Eve's Bayou
| Eve's Bayou | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover |
|
| Directed by | Kasi Lemmons |
| Produced by | Nick Wechsler Samuel L. Jackson Mark Armin Caldecot Chubb |
| Written by | Kasi Lemmons |
| Starring | Jurnee Smollett Debbi Morgan Samuel L. Jackson Lynn Whitfield |
| Music by | Terence Blanchard |
| Cinematography | Amy Vincent |
| Editing by | Terilyn A. Shropshire |
| Studio | ChubbCo Film Addis-Wechsler |
| Distributed by | Trimark Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 7 November 1997 |
| Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $14,842,388[1] |
Eve's Bayou is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Kasi Lemmons, who made her directorial debut with this feature. Samuel L. Jackson served as a producer and starred in the film alongside Debbi Morgan, Jurnee Smollett, Lynn Whitfield, and Meagan Good.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Eve Batiste (Jurnee Smollett) is the youngest daughter of one of Louisiana's most sophisticated and prosperous families. Her father, Louis (Samuel L. Jackson), is the town's highly respected doctor, a man known for his ability to "fix" things – everything except his own family problems and philandering lifestyle. Her mother Roz (Lynn Whitfield) is a southern woman with an affinity for the traditions of Creole heritage. But Eve is most like her Aunt Mozelle (Debbi Morgan) – impulsive, intuitive, a touch supernatural and possessing the need to know the truth about everything. Over one explosive summer, this young girl uncovers some of her family's most frightening hidden truths, and then tries to bind them together against the tide of tragedy.
[edit] Cast
- Jurnee Smollett as Eve Batiste
- Debbi Morgan as Mozelle Batiste Delacroix
- Samuel L. Jackson as Louis Batiste
- Lynn Whitfield as Roz Batiste
- Diahann Carroll as Elzora
- Lisa Nicole Carson as Matty Mereaux
- Meagan Good as Cisely Batiste
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Lenny Mereaux
- Vondie Curtis-Hall as Julian Grayraven
- Branford Marsalis as Harry
- Carol Sutton as Madame Renard
- Ethel Ayler as Gran Mere
- Jake Smollett as Poe Batiste
- Leonard L. Thomas as Maynard
- Victoria Rowell as Stevie Hobbs
[edit] Reception and impact
The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert naming it the best film of 1997.[2] CNN's Paul Tatara[3], Empire[4], Entertainment Weekly[5], The Hollywood Reporter, The Los Angeles Times[6], The New York Observer[7], The New York Times[8], TIME[9], Variety[10], and The Washington Post also loudly praised the film and its performances.
Eve's Bayou received a "fresh" rating from Rotten Tomatoes, reporting that 80% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 50 reviews.[11] Though not nominated for any Academy Awards, the film did receive many accolades. Debbi Morgan's performance would be her most honored film role, with four nominations and two wins.[12] The film is also noted for Jurnee Smollett's performance; up to this point, she had worked primarily as a TV actress, with Jack being her only previous film.
In February 2008, Eve's Bayou made TIME's list of The 25 Most Important Films on Race.[13]
On February 16, 2009, Debbi Morgan's portrayal of Mozelle Batiste Delacroix was included in Pop Matters' 100 Essential Female Film Performances list.[14]
[edit] Accolades
1997 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Child Performance – Jurnee Smollett (winner)
1997 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Supporting Actress – Debbi Morgan (winner)
1997 National Board of Review Awards
- Outstanding Directorial Debut – Kasi Lemmons (winner)
1997 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
- Best Supporting Actress – Jurnee Smollett (winner)
1998 Acapulco Black Film Festival
- Best Actor – Samuel L. Jackson (winner)
- Best Director – Kasi Lemmons (winner)
- Best Film (winner)
- Best Soundtrack (nominated)
1998 Independent Spirit Awards
- Best First Feature – Caldecot Chubb, Kasi Lemmons, Samuel L. Jackson (winner)
- Best Supporting Female – Debbi Morgan (winner)
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture – Samuel L. Jackson (nominated)
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture – Lynn Whitfield (nominated)
- Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Vondie Curtis-Hall (nominated)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Debbi Morgan (nominated)
- Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress – Jurnee Smollett (nominated)
- Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress – Meagan Good (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Drama) – Samuel L. Jackson (nominated)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Drama) – Debbi Morgan (nominated)
- Outstanding Cinematography – Amy Vincent (nominated)
- Best Performance in a Feature Film (Leading Young Actress) – Jurnee Smollett (nominated)
- Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film – Jurnee Smollett (nominated)
- Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film – Meagan Good (nominated)
[edit] References
- ^ "Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. 1997-12-12. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=evesbayou.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ "Eve's Bayou, rogerebert.com". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19971107/REVIEWS/711070303/1023. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "''Paul Tatara's review''". CNN. November 11, 1997. http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9711/11/review.eves.bayou/. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "''Empire review''". Empire. http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=913. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum (November 7, 1997). "''Entertainment Weekly review''". Ew.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290124,00.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Lim, Dennis. "''Los Angeles Times review''". Calendarlive.com. http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie971111-5,0,3908985.story. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Sarris, Andrew. "''New York Observer review''". Observer.com. http://www.observer.com/node/39866. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (November 7, 1997). "''New York Times review''". Movies.nytimes.com. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9507E7DA1639F934A35752C1A961958260. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ By RICHARD CORLISS Monday, Oct. 13, 1997 (October 13, 1997). "''TIME review''". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987178,00.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Levy, Emanuel (September 13, 1997). "''Variety review''". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117329548.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Eve's Bayou Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eves_bayou/. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ Debbi Morgan – Awards
- ^ Corliss, Richard (February 4, 2008). "Eve's Bayou (1997) – The 25 Most Important Films on Race". TIME. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1709148_1709143_1709669,00.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "''100 Essential Female Film Performances''". Popmatters.com. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/70394-life-support-2. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
