Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

I must say that I've been following Tyler Perry's career for years now and he's finally brought his story to 1500 movie theaters for everyone to get a glimpse of his beloved character Madea. For those who have never heard of him or the infamous Madea, you'll have your turn today.

Kimberly Elise's role was presented with such a regal, dignified demeanor. Although she was distraught and destitute, she still kept up her appearances of having and keeping it together, making way for a positive new life while finding herself and new love.

Steve Harris's role made it easy for you to harbor hatred towards him. Tyler Perry couldn't have picked a better actor to portray such a wicked character. What I also loved is that you eventually grew a tolerance and understanding of his role as well and learned to forgive him, then yourself, as Ms. Elise's role learned to do.

If you'd like to catch up on Tyler Perry's character Madea, please purchase the plays that are provided via DVD and VHS. All of them are a definite treat. It will definitely help you to understand the phenomenon!

Fmovies: Its February 14, 2005 (Valentine's Day) and tonight was a special Screening of Diary of a Mad Black Woman at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. Tyler was there along with Kimberly Elise, Shemar Moore, Dallas Austin, and many other celebrities. The theater was packed. I have to say this movie is Excellent. It had just the right mix of Comedy, Romance, and Drama. Nothing was overkill about this movie. Even Madea and her antics did not go overboard. Although Tyler's plays are great, this movie is on another level. The messages are clearly and positively conveyed from beginning to end. I give it Two Thumbs Up!!! If the African American community doesn't support this movie, it will certainly be a travesty.

Charles McCarter (Steve Harris) and his wife Helen (Kimberly Elise) are attending an awards banquet where Charles is receiving an award for the most outstanding lawyer in Atlanta. You would think that both of them would be on top of the world, but things are about to change. They are about to celebrate their 18th-wedding anniversary when Helen comes home to find her clothes packed up in a U-Haul van parked in the driveway. However, there is now a new wardrobe of designer clothes in the closet. Helen thinks this is the big surprise Charles was going to tell her. She was wrong; Charles is divorcing Helen for a younger woman. Charles has to drag Helen out his front door and closes the door on her, because this is his house. Helen moves in with her grandmother Madea (Tyler Perry), an old woman who doesn't take any lip from anyone, and if she must, she will use the gun she always carries. Madea helps Helen through these tough times by showing her what is really important in life. Helen begins to stand on her own two feet and finds a new man, Orlando (Shemar Moore). The movie was adapted from the stage play by Tyler Perry, who also played three roles in the film. The movie is well crafted and the comedy timing was on the mark. You will begin to laugh from beginning to end. The ending was about right. (Lions Gate Films, Run time 1:56, Rated PG-13) (8/10)

Diary of a Mad Black Woman fmovies. Darren grant is a cool cucumber. After over 120 Music videos and commercials in just 8 years, the youngish helmer has delivered with "Diary of A Mad Black Woman". This debut director has entered the Hollywood fray on par with any big shooter. As a former Madison Avenue, ad agency creative director, I will admit I am biased because he directed an award- winning commercial for me 2 years ago.

Still, Mr. Grant pulled off the same trick he did with our controversial cinema/TV commercials (which featured a cigarette executive as a lethal "Hitman"): he took a complex, ethnically esoteric subject and simplified it, making it digestible for the masses. Slap me around a little, but I think that's what a good Director should do. The playwright, Tyler Perry has had things cooking for years on the Chittlin' Circuit, bringing his own unique brand of urban theatre to working-class, black America. Mr. Perry came to Hollywood as a pre-packaged star. And Hollywood has acknowledged his presence in grand fashion.

The rather surreal Madea character is more than just a man-in-drag; it is Perry's vessel of choice. Via Madea, he can impart a spiritual gospel that reflects his experience growing up in the black church. He can also channel his insights on politics and perhaps give a few pointers to wayward minorities who feel they are up against it. The rest of the characters in DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN: Helen, Charles, Orlando, Debrah, Brenda, Tiffany and Myrtle – not to mention, Brian, Madea and Joe – all played by Tyler Perry, serve to hone Mr. Perry's particular brand of cultural propaganda. To wit, love it or hate it, there is a well- defined black American subculture that cannot be ignored.

DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN is indeed complex. Whereas Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire" was, deliberately in drag as a scheming septuagenarian and as was Martin Lawrence in the "Big Momma's House" – Tyler Perry's Madea is a REAL woman! He's also Madea's dirty-old-man of a brother and takes off the makeup to play handsome young attorney. Tyler is almost on par with Eddie Murphy as he bandies about in multiple roles. Again, credit Darren Grant's deft understanding of the characters' interaction. The only criticism here is that Tyler Perry is actually a more convincing actor when he is talking to himself(s)!

Kimberly Elise is a true A-list acting talent. If Madea is comic relief, Elise's Helen fulfills the dramaturgy aspect of the film. She admirably holds her own with screen legend, Cicely Tyson as her mother. Steve Harris is menacingly effective as an Ike Turner-esque, booji Atlanta attorney who emotionally terrorizes his wife and associates. Shemar Moore gives a breakout performance that is sure to take him to the next level in Hollywood. Watch as he is next transformed into a mainstream matinée idol …

What's most important about this film is how it OWNS the right to speak of an ethnic genre. Darren Grant and Tyler Perry have cleverly positioned themselves as experts on American black culture. And how there are thousands of similar stories yet untold. Look for this director to, perhaps, do what Spike Lee intended; what Carl Franklin suggested; and what the Van Peebles' aspired to do: become the definitive, fresh, new voice in Black American film.

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This was an excellent movie. Kimberly Elise is excellent as Helen, an emotionally abused spouse who gets kicked out of her mansion and has to learn to live life on her own and learn to trust men again. There are moments that are so heart wrenching that much of the theater was crying. However, before things get too down, there are numerous hilarious scenes led by Tyler Perry. The great thing is that these funny moments are integral to the story for the most part and are not just thrown in without relating to the main story lines.

Best of all, this movie has heart and a message. It's about how forgiveness is better than revenge and that you need to forgive someone because it hurts YOU if you hold that anger inside yourself. It's about how love endures even through pain and disappointment. It's about how God can turn people's lives around. It's the type of movie that you can proudly take your mother and grandmother too.

I wish they would market this type of movie more to a broad audience. It looks like they advertised this almost exclusively to a black audience, I was one of the few white people in the theater in a very integrated community.

What a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. I must admit that the movie's opening scenes had me wondering if I'd come to the wrong movie, but by the movie's end I was in tears. This movie was simply written and the emotional overtones were brilliant. Kimberly Elise is Hollywood royalty. Her acting was so powerful and next to Shemar Moore I enjoyed the chemistry (It was awkward for me at first, but they worked it..) Steve Harris stretched out in this role. We've grown accustomed to seeing him as the Lawyer in the Practice. I don't think I'll ever look at him the same again after this movie. Excellent work. For anyone who has ever had their hearts ripped apart by love should see this movie.

I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed. Tyler Perry is brilliant.