MulattaAries2007 Reviews

Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty (2003 TV Movie)

American Beauty

[10/10 · 2 September 2007]

I think those tributes to Dorothy Dandridge throughout the documentary were wonderful. Just because they weren't done to suit others' particular needs doesn't mean it wasn't well or anyone couldn't enjoy it. I'll even go as far as to say it's about time Hollywood acknowledge and pay tribute to a black star anyway. It may have not been my way of doing it, but I can't get mad because something was made about her, and mad because it wasn't the way I wanted it. Also for those who didn't know her, it gave them an insight to who she was, what she did, and the prices she paid for stardom.

If someone else can do it better than this and the other played on A&E years ago, be my guest to go on a head and do it, but to criticize someone else's hard work because it wasn't up to your expectations or what you know, then do it yourself. Yet, you cannot please everybody.

P.S. As for Halle Berry playing Dorothy Dandridge in the TV made movie, who else would have gone to such lengths to bring Dorothy's life to the big screen? Many directors weren't even the least bit interested in doing a movie based on the life of a black actress, so it good to say that someone wanted to do it. I was satisfied seeing some black actress wanting to pay a tribute to another who paved the way for actors/actress now.

The Feast of All Saints (2001 TV Movie)

Not a bad movie in perspective

[8/10 · 21 June 2007]

I've bought, " The Feast of All Saints," and it's not truly a horrible movie, but a lot of things could have been better. It had a lot of historical value, played out by very talented actress/actors, and it's not an everyday occurrence that actors can play out such a role and have it be somewhat believable. There were some parts that were a little mediocre and confusing, but I wouldn't say that the entire movie was horrible. Once you think about that, capturing 1800's New Orleans, and making something out of it, it pretty hard, and much harder to get actors who can strongly signify those parts. But the only big problem I had with the movie was that most of the actors who did play the free people of color, were mostly light skinned Africans, not very universal in casting others who weren't light skinned; one of the old Creole stereotypes that still exists. Whomever did the casting could have picked a wider variety when it came to hue, despite many Creoles are color conscious.Rather picking actors that looked near white in a sense, could have been more thought out.The actors did a great job, the script could have better written, and overall I found the performances were very believable.

Carmen Jones (1954)

Dorothy Dandridge as Carmen

[10/10 · 29 May 2007]

I find Dandridge's performance wonderful. She took the screen away and presented Carmen Jones to a T. If it wasn't for her performance, the bar wouldn't have been set for the 1st Black woman nominated for an Academy Award as best actress. That's history and was made by a robust woman. Dorothy Dandridge did an extraordinary job and reached a whole new height that no other African American had went before. She convinced me that she was in fact the tempetuous femme fetale, Carmen Jones. I've noticed that some are racist and think that a black cast should not have been made and to leave it to the Spainards, well here is a news flash, there is always someone bigger and badder, that can do it better.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999 TV Movie)

Halle Berry's performance was wonderful

[10/10 · 28 May 2007]

I've been a fan of Dorothy Dandridge for years and when I saw that Halle Berry brought her life to the big screen, her performance was very credible. If someone other than Halle would have done that part, the movie wouldn't have been as great as it was. It takes a hell of a lot of talent to pull off someone else's life and that couldn't have been very many actress in Hollywood. So, any old' actress wouldn't have done the job that Halle did. There were some aspects of Dorothy's life that weren't covered, but those weren't as important as the one's capture in the movie. When I saw Halle Berry playing Dorothy Dandridge, it was like I was seeing the real thing, because Halle Berry was very convincible. Plus, I see Halle and Dorothy Dandridge having a lot in common within their lives, and what Halle gave off wasn't anything rinky-dink, but the real thing. And it gives others who knew nothing about Dorothy Dandridge an insight on her life. Of course there were going to be things left out, of course there were going to things exaggerated, it wasn't going to be perfect, if you want to know how Dorothy was in temperament, read books on her, because those are where the real information comes from. Movies don't always tell everything, but Halle's performance wasn't based on looks, but how she gave off the image of Dorothy Dandridge on screen. So, Halle Berry did work hard to that story to life, and her I found it amazing that she went to such lengths and did it.