The Secret Life of Bee's Movie Review

My mother in law had the wonderful suggestion last night that my mother and I join her for a ladies night out to take in a movie. She had a movie in mind, The Secret Life of Bee's. "T" (my MIL) had read the book and told me that she thought I would love both the book and the movie. I have a tremendous love for southern set novels and movie's. This one was dead on.
The adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel ,"The Secret Life of Bees", stars Dakota Fanning as Lily, a fourteen-year-old growing up in a small southern town in 1964. She is haunted by memories of shooting & killing her mother when she was a toddler. She's been told her whole life that she killed her mother when she was 4. Lily lives with her emotionally distant and sometime violent father, played by Paul Bettany in a haunting performance.

Lily's best and only friend is their African-American housekeeper (Jennifer Hudson)RosaLeen. On the day the Civil Rights Act is signed into law, she accompanies Rosaleen into town so Rosaleen can register to vote. After local townfolks (who happen to be down right racist people) beat Rosaleen for attempting to register as a voter, and Lily's Dad has one to many violent arguments and emotional disconnects with Lily, she and the housekeeper set out to find the place written on the back of an image of a black Madonna among her mother's things. . That place turns out to be the home of the independent Boatwright sisters, a trio - Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys - who make a living producing honey.

There life is one of which was not the norm in the 60's. African American women living in a well to do house running a successful business. It's a home that is idyllic and self-sufficient and hidden from the world. It is a place that Lily says she needs to be...and will decide why after moving in with them. Lily soon learns about beekeeping, the black Madonna, life, hardship, struggle, and the power of freedom, strength and acceptance.

I was blown away at the performances of the ensemble cast. Each was expansive, convincing, inspirational and positively poetic in both the life in the 60's and the gut wrenching scenes. I was impressed at Fannings scenes which her well seasoned so early acting skills shined.

Of note is that the executive producer of the film was Jada Pinkett Smith and the producer Will Smith.
My MIL was right, I LOVED the film. LOVED. It was one of the best movies I have seen in some time. So good, the book was bought on my way home.
Bring a box of tissues. You will need them.


The Secret Life of Bees
Opened October 17, 2008 Runtime:1 hr. 50 min.
PG-13
thematic material and some violence
Haunted by memories of her late mother, 14-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) runs away with her friend and caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to the South Carolina town that holds the key to her mother's past. There, Lily meets the Boatwright sisters (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo), who take her in and teach her about beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.
Cast:
Dakota Fanning - Lily Owens
Jennifer Hudson - Rosaleen Daise
Queen Latifah - August Boatwright
Sophie Okonedo - May Boatwright
Alicia Keys - June Boatwright
Paul Bettany - T. Ray Owens
Tristan Wilds - Zachary Taylor
Hilarie Burton - Deborah Owens
Nate Parker - Neil
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Genres: Period Film, Drama, Coming-of-Age

Cheaper by the Dozen

Saturday I finally did what I have been saying I was going to do. I went to see a good friend of mine, Richard Scott, perform at South City Theater. My family circus took in the performance of Cheaper by the Dozen, based on the 1946 book by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey that tells the story of Time and motion study and efficiency experts Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and their twelve children.

My friend Richard played the part of Frank Gilbreth, and he did it with brilliance. I was completley absorbed into the play and actually forgot that Richard was a friend of mine. I looked at him as his character, Frank. And that, my friends, is what good acting is about. Sister Sledge and Bama also knew some of the cast (though we didn't know they were also a part of the production until we got there). Jenna, Sledge's friend, played the youngest Gilbreth in the film. And Taylor, played the eldest son. Taylor is also Richard's son. Talent is indeed in that family bloodline.All of the actors were very convincing in their rolls.

Cheaper by the Dozen was performed to a packed house. We actually purchased our tickets at the door and were happy to find some remaining. We sat in the last row, but it is theater seating, so there was not a bad seat in the house. And guess what! Guess who sat directly in front of us.....none other than Deedra (author of the blog,"The Abundant Lakeridge Life") and her family. I was so happy to see her and have a few moments before the performance started as well as intermission to get to chat with her. She is such a dear person. I always am happy to see Dee.

South City Theater was a first for our family. We do plan on going back.

(Big Daddy, Bama, Richard and Leigh)