The Secret Life Of Bees DVD Review
The Secret Life of Bees, which is adapted from Sue Monk Kiddís 2002 best-selling book by the same name, is set in 1964 South Carolina, where Lily (Dakota Fanning) is living with her alcoholic father, T. Ray (Paul Bettany of The Da Vinci Code). Lily is 14 years old and dealing with the death of her motheróspecifically the her guilt over her mother’s death when she was 4 years old.
Between T. Ray being up for worst father of the year award, and their African American housekeeper, Roseleen (Jennifer Hudson) being beaten and arrested in town one day, Lily and Rosaleen decide to escape and run away.
They end up with the Boatwright family, comprised of June (Alicia Keys), May (Sophie Okonedo), and August (Queen Latifah). The Boatwrights are honey makers and owners of Black Madonna Honey, and Lily and Rosaleen are reluctantly welcomed into their home and family, allowing Lily to find herself and put to rest all the questions she has surrounding her motherís death.
Under the guidance of writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Secret Life of Bees is heavy on the melodrama, but thatís ok as long as you know what to expect. Itís very ìLifetime Movie of the Weekî meets Oprah movie. However, this is no run of the mill chick flick, as itís steeped in the controversial history of the era and the Civil Rights movement.
While The Secret Life of Bees doesnít delve too deeply into the brutality of the time, there are enough hints so viewers donít forget that all was not rosy back then. An early scene in the film, in which Rosaleen is beaten while trying to register to vote, then subsequently arrested (for being beaten, I guess?), is just a taste of what it must have been like.
Fanning (Charlotteís Web, War Of The Worlds, Hide And Seek) is proving to be an excellent actress at a very young age, and she does a great job as the eye of the storm in this film. Latifah (Mad Money, The Perfect Holiday) may be funny, and yes she can sing, but sheís also a gifted dramatic actress, as this film proves.
Actresses/singers Jennifer Hudson (Sex And The City, Dreamgirls) and Keys (The Nanny Diaries, Smokiní Aces) provide solid supporting roles here, and together with Okonedo (Martian Child, Hotel Rwanda), make for a great supporting cast. The film also stars Hilarie Burton (ìOne Tree Hillî, Normal Adolescent Behavior) as Lilyís mother, and Tristan Wilds (ì90210î, ìThe Wireî), Nate Parker (Pride), and Shondrella Avery (DÈj‡ Vu).
The Secret Life of Bees is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen, with audio in English 5.1 Dolby Digital and optional subtitles in English, Spanish and French. Extras include two audio commentaries–one with Prince-Bythewood and editor Terilyn Shropshire, and the other with Prince-Bythewood, Latifah, Fanning, and producers Joe Picharillo and Lauren Schuler Donner.
There are also eight deleted scenes and five featurettes: “Adaptation: Bringing The Secret Life Of Bees To The Big Screen”, which focuses on the screenplay process; “The Women And Men Of The Secret Life Of Bees”, which is about the cast of characters; “Inside The Pink House With Sue Monk Kidd”, which is about the setting for the majority of the film; “Life On The Set”, which is standard behind the scenes stuff; and “The World Premiere”, which is a quick peek at the premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The Secret Life of Bees is rated PG-13 ìfor thematic material and some violenceî and has a 110-minute run time. Itís also a coming of age tale set against a backdrop of racism and civil rights, not to mention uplifting and solid entertainment for the whole family.
I give The Secret Life of Bees 3 stars out of 5 stars.