Beloved |  | Director: Jonathan Demme
Actors: Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Beah Richards
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $7.50
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Rating:  146 reviews
Sales Rank: 13962
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 172 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.6
MPN: DISD17243D
ISBN: 0788815474
UPC: 717951002365
EAN: 9780788815478
ASIN: 0788815474
Theatrical Release Date: October 16, 1998
Release Date: May 18, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
This layered film, a labor of love from director Jonathan Demme and star Oprah Winfrey, covers a lot of turf in its nearly three-hour running time. Part slavery fable, part mother-daughter tale, part ghost story, Beloved demands an audience's full attention from its dramatic, slightly bewildering opening, when a family dog comes down on the wrong side of some angry, unseen force. But Demme and his talented cast provide an unforgettable payoff for those who surrender. The film traces the life of Sethe (played in her middle years by Winfrey), a former slave who has rebuilt what seems to be a peaceful, productive life in Ohio. Yet through chilling, sparing use of flashback, Demme slowly unveils, as does the Toni Morrison masterpiece on which the film is based, the horrors of Sethe's former life, and the terrible event that led to the haunting of Sethe's home. While the horrors of slavery and the bloody event in Sethe's family leave undeniable impressions, the film's brilliance is also evidenced in smaller, equally satisfying ways. Rachel Portman's spiritual-influenced score is as uplifting as it is haunting, and the glimpses of the post-slavery African American world--as with a simple family outing to a local carnival, or a ladies' sewing-and-gospel circle--make this a treat for the intellect as well as the heart. The members of the cast, especially Kimberly Elise as Sethe's struggling daughter and Thandie Newton as the mysterious title character, are supremely affecting. --Anne Hurley
Product Description
EQUAL PARTS ROMANCE, GHOST STORY, AND GRIPPING DRAMA. A POWERFUL SKILLFULLY CRAFTED FILM.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 146
 Surprisingly good movie version of the book January 28, 2010
M (I wait behind the wall, gnawing away at your reality)
Having read Beloved several years ago, I was surprised to find out that there was now a movie out, and was naturally eager to see it.
So many movies manage to butcher the books they come from (Starship Troopers being a woeful example) but this movie was actually a overall faithful retelling of the book (and with a bit of stuff added to the movie ending that wasn't in the book) with stunning visuals, great camerawork, and wonderful acting from everyone involved in this film, though I felt that Beloved herself acted a bit more like a mentally retarded person than the child/baby she was supposed to be internally.
There were a few bits that were really unneccessary (like Sethe taking a leak in the yard - what did that have to do with the plot?) but it was just a few bits, I would say that 99 percent of the movie was great. In the book, Sugar Mama doesn't have as big of a role, in the movie she is featured more prominently in the flashbacks, which I liked because the book was a bit sparse in certain parts. Overall 4.5/5 stars for a solid movie. If you liked the book, you should definitely enjoy the movie!
Beloved January 6, 2010
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
Sethe is a woman of elemental grace and unspoken mystery. A figure of fierce determination, Sethe is a runaway slave struggling to carve out her own simple existence with her children in rural Ohio, 1873. Preventing her from achieving that, however, is the painful legacy of her former life, and the desperate measures to which she is driven to keep herself and her family from returning to it. Paul D is an old friend who comes to visit Sethe and whose understanding is tested by her household's shattering secrets. Brilliantly ccted and directed with powerful story.
great movie a must have collector item December 3, 2009
barbara reese
Beloved is a must keep movie its a great story and a must have keepsake.
A Devastating Triumph November 4, 2009
K. O. Gibson (Los Angeles, CA)
I saw this film in the theater its opening weekend, October 1998. Oprah devoted her Friday episode of the opening weekend to the cast of 'Beloved' and was in tears about the release of her 'baby' with this film. 'Beloved' is one of my top three favorite books of all time for its poetic, brutal power in relating the human/spiritual tolls and scars of slavery. I went to this movie hopeful, as a book lover hoping that the source-material hadn't been ruined. No film can ever replace the original mind's eye 'movie' of the book it's based on, but Ms. Winfrey, Mr. Demme and the cast absolutely gave their all to this production. It's a worthy, devastating film; the tragedy of slavery and the human reconstruction, not just societal, from such human cruelty is incomprehensible.
'Beloved' is not an easy film to watch by the sheer realism of the fear, violence and horror of the protagonist's story, Sethe, played by Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Gay Hamilton. As with any film dealing with historic atrocity ('Schindler's List,' 'Playing For Time,' 'Roots,')it is impossible to turn away no matter how harsh the onscreen reality is. Perhaps because we know it was worse in reality, it becomes a matter of honoring their struggle by bearing witness to the recreation. In any case, it's a demanding film but the acting work by Danny Glover, Kimberly Elyse, Thandi Newton, Winfrey and Beah Richards will pull you in with both hands.
Over the years I've heard Ms. Winfrey say in interviews how she regrets the failure of this movie at the box-office. I don't find it to be a failure at all. It's an honest, stark mirror of its material, not a popcorn movie, per se. Maybe it would have done better and won Emmys had it been on, say, HBO where the network would have allowed the same depictions as shown in the movie? We'll never know, but I put my money down on it and it's here for people to discover on DVD via purchase, rental or Netflix. I hope Ms. Winfrey will see it's a neglected classic and a brave film with intense performances. I can't praise her enough for this effort. Toni Morrison was pleased with the outcome and you can't do better than please the author of the original Pulitzer-winning material. My wish list: a 'Beloved' DVD with commentary by Ms. Winfrey and company.
 Fair May 2, 2009
Tina Albea
The first movie never arrived but I spoke to the company and they was very helpful and they rush out another movie which I did receive.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 146
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