Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Beloved
1998
**
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise

A disastrous adaptation of Tony Morrison's terrific novel about the ordeals of a black woman in the end of the 19th century. The subtle mystical elements of the novel look very awkward on screen and the whole thing ends up feeling phony. The performances are strong, apart from Thandie Newton who is over-the-top as Beloved. At 170 minutes, the film is about an hour too long.