The Secret Life of Bees

By JOHN ANDERSON

Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning in Gina Prince-Bythewod's 'The Secret Life of Bees.'

A Fox Searchlight release and presentation of an Overbrook Entertainment/Donners' Co. production. Produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Joe Pichirallo. Executive producer, Jada Pinkett Smith. Co-producers, Ed Cathell III, Ewan Leslie.
Directed, written by Gina Prince-Bythewood, based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd.
 
August Boatwright - Queen Latifah
Lily Owens - Dakota Fanning
Rosaleen Daise - Jennifer Hudson
June Boatwright - Alicia Keyes
May Boatwright - Sophie Okonedo
Neil - Nate Parker
Zach Taylor - Tristan Wilds
Deborah Owens - Hilarie Burton
Owens - Paul Bettany

 

Like a mouthful of honey, "The Secret Life of Bees" is cloyingly sweet and gooey, and you're not quite sure you can swallow it undiluted. Based on Sue Monk Kidd's popular 2002 novel about Southern sisterhood during the civil rights movement and toplining Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah, the Fox Searchlight release should attract fans of the bestselling tome and arthouse patrons but will be held back from breakout biz by poor word of mouth.

Helmer Gina Prince-Bythewood, who adapted the book, apparently had one instructive word for her actors ("earnest!") and one for her d.p. ("signify!"). Opening in 1964 South Carolina, the story follows young Lily (Fanning) from the story's rather terrific opening line ("I killed my mother when I was 4 years old ...") and a perilous relationship with her abusive father (a very good Paul Bettany), to the motherly embrace of the beekeeping, highly cultured August Boatwright (Latifah) and her sisters, May (Sophie Okonedo), and June (Alicia Keyes).

The Civil Rights Act has been signed, and the South is not reacting well, especially toward women like Lily's housekeeper, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), who are sick of racist abuse. When Rosaleen is arrested -- after being assaulted by rednecks -- she and Lily flee like a distaff Huck and Jim, and end up at Chez Boatwright. "It's like they got their own spot in the world where the outside don't come in," Rosaleen says dreamily. The movie is full of lines like that.

Like "Secret Life's" score -- almost exclusively contempo pop, and all too deliberate -- the film has no use for its own time, or even place, and seems intent on giving the actresses all the room they need to be as broad as possible.

The characters, as written, are little more than one-dimensional, which doesn't make for interesting, nuanced drama. But the performers do the best with the faux-profound platitudes they're given.

Latifah is all nobility and empowerment, which may be the kind of thing that brings audiences in (it certainly made the book popular). Fanning has grown out of the juvenile roles that made her famous but retains her openness and vulnerability.

Pop star Keyes is a revelation in her third bigscreen role (after "Smokin' Aces" and "The Nanny Diaries"), and Okonedo, always first-rate, shows enormous sensitivity playing the simple-minded May.

Production values are tops, the shooting by Rogier Stoffers particularly notable.

Camera (Deluxe color), Rogier Stoffers; editor, Terilyn A. Shropshire; music, Mark Isham; music supervisor, Linda Cohen; production designer, Warren Alan Young; art directors, William G. Davis, Alan Hook; set designer, Alex McCarroll; set decorator, James Edward Ferrell Jr.; costume designer, Sandra Hernandez; sound, Carl S. Rudisill; sound designer/supervisor, Jay Nierenberg; re-recording mixers, Marc Fishman, Tony Lamberti, Matthew Iadarola; visual effects supervisor, Jamie Dixon; visual effects, Hammerhead Prods., Lola VFX, Pixel Magic; stunt coordinator, Dean Mumford; assistant director, Aldric Porter; casting, Aisha Coley, Lisa Mae, Craig Fincannon, Mark Fincannon. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Gala Presentations), Sept. 8, 2008. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 110 MIN.