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I was a bit doubtful going into it --it sounded so over-the-top that I expected just a straight tearjerking melodrama. But it's actually one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's definitely an intense, emotional and often grueling watching experience, but it's also liberally leavened with moments of fantasy, humor and hope. It comes across as very real and almost too believable.
The cast was uniformly excellent, with celebrities Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz disappearing seamlessly into their characters. But Mo'Nique was the real shocker. Comedians often shine with darker material, and Mo'Nique delivers a truly Oscar worthy villain, a character that manages to stay recognizably human while behaving in inhumanely monstrous ways.
The film's star also deserves all the praise she has received, delivering a performance so vivid that it's hard to remember she's an actress portraying a character rather than someone actually experiencing the events she depicts.
I also think it's an important film in several ways. Not only does it tell a story that isn't often seen on the silver screen, it also reminded me how important it is to keep reaching out to children from troubled backgrounds --that as thankless and inadequate as such efforts are, they can still be a lifeline for someone who needs one.
Anyway, it's at the Drexel East. Go see it.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.