Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Director:

Darren Grant

Writers:

Tyler Perry (play)
Tyler Perry (written by)

Release Date:

25 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Time heals the heart. Faith heals the rest.

Plot:

A couple with a good marriage that seemed solid, actually begins to crumble when she discovers her husband's intentions for divorce.

Plot Keywords:

Anniversary | Infidelity | Reconciliation | Cheating Husband | Adultery

Awards:

12 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

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
Sho Dixon	...	Child
Tamela J. Mann	...	Cora (as Tamela Mann)
Ric Reitz	...	D.A
Lauren Leah Mitchell	...	Doctor
Mike Pniewski	...	Foreman
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	Judge
L. Warren Young	...	Judge
Mablean Ephriam	...	Judge Ephriam (as Judge Mablean Ephriam)
Tony Vaughn	...	Juror
E. Roger Mitchell	...	Kalvin
Cedric Pendleton	...	Max
Richard Reed	...	Bailiff
Joe Washington	...	Reporter
Kate Donadio	...	Secretary
Syr Law	...	Woman (as Crystal Porter)
Ryan Gentles	...	Bartender
Ronnie Garrett	...	Band Member
Marcus Williams	...	Band Member #2
Earl Fleming	...	Band Member #3
Christian Keyes	...	Man Proposing
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vic Aviles	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Beasley	...	Himself / Madea Photo-Double (uncredited)
Nicky Buggs	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Laurie Gardner	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Robert Hatch	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Donnie McClurkin	...	Pastor (uncredited)
John Fitzgerald Page	...	Dr. Frank Doyle (uncredited)
Cheryl Pepsii Riley	...	Singer at Banquet (uncredited)
Brandon Thaxton	...	Church Parishioner (uncredited)
Craig Thaxton	...	Church Van Driver (uncredited)
Shane Thaxton	...	Church Parishioner (uncredited)
Constantine Varazo	...	Lawyer / Ball Room Dancer (uncredited)
Joe Walsh	...	Steel Worker (uncredited)
Steve Warren	...	Lawyer at Banquet (uncredited)

Directed by
Darren Grant

Writing credits
Tyler Perry		(play)
Tyler Perry		(written by)

Produced by
Reuben Cannon	....	producer
John Dellaverson	....	executive producer
Joseph P. Genier	....	line producer
Michael Paseornek	....	executive producer
Tyler Perry	....	executive producer
Tyler Perry	....	producer
Mike Upton	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Elvin Ross

Cinematography by
David Claessen

Film Editing by
Terilyn A. Shropshire

Casting by
Shay Griffin
Kim Williams

Production Design by
Ina Mayhew

Set Decoration by
Joseph Litsch

Costume Design by
Keith G. Lewis

Makeup Department
Matiki Anoff	....	makeup department head
Cynthia L. Chapman	....	key hair stylist
Patrice Coleman	....	key makeup artist
Daisy Curbeon	....	wigmaker: Ms. Elise
Bill Johnson	....	prosthetics makeup (as Bill 'Splat' Johnson)
Taylor Knight	....	hair department head
Monty Schuth	....	wig maker
Rameses Shepherd	....	barber: Mr. Perry
Linda Thompson	....	hair stylist (as Linda Clark-Thompson)
Denise Tunnell	....	makeup artist
Brent Conley	....	special makeup effects assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Rosemary Lara	....	production manager: Lions Gate Films
Molly M. Mayeux	....	unit production manager
Carl Pedregal	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger M. Bobb	....	first assistant director
Angelique Bones	....	second second assistant director
Roger Lee	....	second assistant director
Ron Timmons	....	first assistant director: second unit
Keith Ward	....	second unit director

Art Department
Cheryl Adams	....	set dressing buyer
Taylor Bennett	....	scenic gang boss
Christopher Didiot	....	set dresser
Roland Heart	....	set dresser
Chris Hunter	....	storyboard artist
Kathleen Kasinger	....	property master
Johnny Land	....	painter
Alba Leone	....	lead person
Alisa Lumbreras	....	charge scenic artist
Jeremy McGuire	....	art department coordinator
Robert Tate Nichols	....	set dresser
Lauren Soldwisch	....	set painter
Lance Totten	....	set dresser
Greg Waddle	....	additional buyer
Benier Koranache	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jeremy Balko	....	foley mixer
Dhyana Carlton-Tims	....	assistant dialogue editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Jim Hawkins	....	sound recordist
Douglas L. Hill	....	boom operator (as Doug Hill)
Scott Hinkley	....	post-production sound recordist
Dean Hovey	....	sound effects editor
Spencer Johnson	....	foley editor
Cody King	....	assistant sound editor
Colt Logan	....	sound utility
Jim MacMorran	....	additional adr recordist
Andrew Morgado	....	assistant sound editor
Jay Nierenberg	....	supervising sound editor
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue editor
Stuart Provine	....	sound effects editor
Vic Radulich	....	dialogue editor
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bernard Weiser	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator
Lori C. Miller	....	digital compositor
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	digital art director (as Laurie Powers)
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Ernest Peterson	....	stunt double
Derrick Simmons	....	stunt double: Steve Harris
Gus Williams	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Antignane	....	electrician
Pete Bowman	....	grip
J. Christopher Campbell	....	grip (as Chris Campbell)
Stephen Crocker	....	assistant camera: second unit
Alfeo Dixon	....	still photographer
David Ellis	....	best boy rigging electrician
Jos'h Hancher	....	assistant camera
Chris Lumpkin	....	electrician
David McLean	....	gaffer
Mark Miller	....	electrician
James H. Pair III	....	dolly grip: "a" camera (as James Tripp Pair III)
Jesse Wayne Parker	....	key grip
Malcolm A. Purnell	....	second assistant camera
Michael Robertson	....	best boy electric
Mike Robertson	....	best boy electric
Jacob Ross	....	grip
Ted Sapp	....	grip
Chad Schroeder	....	electrician
David J. Thompson	....	Steadicam operator
David J. Thompson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Trey Twitty	....	camera loader
Mike Tyson	....	electrician
Randy Tharpe	....	electrician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Gary Hebert	....	animator

Casting Department
Xavion Lay	....	extras casting assistant
Kelly Marshall	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Layne Brightwell	....	key set costumer
Sekinah Brown	....	costumer
Zandra Harding	....	wardrobe shopper
Meta Issa	....	costumer (as Meta Moise)
Gertrude Moore	....	head tailor
Carol Sadler	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ursula Camack	....	post-production assistant
Coral D'Alessandro	....	post-production assistant
Christi Franck	....	post-production assistant
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Kenny Marsten	....	first assistant editor
Mark McCoy	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Lloyd Barry	....	orchestrator
Yvette Deveraux	....	musician (Solo Violinist)
Yvette Devereaux	....	conductor
John Forbes	....	composer: additional music
Brad Haehnel	....	music mixer
Camara Kambon	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Mike Robinson	....	driver: grip truck
Sharon Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Bree Bailey	....	assistant: Mr. Paseornek
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Jackie Bazan	....	publicist
Erika Bryant	....	assistant: Mr. Perry
A. Lynne Chaney	....	accounting clerk (as Lynne Chaney)
Bonnie Chaney	....	production accountant
Alfeo Dixon	....	location scout
Derrick Doose	....	key set production assistant
Ava DuVernay	....	talent consultant
Lisa Gooding	....	legal supervisor
Pamela B. Green	....	producer: main title sequence
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative
Gary Hebert	....	title designer
Jalyn Henton	....	assistant production office coordinator
Tony Holley	....	location assistant
Gail Hunter	....	script supervisor
Abbey Lessanu	....	assistant: Mr. Cannon
Paul Lowe	....	set medic
Ricardo Lozier	....	craft service (as Ricardo Rico Lozier)
Daniel MacArthur	....	production coordinator: Lions Gate Films
Norman P. Martin	....	craft service assistant
Shandra L. McDonald	....	assistant: Mr. Cannon (as Shandra McDonald)
Robert M. Melnik	....	executive vice president of business affairs
Curtis A. Miller	....	director of production: Lions Gate Films
Khanya Mkhize	....	adr loop group
Michael E. Morales	....	production legal counsel
Senia Phillips	....	animal trainer: "Rags the Dog"
David Albert Pierce	....	additional legal services
Emily Rice	....	post-production accountant
Rebecca Rienks	....	assistant: Joel C. High
Mike Riley	....	location manager
Ryan Schaetzle	....	assistant location manager
Tara A. Senior	....	additional legal services
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Amanda Shamis	....	business affairs coordinator
Jackie Short	....	first assistant auditor
Bo Shurling	....	unit publicist
Donna Sloan	....	senior vice president of production: Lions Gate Films
Michael C. Smith	....	police coordinator
Rozanne Stark	....	set teacher
Edwanna Tabb	....	production secretary
Katie Taylor	....	production assistant
Mark S. Temple	....	production legal
Jeremy Thomas	....	production assistant
Ron Timmons	....	set production assistant
Cynthia Todd	....	unit publicist
Katie Willard Troebs	....	production coordinator
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	creative director: main titles
Deidre Walker	....	assistant: Mr. Grant
Regina Williams	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• BET Pictures
• Diary of a Woman Inc.
• Diary of a Woman Productions Inc.
• Reuben Cannon Productions
• Tyler Perry Company, The

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Eagle Films (2005) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD) (special edition)
• RTL Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (visual effects and digital opticals)

Other Companies

• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Law Offices of Mark S. Temple  production legal services
• Pierce Law Group  additional legal services
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Widget Post Production  post-production facilities

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)

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

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Brazil:14 | South Africa:10M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41428) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

BET Pictures

Trivia:

Madea's outrage when finding the wire hanger is based on how Joan Crawford would lose her temper and mind when she found one in the closet, as her daughter 'Christina Crawford' (who was on the receiving end of some of those hangers) explained in her book "Mommie Dearest".

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning when Charles takes Helen home after the party they are in the car arguing. In the majority of the shots, Helen's fur wrap is low on her shoulders with her shoulders and necklace showing. In one shot it is way up around her neck covering everything. Then, it is back to the more revealing position after that.

Quotes:

Brian:It won't happen again.
Judge Ephriam:Yeah, I'll bet. Bail is set at $5,000 for Mrs. McCarter, property of cash. But as for you, Madea, I'm placing you under house arrest!
Madea:You ain't gonna put me on no house arrest, honey. I ain't gonna deal with that!
Judge Ephriam:It's either that or prison! What's your choice?
Madea:[convinced] I'll take the house arrest.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "South Park: Funnybot (#15.2)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

No Parking (On the Dance Floor)

Mad about "Mad"

First of all, let me lay my cards on the table. (Poker, anyone?) I am white, male, nonchristian, over 40, college-educated, and live in the northeast. I'm old enough to remember the original "Diary of a Mad Housewife" and when "Miss Jane Pittman" first aired, and I have done the electric slide, lived in the south (never been to Atlanta, but love Georgia), and have attended barbecues--but know very little about the "chitlin circuit." Yet I (and the two white friends I went with) loved this movie!

As I see it, people who have witnessed this movie can be divided into two camps: 1) reviewers (probably mostly white) who disliked the movie even when they tried to like it and 2) ordinary people (mostly probably black, as many tell us) who loved it. So why do many apparently white viewers not "get it"? Why did I see it in my mostly white area with only about five other people in the audience?

Well, a lot of people didn't like "Showgirls" or "Carwash" or "Lonely Lady" when they first came out, and now those are cult hits, even "classics." "Diary" is only like those movies in that it is similarly over-the-top, unapologetic, irony-free, awkward, amateurish (that is, not slick), and yet so intrinsically watchable you can't take your eyes of the screen for a split second. I must admit that I probably laughed at some "inappropriate" moments, but then so did Madea. The whole faith-based initiative Christian-values quasi-Republican "message" might have made me wince or even gag in another context, but is delivered so sincerely here you can't help but forgive just as Jesus (or Helen!) would.

One could only call this movie operatic or "Shakespearian." Wait--I'm not trying to sound pretentious, only trying to point out that like Shakespeare this movie mixes high melodrama with "low" comedic relief, music, and spectacle. The comic actors comment upon and undercut the ultra-seriousness or piety of the rest of the story--and so we can only enjoy it more when the plot rides another twist on its emotional roller-coaster.

Tyler Perry is obviously a man with a vision--he doesn't have the finesse of Eddie Murphy, perhaps, but I admit I was halfway through the movie before I realized he was playing both Madea and old Joe AND Brian. My fear is now that he will be sucked in by Hollywood, the executives will convince him to deliver what they think white people want or "need," and he will lose his rough but raucous magic. So when Hollywood comes knocking, please don't answer, Mr. Perry!

When I went into this movie I was grumbling that ticket prices had gone up to ten dollars, but since we are given about five films for the price of one, I consider it a very good deal. It is simply one of the most astonishing movies I've ever seen.