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All Flixster 3.5 Stars (1957) Want To See 818 Not Interested 4336
Female 3.5 Stars (1478) Want To See 618 Not Interested 3275
Male 3.0 Stars (479) Want To See 200 Not Interested 1061

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Plot: This layered film, a labor of love from director Jonathan Demme and star Oprah Winfrey, covers a lot of turf in its nearly three-hour running time. Part slavery fable, part mother-daughter tale, part ...( read more read more... )ghost story, Beloved demands an audience's full attention from its dramatic, slightly bewildering opening, when a family dog comes down on the wrong side of some angry, unseen force. But Demme and his talented cast provide an unforgettable payoff for those who surrender.

The film traces the life of Sethe (played in her middle years by Winfrey), a former slave who has rebuilt what seems to be a peaceful, productive life in Ohio. Yet through chilling, sparing use of flashback, Demme slowly unveils, as does the Toni Morrison masterpiece on which the film is based, the horrors of Sethe's former life, and the terrible event that led to the haunting of Sethe's home.

While the horrors of slavery and the bloody event in Sethe's family leave undeniable impressions, the film's brilliance is also evidenced in smaller, equally satisfying ways. Rachel Portman's spiritual-influenced score is as uplifting as it is haunting, and the glimpses of the post-slavery African American world--as with a simple family outing to a local carnival, or a ladies' sewing-and-gospel circle--make this a treat for the intellect as well as the heart. The members of the cast, especially Kimberly Elise as Sethe's struggling daughter and Thandie Newton as the mysterious title character, are supremely affecting. --Anne Hurley

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Recent Reviews

  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 25, 2008
    I've always been fond of mixing horror with other genres, especially when these genres are pushed to their limit. This and more make "Beloved" one of my absolute favorites of all time: heavy drama, deep character study and, Jeez, a freakin' nightmare. If you haven't read the Morrison novel and watch it without knowing a thing about it, it'll compromise your sleep. I never understood why it wasn't a hit, but what the heck, taste can be an elusive thing.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 21, 2008
    u would have to be black to understand this movie and why it effects me














    the best movie ever next to the color puple
  • Not Interested
    MCT:
    August 12, 2008
    Omg how bad is this movie i was watching this with my sister in law and none of us got it till the end it didnt make sence all the way through the movie lol soooooo sooooo BAD
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 3, 2008
    I don't think this film would have left any impression on me had I not read and enjoyed the novel beforehand. A lot of things are glossed over in the movie, which is amazing considering it's 3 hour runtime. I'm sure it must seem disjointed at parts to those who aren't familiar with Morrison's book.

    I was a bit bugged with Thandie Newton's portrayal of Beloved, which seemed somewhere between ghoul and mental retardation. When reading the book, I got a kind of quiet, unassuming scheming figure with a hint of dignity in there. Maybe I was wrong. Whoops.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    March 17, 2008
    I think this movie was greatly underated partly because of Oprah's involvment, but she does another amazing job at acting and the film is beautifully shot and it's a story that will first touch and then break your heart. Jonathan Demme did an amazing job, powerful stuff.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    February 27, 2008
    Fascinating movie that speaks to the slave experience... a bit creepy sometimes but it complements the novel well. Good acting from Oprah, not to mention Tandie superb!...I can't begin to imagine how hard it must have been to play that role.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    February 21, 2008
    I love Oprah and everything she does but this movie was plain weird. Other than that the acting is the best I've ever seen
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 10, 2008
    Flixster - Share Movies


    Sethe is a woman of elemental grace and unspoken mystery. A figure of fierce determination, Sethe is a runaway slave struggling to carve out her own simple existence with her children in rural Ohio, 1873. Preventing her from achieving that, however, is the painful legacy of her former life, and the desperate measures to which she is driven to keep herself and her family from returning to it. Paul D is an old friend who comes to visit Sethe and whose understanding is tested by her household's shattering secrets. Denver is Sethe's daughter, an embattled young woman who must free herself from the crippling grasp that her mother's choices have on her. And the mysterious young woman who calls herslf Beloved, grows to become part of Sethe's family--her devastating presence threatens to destroy the delicate balance of Sethe and Denver's existence.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 12, 2007
    WEIRD. I can't believe I actually watched this movie. I can't believe Oprah showed that many different kinds of body fluid in one film!
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 12, 2007
    I was half asleep when i saw this, its a wierd movie, and its a wierd book, good nonetheless though.
  • 0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    August 3, 2007
    Survival Tip: If you ever find yourself trapped in a room, forced to watch this 3 hour piece of shit. Just make a game of how many cars are driving by and how many times the Boom Mic wanders into frame. ... I seriously doubt anyone associated with the production of this film actually watched it prior to it's release. Frankly I don't blame them.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 26, 2007
    This movie was dark. Thandie Newton was incredible. The acting all around was great. Nothing like a good old fashion ghost story.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 15, 2007
    A near brilliant movie, albeit difficult to watch, all aspects of the production are first rate, and the acting is brilliant, the story masterfully told. It was a tad long, and some of the scene's of brutality to the slaves in the movie are quite disturbing, but a must see movie for true movie lovers willing to sink their teeth into this tale!
  • 0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 9, 2007
    Nic Balthazar had me weer goed liggen vanavond: drie uur cinematografische marteling. Ik hield het eigenlijk al na één uur voor bekeken, maar ?iets? vertelde me dat alles nog goed ging komen. Niet dus? Korte pijn dan maar, want ik ben er helemaal suf van geworden.

    In de hoofdrol zien we Oprah Winfrey (van de show ;-) die worstelt met haar grimmige verleden als katoenslavin. Ze vermoordde eigenhandig haar kinderen om ze uit de handen van de slavendrijvers te houden. De geest van haar dochtertje vond echter nooit rust, en houdt zich nu bezig met klassieke herschikkingswerken in huis: vliegende tafels, daverende grondvesten, wapperende luiken, ? Tot ze beslist om haar moeder als vleesgeworden kwelling te teisteren.

    Beloved is een misvormde kruising tussen ?De hut van oom Tom? en ?The Exorcist?. Er is helemaal niks mis met de casting, noch met de donkere en stijlvolle sfeer van de film. Het verhaal is gewoon te breed uitgesmeerd, mist de nodige energie en kent geen duidelijke richting. Hard to sit through.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 7, 2007
    Wonderfully acted and amazingly haunting. A story for all actors to enjoy and learn a thing or two from.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 15, 2007
    For me this movie was a three hour practice in emotional abuse. I found it confusing and too convoluted. I'll admit the acting was great and the story was gripping, but it was extremely sad and after three hours all that sadness was exhausting, and I went away feeling unpleasant...I had a hard time getting through it and ultimately the only thing happy about the ending is that it is over.
  • 0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 15, 2007
    Artsy fartsy bullshit. If you didn't read the book ahead of time, you'd have one hell of a time knowing just what in the world was going on.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 13, 2007
    I loved the concept of this movie and was surprised at Oprah's adaptation. She was wonderful. I could have lived without seeing Danny Glovers ass but you know.........This movie did the book justice as well.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 31, 2007
    I read this gripping tale by Toni Morrison, it was heart wrenching and unforgettable, and the movie follows the book well. Don't recommend for kids.
  • 0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    April 24, 2007
    I had hoped this would be a good movie but it was AWEFUL, it made me wish i had never seen it, I LOVE Danny most of the time but this was beyond bad in my opinion
  • 1.0 Star
    MCT:
    April 21, 2007
    was a load a crap. just oprah trying to be arty and not pulling it off!
    *spoilers* the whole 'they milked me' again and again got old fast, with a better actor, and director they may hove pulled me in and got me feeling sympathetic for her, but not in this movie!!
    looks like a movie that was translated from a play to a movie, directly. and was just badly done!

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Comments

  • GoodPossum
    Site for Beloved (1998)

    THIS REVIEW IS A SPOILER
    YOU MAY WANT TO SEE THE FILM FIRST.


    http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/beloved.htm
    posted 241 days ago

Details

  • Rated: (R)
  • Directed by: Jonathan Demme
  • Genres: Drama
  • Released: October 16, 1998
  • DVD Released: May 18, 1999

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