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Diary of a Mad Black Woman
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Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) -- A couple with a good marriage that seemed solid, actually begins to crumble when she discovers her husband's intentions for divorce.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) -- Theatrical Preview
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) -- A couple with a good marriage that seemed solid, actually begins to crumble when she discovers her husband's intentions for divorce.

Overview

User Rating:
5.0/10   4,993 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Darren Grant
Writers:
Tyler Perry (play)
Tyler Perry (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Diary of a Mad Black Woman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 February 2005 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Time heals the heart. Faith heals the rest. more
Plot:
A couple with a good marriage that seemed solid, actually begins to crumble when she discovers her husband's intentions for divorce. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
12 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
Filmmaker cleared in plagiarism case
 (From digitalspy. 11 December 2008, 1:24 AM, PST)

Perry Cleared In Plagiarism Case
 (From WENN. 10 December 2008, 8:05 AM, PST)

User Comments:
How Darren Grant Sold The Most Unlikely Film To The Masses more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kimberly Elise ... Helen

Steve Harris ... Charles
Tyler Perry ... Madea / Brian / Joe

Shemar Moore ... Orlando

Lisa Marcos ... Brenda
Tamara Taylor ... Debrah

Cicely Tyson ... Myrtle
Terrell Carter ... Reverend Carter
Carol Mitchell-leon ... Mildred (as Carol Mitchell-Leon)

Avery Knight ... BJ
Vickie Eng ... Christina

Tiffany Evans ... Tiffany

Gary Anthony Sturgis ... Jamison (as Gary Sturgis)
Bart Hansard ... Guard
Chandra Currelley-Young ... Chandra
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman (USA) (complete title)
Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman: The Movie (USA) (DVD box title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for drug content, thematic elements, crude sexual references and some violence.
Runtime:
USA:116 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The name "Madea" is a contraction of the word "mother dear". more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Helen dumps Charles into the tub we see his sleeve down when he first drops into the tub. When we see him land into the tub his sleeve is then up on his shoulder. Then in the very next shot his sleeve is back down. more
Quotes:
Madea: Half of everything in this house belongs to her, which half you want? You want this half or you want this half?
[cuts into the couch with a chainsaw]
more
Movie Connections:
References "Roots" (1977) more
Soundtrack:
Assasination more

FAQ

I see Judge Mablean listed in the credits. What role does she play?
What words does Orlando use when he tells Helen that he is in love with her? I just loved that speech.
How does the movie end?
more
16 out of 26 people found the following comment useful:-
How Darren Grant Sold The Most Unlikely Film To The Masses, 26 February 2005
Author: benier from United States

Darren grant is a cool cucumber. After over 120 Music videos and commercials in just 8 years, the youngish helmer has delivered with "Diary of A Mad Black Woman". This debut director has entered the Hollywood fray on par with any big shooter. As a former Madison Avenue, ad agency creative director, I will admit I am biased because he directed an award- winning commercial for me 2 years ago.

Still, Mr. Grant pulled off the same trick he did with our controversial cinema/TV commercials (which featured a cigarette executive as a lethal "Hitman"): he took a complex, ethnically esoteric subject and simplified it, making it digestible for the masses. Slap me around a little, but I think that's what a good Director should do. The playwright, Tyler Perry has had things cooking for years on the Chittlin' Circuit, bringing his own unique brand of urban theatre to working-class, black America. Mr. Perry came to Hollywood as a pre-packaged star. And Hollywood has acknowledged his presence in grand fashion.

The rather surreal Madea character is more than just a man-in-drag; it is Perry's vessel of choice. Via Madea, he can impart a spiritual gospel that reflects his experience growing up in the black church. He can also channel his insights on politics and perhaps give a few pointers to wayward minorities who feel they are up against it. The rest of the characters in DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN: Helen, Charles, Orlando, Debrah, Brenda, Tiffany and Myrtle – not to mention, Brian, Madea and Joe – all played by Tyler Perry, serve to hone Mr. Perry's particular brand of cultural propaganda. To wit, love it or hate it, there is a well- defined black American subculture that cannot be ignored.

DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN is indeed complex. Whereas Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire" was, deliberately in drag as a scheming septuagenarian and as was Martin Lawrence in the "Big Momma's House" – Tyler Perry's Madea is a REAL woman! He's also Madea's dirty-old-man of a brother and takes off the makeup to play handsome young attorney. Tyler is almost on par with Eddie Murphy as he bandies about in multiple roles. Again, credit Darren Grant's deft understanding of the characters' interaction. The only criticism here is that Tyler Perry is actually a more convincing actor when he is talking to himself(s)!

Kimberly Elise is a true A-list acting talent. If Madea is comic relief, Elise's Helen fulfills the dramaturgy aspect of the film. She admirably holds her own with screen legend, Cicely Tyson as her mother. Steve Harris is menacingly effective as an Ike Turner-esque, booji Atlanta attorney who emotionally terrorizes his wife and associates. Shemar Moore gives a breakout performance that is sure to take him to the next level in Hollywood. Watch as he is next transformed into a mainstream matinée idol …

What's most important about this film is how it OWNS the right to speak of an ethnic genre. Darren Grant and Tyler Perry have cleverly positioned themselves as experts on American black culture. And how there are thousands of similar stories yet untold. Look for this director to, perhaps, do what Spike Lee intended; what Carl Franklin suggested; and what the Van Peebles' aspired to do: become the definitive, fresh, new voice in Black American film.

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