All Eyes On Zora

Writer Rocka of ROCKA*BLOG wrote a thoughtful book review on author Zora Neale Hurston's most-cherished novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The book is considered one of Ms. Hurston's best literary works. The novel is about a feisty bi-racial black woman (a product of white rape) named Janie Crawford who returns to her small town in Florida during the 1930's. Upon her return, Janie reunites with her good friend Pheoby and tells the story about her road to self-discovery. Janie's tale takes the reader on a dramatic journey through her three marriages and a rediscovery of Janie's genealogical roots.

Rocka's book review corresponds with the news that Hollywood starlet Halle Berry has been tapped to play Janie in the Oprah Winfrey-produced tele-movie of Their Eyes Were Watching God for ABC. The flick is an adaptation of Ms. Hurston's book of the same name.

Their Eyes Were Watching God is an exceptional novel and worthy of a reworking for television or for a theatrical film. But Rocka has some reservations about casting Halle in the leading role. He writes:

"At first, I was so very excited about this project when I heard Oprah was producing it, but then I became a little horrified when I realized whom they cast as the lead: Halle Berry. I have nothing against the woman personally. I believe she is a beautiful person, with a lot to contribute to this world, but as an actress she sucks (Did you see what she did to Alex Haley's Queen). She is also not very good with different dialects, Losing Isaiah anyone.

I would have been happier if someone else were portraying this wonderful character. I mean couldn't they get Thandie Newton, or even Omarosa Manigualt Stallworth may have even been a better choice. I just hope they don't mess up one of my favorite novels."

My only worry is that Oprah Winfrey is producing this film project. The talk-show queen seems to have this irresistible urge to turn wonderful novels into disastrous films. Remember Beloved? Oprah ruined Toni Morrison's most-read and cherished novel. The film Beloved was too long, too boring and overwrought with inane dialogue. I love the book but hate the movie -- it's an unwatchable mess. I actually had to re-read the book so I can eliminate any memory of that wretched movie.

As far as Halle playing the lead in the God movie, I think Halle is a fine candidate. Granted, she doesn't have an "Outstanding Performance" track record like, say, Angela Bassett, but I think Halle is worthy to play Janie.

However, if I were casting the film, I would rather see Soul Food star Nicole Ari Parker get the part. She's probably the most underrated out of all the big-name African-American actresses. Her dramatic turns during the past five seasons on Soul Food have been stellar. I also think Nicole gave a wonderful performace in Brown Sugar. Nicole playing Janie in the ABC tele-movie Their Eyes Were Watching God would be an excellent breakout role for Nicole and would make her a household name.

Either way, All eyes -- mostly from Ms. Hurton's fans -- will certainly be watching Oprah and how she presents this novel to the small screen.

Holla!

Comments

[savanna]

Halle Berry was perfect. I think that the book meant that Tea Cake was dark skinned because the white women who called him that didn't like his nappy hair. The white lady was eager to hook Janie up with her son because Janie looked a little white and the women thought that whites should stick to their own kind. I think that Micheal Ealy was perfect because its not like he was super light-skinned with curly hair. He played a brother pretty well.

[kristina roberts]

I think Halle Berry did an amazing job. She is not a bad actress like you say, I think that she is a great actress and did Janie justice.However,I do agree with some of you about her being the poster "Black Actress".There are so many other black actresses,but it always appears that we just have one. Personally i would like to see Angela Basset make a comeback. I do not think that Angela Basset would have done a good Janie, because she does not fit the discription in the book. Halle Berry was the best choice for the role. She fits everything about Janie perfectly.

[unknown]

All of yall need to shut the f*** up. The movie was very good. Halle Berry in my opinion was the best choice for the role she played. She is half white and half black. She fits the role perfectly. She a great actor. Y'all just mad casue she's a beautiful black woman who can act. Black people always trying to put each other down. I bet if anyone of y'all were to play in the movies she played in it would have bombed. And who gives a f*** if Tea cake was dark skin or light brown. Micheal Ealy is fine as hell and he acted his ass off in that movie. So y'all calm down and accept it.

[Kellie Cain]

I want to agree with those who have already observed that Oprah Winfrey has taken two of the finest works of African American literature, Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God, and turned them into a hot mess. I wanted to scream each time Halle Berry would look upwards and say, "I'm watching God." Sometimes just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should do it. I shudder to think which African American classic will fall victim to Oprah next.

[lazarus]

i had hear a long time ago that it would be made into a movie and just recently saw an advertisement for it. like khaalid i was both happy and disappointed at the same time. as soon as i heard about the movie i went scouring the internet for more info about it. everybody has their opinions about it and that's great that means a lot of people are going to watch it. my take on it is that halle is perfect for the part, she resembles janie in so many ways. i don't like micheal ealy casted as tea cake. i read the book about 2 years ago, i don't remember every exact detail but i do remember that tea cake was a dark skinned fellow which micheal ealy is not. i don't want to make this a color issue but i don't understand why the directors felt that they had to change that part of the story, but hey i'm just happy to see the thing put into a movie. it's good and bad, it makes it available to a lot of people who have never heard of of the book and of the author but for the dedicated hardcore fans of novel and of zora neal hurston they're going to see their baby distorted and made digistable for t.v. audiences. when i read this book i didn't think it was all that great, there was a lot of imager and descriptions of stuff and i don't care for that mush in books, i skip descriptions and details in book and go straight for the dialogue and action and the book has a lot of fluff. i much preferred her book seraph on the suwanne instead although it was was about white characters, the story was universal.