Saturday, October 01, 2005

Diary of a Mad Black Woman **

I went to Florida in August, and one thing most people don't think about is that you have to find something to do from noon to 4pm as it is just too hot to be outside. This became our movie break. This title suggested it would be light hearted fare, and we weren't disappointed. It starts out with an attorney receiving an award as "Lawyer of the Year," and when he drives home you can see that he is a gazillionaire, his house is bigger than The Queen's. He wants to call it quits with his wife, in the style we call "what's her's is mine and what's mine is mine." With her few possessions in a U-haul she goes to the family matriarch, Madea, for help. Madea, a no nonsense strong black woman is played by Tyler Perry in drag, and looking closely you will see his face show up as a couple of other characters. The woefull gal is welcomed home Madea style.
Now the "Mad Black Woman" is the lady whose husband dumped her, but it is MADea, who steals the show. Without her wit and wisdom this movie is a 90minute soap opera.
It was a few laughs in the heat of the day, but I would prefer "MadTV."

Green Butcher *½

I haven't watched many movies in the past month. I was going to spend the afternoon in bed, nursing a sinus infection, and I recall "laughter is the best medicine." This is a Danish comedy, or that was the intent. It is a very dark comedy about 2 employees of a local butcher who decide they would like to open their own store. Like all employees, they know how to do it better and should be rewarded for their knowledge. Both men have emotional baggage and lots of it. I kept waiting for the laughs. Maybe a few Tuborg's are required to yuk it up.
The cinematography is stunning, lots of overhead angles. The plot left me wanting more, a lot more. If you want to hear Danish spoken for 2 hours and a bit of village life, this is the movie for you. I can't recommend it... it wasn't the medicine I was hoping for.