EFRA

I've always enjoyed Kenneth Branagh's versions of the Shakespeare classics, as he always does a very good job, but in this movie, the one who lifts the whole movie, is none other than "the-always-great-actor" Laurence Fishburne. Surely he has made some poor choices in films, even though he's a wonderful actor, but in this one we're truly given the real Othello: the passion, the intensity of jealousy as it grows stronger alongside with Fishburne's well portrayed paranoia and, furthermore, we're finally given a black Othello!

I don't think they could have chosen a better Othello. Who else could have given him that blend of sympathy/antipathy, love/hatred and, not to forget, those fiery eyes...? Branagh is good as always, but not at his peak, Iréne Jacob's Desdemona is fairly good but a bit bleak, whilst Laurence Fishburne truly lifts it and makes it a very interesting and enjoyable movie. Do watch it.

Lt.Col. Slade(played so wonderfully by Al Pacino)is an arrogant, blind ex military who's mad at the world and is taken care of the preppy Charlie(O'Donnel)who grows to love and respect him, the more he starts to actually see who he is and why he's behaving in a certain way. Sometimes the seeing are more blind than those who really are...Charlie just happens to open up his eyes a bit more than many of the colonel's family members. The final scene is well worth of an Oscar/Academy Award which Pacino eventually got(FINALLY), and one of his best performances ever. The movie in itself is slightly too long, but...aren't almost all films over two hours nowadays? It's a trend that isn't showing any tendency to stop, rather the opposite. The story is cute, O'Donnel is pretty good, but when it all comes down to it, what actually lifts the whole film is none other but the great Al Pacino. I gave it a 9 because of him and only him.

This film captured my heart from the very beginning, when hearing Quincy Jones' first notes or seeing the wonderful color of purple of the flowers in the meadows. This is truly a film to cry and die for...! The whole cast gives the best performance in a film I've seen in years and Spielberg has really outdone himself! Whoppi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey(oh lord!), Danny Glover, and the others, all give us their best and you can feel it - almost touch it! Goldberg IS Celie, she gives her that insecurity and feeling of inferiority that is needed for the character, and we grow with her, we grow strong together with her, throughout the movie, and we triumph with her. Margaret Avery is wonderful as Shug Avery, even when she's at her most arrogant, and shows us that "sinners", indeed, "have souls too". The always sympathetic, charming Danny Glover makes a marvellous job at making people hate him and the magnificent music of(I'd say sir)Quincy Jones adds even more beauty to this splendid film! The photography, the music, the director and the music makes this beautiful, soulful movie into an experience of life. You don't want to miss it! "Sista'...remember my name..."