Monday, November 3, 2008

The Secret Life of Bees


This movie was such an unexpected treasure. I went into it with next to no idea of what it was about, which is fun to do sometimes. I knew it was based on a pretty popular book, and I'd read the little synopsis on fandango, but that was it. I knew who was in it, though, and that made me want to see it: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Paul Bettany, and Jennifer Hudson.

For those of you like me who haven't read the book, it's about a young teenage girl named Lily (Fanning) in 1964 South Carolina who is haunted by fuzzy memories of her mother's death ten years earlier. With only a few items of her mother's as clues to guide her, she runs away to a town called Tiburon with her nanny (Hudson) in search of answers, leaving her abusive father (Bettany) behind, furious and determined to find her and bring her back. Upon arriving in Tiburon, she is led to three bee-keeping sisters (Latifah, Keys and Sophie Okonedo) who take her in and begin to teach her the trade of honey-making. Over time, Lily learns about love, family, and the truth about her mother's past.

Dakota Fanning has always been an amazing actress for someone so young. I was mesmerized by her skills back in 2001 watching I Am Sam, when she was 7. Now she's 14, and has somehow managed to avoid the awkward, not-so-attractive pubescent phase. Although she looked pale and sickly the entire movie, she was still easy on the eyes, not painful to watch at all (unlike Haley Joel Osment screeching his way through Secondhand Lions.) She will only get better with time. (And hopefully steer clear of the Child Actors Hall of Shame, otherwise known as rehab.)

Queen Latifah is just, well, awesome. I love her. She is so classy and real and I could sit and watch her read the phone book. Jennifer Hudson was great as a proud but scared black woman who just wants her place in the world, and Sophie Okonedo played an emotionally unstable but lovable sweetheart really well. (I still can't look at her without seeing the Watchati Princess who bears her upper half to Ace Ventura, though.) Paul Bettany, who I've loved since A Beautiful Mind, swaps his British accent here for a southern one and is actually believable doing so. It was hard watching him as a complete loser, but that just proves what a great actor he is. And Alicia Keys...she was who I was most curious to see, never having seen her act before. I've always been a big fan of her music, and I think she is go-geous (plus she has the coolest name on the planet). She didn't let me down. She played the very proud, very put-together, very stick-up-her-you-know-what sister perfectly.

I fell in love with this movie because there was no fluff. It was real, it was powerful, it was gritty at times...it made me well up in several parts and I don't cry at movies. It dealt with racism, broken families, abuse, and first loves, to name a few. I saw it with my husband and thought for sure he would have thought it was girly and sappy, but he loved it. He is still talking about the "bee" movie, which throws me off every time because I always think he's randomly bringing up the animated "Bee Movie."

And other than a few swear words, there really wasn't anything in it that shouldn't have been. I will definitely be owning this one, and now I have to add the book to my mile-long list of books to read.

*Go here for a look at this movie through the eyes of someone (my cousin Noelle) who also lost their mother at a very young age. It has a bit more spoilers than mine, but is so worth the read.

10 comments:

Shayla said...

Glad to see your review on this one. I read the book, but for some reason the movie didn't seem that interesting to me. Now I'll have to see it. I can't believe you got Bill to watch it with you. One look at the cover of that movie and Nate would have been running for the hills. :-)

Jodi said...

Sounds like a great movie. Now, do you feel like it's movie to rent or to watch in the theater?

{ bRee } said...

When I saw the preview for this I thought it looked really good, but one really never knows. I am glad you saw and reviewed this!

..of course I could say that the fact that you actually PAID MONEY to see HSM3 would make me not ever go on your Movie Blog again, buuuut I won't! hee hee!

Would you believe me a closet HSM freak?

Noelle said...

i just saw this movie last night and you will have to go on my blog to read about what i thought about it......

meohmyers said...

We almost went and saw this on Saturday night but since it was Jeff's birthday, he got the last word and it was ixnay on the bee movie. Shoot! Would you see it again as a GNO? We've got lots of those lining up you know!

Alicia said...

I know!! When are we going to go? We are so overdue. I would so see this again.

andrea said...

That's so funny, I was opposite of Shayla. The book was so-so to me, but when I saw the trailer for the movie I really wanted to see it! Thanks for the review, I will be seeing this!

Marilyn said...

I have been anxiously awaiting your review...and it did not disappoint. I totally agree with your points and was especially impressed with Bettany's evil-ness. He was so convincing.

If I hadn't been sitting next to you who was so composed and stoic, I would have been bawling like the ladies in front of us. I told Brandon I was seriously holding back the sobs.

Amy J. said...

I thought the book was good but not great but that was so long ago. I am really surprised it took Hollywood so long to do this movie. I've been thinking about reading the book again but John and I will have to see the movie. He hates chick flicks but loves movies with "life and heart" like you have described here. Oh and I too love Queen Latifah...after trying on about 30+ bras (seriously) her brand fit the BEST and I absolutlely love it!

Busy Bee Lauren said...

I am going to go see it tonight! Thanks for the review, girl!