greedy people must get what they deserve in the end, and the hero of the story lives happily ever after. Classic old school television movie. The Devil disguises himself as a nice old man and tricks Suzanne Somers into an irrevocable deal. She thought she could live with it because it provided her with everything she always wanted. She felt that the only thing that kept her career from going to the top of the news industry was her battle to keep her weight down. The Devil promised to keep her weight steady in exchange for her soul, but she was amused by the offer because she didn't believe in God or a Devil. Her "eat all you want diet" gave her wealth, fame and more misery than she could have imagined. In fact, she becomes a monster as she rises to the top and others are hurt, repulsed and ruined by her irresponsible manipulation of the situation. Her love life and her morals, that she never knew she had, led her to ask to be released from the deal. It is a nice story that may have been a big hit if it had a bigger budget and a more ambitious goal than filling in a prime time spot during re-run time on a network.