Beloved (1998)

Based on the book by Toni Morrison, in which a slave is visited by the spirit of a mysterious young woman

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers:

Toni Morrison (novel), Akosua Busia (screenplay)

Stars:

Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Yada Beener

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yada Beener	...	Denver aged 9
Emil Pinnock	...	Howard aged 14
Calen Johnson	...	Buglar aged 13
Oprah Winfrey	...	Sethe
Beah Richards	...	Baby Suggs
Danny Glover	...	Paul D
Kimberly Elise	...	Denver
Jude Ciccolella	...	Schoolteacher
Kessia Embry	...	Amy Denver (as Kessia Kordelle)
Dashiell Eaves	...	Schoolteacher's Nephew
LisaGay Hamilton	...	Younger Sethe (as Lisa Gay Hamilton)
Tyler Hinson	...	Baby Beloved
Brian Hooks	...	Young Paul D
Hill Harper	...	Halle
Thandie Newton	...	Beloved

Storyline

A couple allows a strange, autistic person to come in their house. She causes problems for the couple and reminds the woman of her previous daughter. Nonetheless, the couple takes her in and treats her well. Through Voodoo, she releases her spirits. Meanwhile, their remaining daughter tries to find work.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | movie flop | spirit | farm | freedom | 

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Taglines:

The past has a life of its own.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images, sexuality and nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jonathan Demme presented an honorary Oscar to his mentor Roger Corman, he revealed that the Jason Robards role in Beloved (1998) had been originally cast to be played by Corman, but when Corman discovered the role had no lines, "a scheduling conflict ensued and he withdrew from the part with apologies."

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Goofs

In the scene with a deer in the field, a car is visible driving by in the upper right hand corner.

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Quotes

Baby Suggs: No matter what happen, God has led you home. So lay em' down Sethe, sword and shield. For God has led you home.

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Crazy Credits

In lieu of traditional opening credits, the movie begins with the camera moving through a cemetery to focus on a gravestone engraved with the sole word "BELOVED".

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Connections

Referenced in The Salon (2005)

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Soundtracks

Little Rice, Little Bean
Written by Toni Morrison & Rachel Portman
Performed by Danny Glover

User Reviews

A Fair Film

Beloved the movie seeks to rival Beloved the novel in telling the African-American story. While it could not attempt to capture all of the richness of Morrison's great novel, it does do what it can in the constraints of a feature movie. The performances are phenomenal, and any Oscar nominations will be well deserved. The Ohio/Kentucky background takes one's breath away and the movie really does grip its viewer during key scenes

However, Morrison's non-linear style did not translate as well on the big screen and the flashbacks are truly confusing at points. Moreover, the movie has about three natural climaxes which heighten the viewer's awareness of the length of the movie.

All told, it is a good movie, but it is not a must-see movie, nor will it have the cultural impact Oprah intended.

(As for no likeable white characters which some posts have charged, first Mr. Baldwin is a likeable white person. Second, in a post-slavery society of Ohio/Kentucky, why do there have to be any good whites in this narrow world? Oh yeah, don't be mad at Oprah for that--Morrison didn't include any in her book either)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beloved

Filming Locations:

Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve, Mason County, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,165,551, 18 October 1998

Gross USA:

$22,852,487

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,852,487

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harpo Films, Clinica Estetico, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

172 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1