For Colored Girls - Tyler Perry's Take on the Groundbreaking Play

I love this movie. It was powerful, moving, and I'm a sucker for movies that star powerful women. If you put Phylicia Rashad, Kerry Washington, Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Kimberly Elise and Anika Noni Rose in the same movie, you better believe I'm going to be there.

Tyler Perry directs the movie from his own written adaptation of the script based off of the ground breaking play For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. He has assembled a cast that really shines well in their individual scenes as well as the ensemble scenes.  I really enjoyed Loretta Devine's scene in which she chews out Janet Jackson's character. Any scene with Phylicia Rashad is truly a treat. She's not just Mrs. Huxtable from The Cosby Show.

These are truly, in the words of Maya Angelou, phenomenal women.

Janet Jackson is Red 

(...and proves once again that she's an actor with a side gig as singer.)

Loretta Devine is Green

(...and turns in a warm and hilarious performance.)

Anika Noni Rose is Yellow

(...and not just a Disney Princess or the "other" Dreamgirl.)

Thandie Newton is Orange

(..., replacing Mariah Carey who was originally cast. 

Always impresses and it's no different in this film.)

Whoopi Goldberg is White

(...and easily could've been the comic relief, but Goldberg 

turns in a spooky and moving performance.)

Phylicia Rashad is Gray

(...and my favorite element of the movie. I've always been in awe of 

her acting abilities and it's so awesome to see her in this multilayered part.)

Kimberly Elise is Brown

(...and truly impresses in what is probably the most difficult role 

I have ever seen her play. She truly helps elevate the film.)

Kerry Washington is Blue

(...and I still wonder why not enough people know about this 

awesome woman. Please take notice America.)

Tessa Thompson is Purple

Macy Gray is Rose

This movie is not easy to watch, but it is worth a viewing. Get it from amazon, or try out the televised version of the play from back in 1982 starring Alfre Woodard and the original playwright Ntozake Shange.

Trivia:

Thandie Newton and Kimberly Elise both starred in Beloved.


Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise and Whoopi Goldberg all had parts in Tyler Perry films prior to this film.

Anika Noni Rose played Lorell in the Dreamgirls movie, a role which Loretta Devine originated in the original stage version.

If you loved this article, check this out:

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf - Alfre Woodard, Lynn Whitfield (Broadway Theatre Archive) - A televised version of the original play.

For Colored Girls (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) - Tyler Perry presents the film version.