Dgoldyn Reviews

Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Diary of a Mad Moviegoer

[1/10 · 29 October 2005]

This movie is a mess. It can't make up it's mind if its a comedy, a drama, a dramady, a morality play or a farce. The characters are one dimensional; all characters are either all good or all bad. Nothing in between. There is no subtlety to this movie or colors of emotion. It is lacking in verisimilitude. The over the top performances of the grandmother and grandfather knock you out of the reality of the story. You can't have it both ways.

The music is annoying, manipulative and intrusive. I can't help rolling my eyes and yelling oh brother as it underscore emotional changes and epiphanies. Again no subtlety.

The love interest is so good; he is always talking about love. The wife is so good and kind and hurt. The husband so mean and hateful. People have good and bad in life; they are not all one way. This movie insists that people are one or the other. This takes us back to melodramatic morality plays of the middle ages.

Tyler Perry rips off Eddie Murphy by playing multiple roles that aren't nearly as funny as Murphy's. He even rips off the fart jokes of the elderly black man.

There is not one iota of cleverness or originality in this infuriating mess of a movie. This movie insults the intelligence of every moviegoer.

Positives: it was great seeing Cicely Tyson again and Judge Mablean's cameo was fun. Overall, a colossal waste of time.

Holiday Heart (2000 TV Movie)

The story of the drag queen with a heart of gold packs an emotional wallop.

[8/10 · 24 June 2003]

Caught this movie on the Black Entertainment Network while

flipping channels. It was a pleasant surprise!!! Entertaining! Funny

and heart tugging all at once.

When a young girl cries for help for her mom who is being beaten

up by her boyfriend, the only one to help is a drag queen--Holiday

Heart-- who packs a punch. He befriends the duo taking them to

his home and they become a family in spite of their differences.

All is well until another man comes along putting a rift between the

mother and Holiday. Then Drugs pull the mom away from the

family.

I found Holiday;s need for a family heartbreaking and truthful--and

it was an incredible portrayal. Also great are Alfre Woodward and

the young girl.

There are a couple of holes in the plot but this story of a drag

queen with a heart of gold really packs an emotional wallop. What

a sleeper. Highly recommended

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Big fat belly laughs and tears!

[10/10 · 3 June 2002]

I love movies that make me laugh and cry. This one does.

When Tula, a 30 ish frumpy Greek Girl realizes her future is more

of the same as a spinster frumpy Greek Girl, she prettifies herself,

makes changes in her career and faster than you can say

"Yasou"--- finds the Wasp of her dreams. But her overbearing

Greek family doesn't approve.

I found myself shamelessly routing for the frumpy Cinderella

Greek Girl (played to perfection by author actress Nia Vardalos) as it plays into our romantic fantasies. Belly laughs abound

especially-as is the customs of Greeks-to spit on the bride as she

walks down the aisle much to the chagrin of the Waspy Inlaws.

Zwick knows how to pace the action seemlessly. Hysterical

performances by Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan and Andrea

Martin. You don't see the laughs coming. Yes it's a tad old

fashioned but so is "romeo and juliet." See this movie

Bette (2000–2001)

Too too much!

[13 March 2002]

I really like Bette Midler. I was excited that she was going to have a tv series. But........

Every episode had Bette coming on like gangbusters claiming "i'm a diva, aren't I too much! Then her husband would come out and claim, "Bette your too much." Folllowed by Joanna Gleason, the gay personal assisant, her daughter and assorted guest stars claiming, "Bette calm down, you're too much." How can any other character be happy with lines like this!

Then Bette would be too much. No one else was allowed to be funny -or have a joke. It was as if the writers were afraid to develop others characters or God forbid--throw them a joke. I wish stars who go on tv wouldn't be afraid of being an ensemble. Only ensemble shows survive. Rosanne had one! Mary Tyler Moore had one. The Golden Girls had one! Hopefullly Bette learned to save her divaism for her concerts. Sit-Coms don't work that way.

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

Interesting Sci Flick. Great Performances.

[8/10 · 13 March 2002]

I'm not a sci-fi fan but this one took me by surprise. Wow! The cinematography, direction, art direction are quite amazing. I never heard of this flick and I rented it on a whim because a friend of mine had a small part in it.

Creating the world of the thirties, the future and now was quite amazing by the art director. The feel of each of these times and places was wonderfully captured by the director and cinematographer. What a thrill to see Wilshire Boulevard circa 1937. It's grown a bit since then. Also great were performances by Craig Bierko--who is always good (First found him when he stole the movie Sour Grapes from everyone around him) Gretchen Mol and Vincent Donofrio.

This movies asks the question--what if we are all computer simulations? And nothing is real. Who is controlling the computer? Who really is the puppet master or God. And if we are all simulated, is love real?

Really fine well done flick. See it.

Gypsy (1993 TV Movie)

Bette Sleep walks through Gypsy.

[5/10 · 13 March 2002]

Bette, a talented performer and actress --(see the Rose, See Beaches) decides she doesn't have to act or do any character work at all and merely prances about playing herself ruining what could have been a perfect opportunity to shine.

Bette please stop being lazy and resting on your laurels; a fault which many stars and actresses fall into in their later careers and go back to square one and do your acting homework. See the Roz Russell Version. One merely needs to compare any scene and the difference is obvious.