Amazon.com

Few movies are made with the personal fervor of Diary of a Mad Black Woman. When Helen (Kimberly Elise, Beloved) is literally thrown out of her house by her callous lawyer husband (Steve Harris), her sense of self unravels. She finds herself on the doorstep of her gun-toting grandmother Madea (cross-dressed Tyler Perry), who sets Helen on the road to dignity and forgiveness--with a few detours along the way. The plot of Diary of a Mad Black Woman unfolds in a dizzying melange of styles, from soap opera to campy comedy to chick-flick romance to gothic revenge to inspirational tale of redemption. Perry, like Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor, plays multiple roles in a family, two of which are over-the-top scenery-chewers while the other is a sincere, generous family man with a drug-addicted wife. This everything-including-the-kitchen-sink approach reflects the play's origins; Perry adapted the screenplay from his enormously popular gospel play, a genre of melodrama featuring extreme emotional drama and whiplash inducing plot turns. Some viewers will clutch this movie to their breast as a cinematic feast; others will see it as so schizophrenic it borders on the surreal. But either way, Elise's charismatic performance will keep you engaged throughout. Also featuring Cicely Tyson (Sounder), Shemar Moore (The Brothers), and Judge Mablean Ephriam (Divorce Court). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (47)

I love Tyler Perry
TYler Perry is so funny...This moving had me laughing from the beginning to the end...I have all of his plays on DVD.....Tyler is the best.........

Touching, Entertaining and Sweet
I went to see this movie the first weekend that it came out, and I wasn't disappointed at all; I saw the original play, and wasn't greatly impressed with it, but seeing the movie, I enjoyed it very well. Kimberly Elise and Shemar Moore gave great performances; Of course, Tyler Perry playing three roles simultaneously was just as good and I applaud him; Cicely Tyson, of course, gave a gem of a performance helping her daughter become more stronger even though she herself has been wronged; I have heard the good and the bad about this movie; I have heard that Madea is just another stereotypical role model that we need to get away from; But let's be honest, how many of us can attest to a Madea in our family? or at least pieces of such a woman? This was one movie that sex and profanity wasn't splashed forward and yet, the critics bashed it; Yet, I found it a good movie, and can all of us who supported Mr Perry opening weekend be wrong? I don't think so; Look forward to the DVD.

GREAT PLAY AND MOVIE!
I LOVED THE MOVIE!
I LOVED THE PLAY!
THE END WAS TOUCHING!
5 star movie *****
I LOVE TYLER PERRY!

Yes it did Show in 73501
This is a definite buy. I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the play and the movie. I have the play, must get the movie. I have all of Tyler Perry's video's except the Brown's and I'll remedy that next month at movie buying time. I would like this in my wish list. I'll probably get it though, before it's offered.

Excellent movie from start to end !!!
I applaud the earlier reviewer, Ramsess Gray from Fayetteville, NC.Thank you for standing up to all the other so-called critics who trashed this movie.I thought this was an excellent movie from beginning to end.In his big-screen debut, Tyler Perry delivered big-time, no questions asked.Darren Grant, Mr. Perry, Kimberly Elise, Shemar Moore and the rest of the cast were second-to-none in my opinion.I loved each of the characters Mr. Perry played himself, especially gun-toting Grandma.She was funny & very entertaining throughout.As far as best picture and/or any awards are concerned, I think Mr. Perry should have as good a chance as anyone to win an award in some category(ies).Also, in my opinion, Kimberly Elise should win something for her role.And for that matter so should Darren Grant & Shemar Moore.But that's only my opinion. The movie was very entertaining and it had all the qualities you could ask for in a movie.It made you laugh. It made you cry. It made you happy. It made you sad & it made you proud, all in about 2 hours time.I'm sure this movie is not and will not be for everyone.We all have different tastes.All I can really say is "watch the movie for what it is", and that's entertainment at it's best.

Larry ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dorothy Dandridge was a Hollywood trailblazer. A confident sex symbol in the 1950s, she was the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, but the electrifying stage chanteuse and dancer was forbidden to even enter the nightclubs and show rooms she performed in except from the stage. As portrayed by Halle Berry, who shepherded Dandridge's story to the screen, Dandridge is a sure, insistent star who battled racist studios and Jim Crow laws to maintain her dignity in public while stumbling through a private life marked by bad relationships and abusive lovers. Berry gives her best performance to date, brimming with ambition and moxie offstage, charming audiences with the slinky, sure moves of a nightclub veteran onstage, and convincingly "becoming" Dandridge in dramatic re-creations from Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) is sweet and sympathetic as her supportive, lovesick manager, and Klaus Maria Brandauer is, in Dandridge's words, a "big old bulldog" as director Otto Preminger. Director Martha Coolidge balances private troubles with professional milestones and setbacks and pulls no punches showing the institutional racism of late 1950s Las Vegas or the brutality of a vicious alcoholic husband. Originally made for HBO, this drama lacks the big-budget spectacle of traditional Hollywood biographies but offers in its place sharp writing, intelligent direction, and strong, sensitive performances. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (26)

The powerful story of a groundbreaking artist
"Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," directed by Martha Coolidge, tells the story of the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Halle Berry turns in a powerful, multifaceted performance in the title role. The film moves back and forth in time to explore Dandridge's career as singer and actress, her troubled personal life, the racism she battled, the personal demons that tormented her, and her relationships with significant figures in the entertainment industry.

Although a bit soap opera-ish at times, this is a compelling and well-made film. It is full of excellent production values--great sets and costumes really help tell this tale. Musical numbers are skillfully woven into the overall story.

But it's the fine performances that really make this biopic special. Berry is superb in the challenging title role. Fiery and vulnerable, Berry creates a full-bodied cinematic portrait of this compelling woman. She gets solid support from a superb supporting cast that includes the versatile Loretta Devine as Dorothy's mother. Klaus Maria Brandauer brings elegance and gravitas to his role as director Otto Preminger. I was especially impressed by Brent Spiner in the pivotal role of Earl Mills, Dorothy's manager; if you only know Spiner from his role as Mr. Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," you are in for a revelation in this film.

There are some powerful scenes in this film, and it really holds together overall as a unified whole. "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" is a fitting tribute to Dandridge herself, and is a compelling slice of African-American history and Hollywood history.

HALLE BERRY. . .the new DOROTHY DANDRIDGE!

INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE

Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Loretta Devine, Cynda Williams, 1999

Synopsis

True story of Dorothy Dandridge, the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She earned this for her role in 'Carmen Jones' in 1954. She died of a drug overdose at age 42.

My Review

This heartwarming made for TV movie, was the stepping stone to Halle Berry's Oscar win for "Monster's Ball". Kinda interesting and ironic that Berry starred in this film, and then 3 yrs later became the first black woman to win an Oscar! By the way, yes that was the guy from Star Trek!

This movie was pretty good
This is one of probably two movies that I like seeing Halle in. She made a suitable "Dorothy Dandridge." I liked the format of the story: Dot being on the phone with her best friend, while making a collage and we're basically being told a story through the snapshots.

Fascinating story. I've been reading a book on DD written by a man who had contact with her sister...much better than the movie, but nevertheless, the movie is ok for a beginner.

RENT "CARMEN JONES" FOR THE REAL THING!
She was the true black superstar --- gorgeous, talented, sexy, vulnerable, a woman who became the first black to ever be nominated fore a Best Actress Oscar. Dorothy Dandridge also had a life of pain and suffering --- marriages and love affairs that would break her heart, abuse, addictions . . . death at too far an early age, with barely a penny in the bank. Halle Berry does an acceptable job filling Dorothy's shoes, but to truly understand what the fuss was all about, rent "Carmen Jones" or "Porgy and Bess."

RENT "CARMEN JONES" TO SEE THE REAL THING
She was the true black superstar --- gorgeous, talented, sexy, vulnerable, a woman who became the first black to ever be nominated fore a Best Actress Oscar. Dorothy Dandridge
also had a life of pain and suffering --- marriages and love affairs that would break her heart, abuse, addictions . . . death at too far an early age, with barely a penny in the bank.
Halle Berry does an acceptable job filling Dorothy's shoes, but to truly understand what the fuss was all about, rent "Carmen Jones" or "Porgy and Bess." ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not as funny as I thought it would be, but funny
When I first saw the previews to "Senseless" a couple of years ago, I thought it was gonna be hilarious and I knew I had to see it. I finally saw it about 2 weeks ago and it is funny, but not hilarious. Marlon Wayans tries out an experiment that some scientists have made, not really knowing what it could do to him. One day he takes an overdose and things really get out of the ordinary. He starts to see double and gets numb all over, (in other words, senseless). That's when the movie gets good and it stays that way almost through the rest of the movie.

If you like good comedy movies, I recommend seeing "Senseless." My only complaints were that the movie wasn't as funny as I first thought it would be and it's a little slow getting to the funny parts. Other than that, it's worth seeing.

If You Want To Laugh..
This movie has nothing but comedy written all over it. Fast moving plot with the right recipe of characters. Hilarious to the bone and excellent set up. If you are looking for a great laugh and enjoy the humor only David Spade and Marlon Wayans can bring, pick this one up. An excellent addition to any DVD collection. Fun for all to watch!

1st part: great, really funny. 2nd part: so-so.
Well, well, well, in the beginning it was cool comedy. No, not just cool but REALLY COOL comedy about black guy who took part in some experiment which upgraded his senses. Kind of super-power. A lot of funny (REALLY FUNNY) situations, dumb, but great jokes etc. etc. Cool movie. I hadn't laughed in such a way for a long time.

But then... Oops! The movie became less funny, some kind of soap appeared there, the authors seemed to remember about correctness and that's why the ending wasn't as cool and funny as beginning.

I'm so sorry. But only 3 stars.

boring comedy
This movie isnt very good or funny and it is so predictable I am not a big fan of comedy movies but I always watch them. This movie was just too chezzy.Marlon Wayans just isnt funny he's too silly.dont buy this movie!

Funny Funky Flick
Marlon Wayans gets forced into the role of "the stupid slapstick guy" thankfully he doesn't play that part in this very underatted classic. This movie had me laughing and feeling great! With a hillarious performance by Matthew Lillard and a great evil characted portrayal from David Spade you have to check this one out... Cheap and above all fun! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Few movies are made with the personal fervor of Diary of a Mad Black Woman. When Helen (Kimberly Elise, Beloved) is literally thrown out of her house by her callous lawyer husband (Steve Harris), her sense of self unravels. She finds herself on the doorstep of her gun-toting grandmother Madea (cross-dressed Tyler Perry), who sets Helen on the road to dignity and forgiveness--with a few detours along the way. The plot of Diary of a Mad Black Woman unfolds in a dizzying melange of styles, from soap opera to campy comedy to chick-flick romance to gothic revenge to inspirational tale of redemption. Perry, like Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor, plays multiple roles in a family, two of which are over-the-top scenery-chewers while the other is a sincere, generous family man with a drug-addicted wife. This everything-including-the-kitchen-sink approach reflects the play's origins; Perry adapted the screenplay from his enormously popular gospel play, a genre of melodrama featuring extreme emotional drama and whiplash inducing plot turns. Some viewers will clutch this movie to their breast as a cinematic feast; others will see it as so schizophrenic it borders on the surreal. But either way, Elise's charismatic performance will keep you engaged throughout. Also featuring Cicely Tyson (Sounder), Shemar Moore (The Brothers), and Judge Mablean Ephriam (Divorce Court). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (47)

I love Tyler Perry
TYler Perry is so funny...This moving had me laughing from the beginning to the end...I have all of his plays on DVD.....Tyler is the best.........

Touching, Entertaining and Sweet
I went to see this movie the first weekend that it came out, and I wasn't disappointed at all; I saw the original play, and wasn't greatly impressed with it, but seeing the movie, I enjoyed it very well. Kimberly Elise and Shemar Moore gave great performances; Of course, Tyler Perry playing three roles simultaneously was just as good and I applaud him; Cicely Tyson, of course, gave a gem of a performance helping her daughter become more stronger even though she herself has been wronged; I have heard the good and the bad about this movie; I have heard that Madea is just another stereotypical role model that we need to get away from; But let's be honest, how many of us can attest to a Madea in our family? or at least pieces of such a woman? This was one movie that sex and profanity wasn't splashed forward and yet, the critics bashed it; Yet, I found it a good movie, and can all of us who supported Mr Perry opening weekend be wrong? I don't think so; Look forward to the DVD.

GREAT PLAY AND MOVIE!
I LOVED THE MOVIE!
I LOVED THE PLAY!
THE END WAS TOUCHING!
5 star movie *****
I LOVE TYLER PERRY!

Yes it did Show in 73501
This is a definite buy. I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the play and the movie. I have the play, must get the movie. I have all of Tyler Perry's video's except the Brown's and I'll remedy that next month at movie buying time. I would like this in my wish list. I'll probably get it though, before it's offered.

Excellent movie from start to end !!!
I applaud the earlier reviewer, Ramsess Gray from Fayetteville, NC.Thank you for standing up to all the other so-called critics who trashed this movie.I thought this was an excellent movie from beginning to end.In his big-screen debut, Tyler Perry delivered big-time, no questions asked.Darren Grant, Mr. Perry, Kimberly Elise, Shemar Moore and the rest of the cast were second-to-none in my opinion.I loved each of the characters Mr. Perry played himself, especially gun-toting Grandma.She was funny & very entertaining throughout.As far as best picture and/or any awards are concerned, I think Mr. Perry should have as good a chance as anyone to win an award in some category(ies).Also, in my opinion, Kimberly Elise should win something for her role.And for that matter so should Darren Grant & Shemar Moore.But that's only my opinion. The movie was very entertaining and it had all the qualities you could ask for in a movie.It made you laugh. It made you cry. It made you happy. It made you sad & it made you proud, all in about 2 hours time.I'm sure this movie is not and will not be for everyone.We all have different tastes.All I can really say is "watch the movie for what it is", and that's entertainment at it's best.

Larry ... Read more

Reviews (6)

"AVID" BET MOVIE COLLECTOR
I PURCHASED "ONE SPECIAL MOMENT" BEFORE I READ THE BOOK. I TRULY ENJOYED THE MOVIE MORE THAN THE BOOK. I LIKED THE STERLING CHARACTER BETTER ON FILM AND HOW HE PURSUED THE COLBY CHARACTER. THE ACTING WAS EXCELLENT AS WELL AS THE STORY.
"ONE SPECIAL MOMENT"IS A GREAT ROMANTIC MOVIE TO ADD TO YOUR DVD COLLECTION. I HAVE PURCHASED EVERY ROMANTIC MOVIE BET HAS RELEASED. BET CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO SO WELL,KEEP ROMANCE ALIVE!!!!

NO ma'am
If you have read the book, back away from this DVD. I was very upset at this movie. They made Sterling into a whiny poem reciting punk, and ED into a jerk. Then they made the brother James into a user and his character almost seemed gay. I was horrified as I watched this movie. The book is based off of Sterling wanting a child and going through with a contest to have his baby. Colby visit Sterling to try and help her brother's cosmetic company. The movie has her brother entering her in the contest without her knowledge to help his none existant clothing line. In the book her brother doesn't know anything about how and why they are together until almost the end. Then Colby isn't a virgin like she is in the book, hell they don't even get married in the movie. Then he gets her pregnant and they break up. Sterling whines the ENTIRE film and I mean the ENTIRE film. I mean he goes infront of her class and recites these dumb poems, ugh. Then another character that I love, Diamond, they turned her into a whore I was completely appauled. I can't believe that Brenda Jackson let them make this film. And Where was Kyle he isn't even mentioned in this film.

WHY MESS UP A GREAT BOOK?
I may have liked this movie if I hadn't read the book first. It is my honest opinion that if BET wants to make these wonderful books into movies that they should at least follow the blueprint in the book. I read this book by Brenda Jackson and it is one of my favorites. The movie strayed so far from the book that only the names were the same.This is a wonderful story but to feel the full effect, you must read the book. The movie was garbage. A suggestion to BET keep publishing the books and leave the moviemaking to someone else.

The book deserves 5 stars...
I heard that BET had aired this movie, and was very disappointed that I missed it on TV, but now, having read the plot description, I don't think I can watch it after all. The plot is significantly different than that of the book (by Brenda Jackson), which to me, was the sweetest love story I've read in a long time. I'd hate to spoil the memories!

"ONE SPECIAL" movie.
Sterling Hamilton is one of Hollywood's leading action stars, and even though his films are on the violent side, the money is coming in, and thanks to his manager Ed, he is in a comfortable place. Emotionally, however, Sterling is lacking for something or someone to belong to, due to a troublesome childhood. Leave it to Ed to come up with the most outrageous idea: a contest for Sterling to pick a woman to have his baby for one million dollars! Posted on his dying website, the offers come in, and Sterling couldn't be more disturbed by the whole idea. It's during a television commerical that James, up and coming fashion designer, check it out and trick his sister Colby to come with him to meet Sterling and sell him on being the marquee man to wear and promote his clothing line, hoping to cash in on both prizes. Honesty and deceit play all through the feature, and what people hold dear to them is tested. The lead characters are intriguing and are able to hold their own against each other, especially as the final curtain rises and everyone realizes that money can buy many things, but it will never be able to pay in full an empty heart. A very good and romantic film for the cynical at heart. ... Read more