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.

Director:

Darren Grant

Writers:

Tyler Perry (play), Tyler Perry

Stars:

Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Tyler Perry

12 wins & 12 nominations.

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

Storyline

Helen McCarter has everything a woman wants: a nice house and rich husband. However after her husband Charles throws her out of the house after admitting to an affair a distraught Helen turns to her mother, grandmother Madea and cousin Brian who take her in and turn back to God. Helen learns for the first time in her life to stand up on her two feet and is ready to remove herself from her relationship with Charles and move on with Orlando. But when her husband is almost killed by a vengeful client, Helen wonders if she has the heart to forgive him despite everything.

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Plot Keywords:

anniversary | infidelity | reconciliation | cheating husband | adultery | 

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Taglines:

Time heals the heart. Faith heals the rest.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug content, thematic elements, crude sexual references and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Entertainment [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$21,905,089 (USA) (25 February 2005)

Gross:

$50,382,128 (USA) (15 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BET Pictures, Diary of a Woman Inc., Diary of a Woman Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based around the character of Madea played by Tyler Perry in a series of hit African-American gospel stage plays: I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2000), Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2001), Madea's Family Reunion (2002), Madea's Class Reunion (2003), Meet the Browns (2004), and Madea Goes to Jail (2004).

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Goofs

The length of Kimberly Elise's tie as she works in the restaurant.

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Quotes

Bailiff: Your honor, Case #456790: The People Vs. Mabel Simmons & Helen McCarter - Criminal trespassing, Reckless endangerment, Criminal possession of a handgun, Assault with a deadly weapon, Suspended license, Expired registration, Reckless driving, and a broken tailight.
Madea: [to Helen] Girl, I know it ain't who I think it is.
Judge Ephriam: [turning cross] I know you didn't say Mabel Simmons. Madea?
Madea: How you doin', uh, Judge Mablean? It's good to see - Ooh, your hair's pretty. Girl, look at you. You're lookin' good. How ...
[...]

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Connections

References Roots (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody"
Performed by Brick
Written by Reginald Hargis
Published by H & R Lastrada Music / Sony / ATV Tunes LLC
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Licensing

User Reviews

Surprisingly excellent!

This was an excellent movie. Kimberly Elise is excellent as Helen, an emotionally abused spouse who gets kicked out of her mansion and has to learn to live life on her own and learn to trust men again. There are moments that are so heart wrenching that much of the theater was crying. However, before things get too down, there are numerous hilarious scenes led by Tyler Perry. The great thing is that these funny moments are integral to the story for the most part and are not just thrown in without relating to the main story lines.

Best of all, this movie has heart and a message. It's about how forgiveness is better than revenge and that you need to forgive someone because it hurts YOU if you hold that anger inside yourself. It's about how love endures even through pain and disappointment. It's about how God can turn people's lives around. It's the type of movie that you can proudly take your mother and grandmother too.

I wish they would market this type of movie more to a broad audience. It looks like they advertised this almost exclusively to a black audience, I was one of the few white people in the theater in a very integrated community.