I don't know whether anyone will say this out loud, but this is a very, very Black movie.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

In fact, this gives this weighty, weighty film a commerical advantage, since the box office gross for White America will be $176,403 and the "urban" audience could throw $20m - $30m in the bank.

As for the movie itself, it's a mixed bag. Interesting, relentless material. Lots of make-up-free-looking performances by actresses known for being funny and ripping up the raging drama here. A little too stunty for me... "Look, it's Mariah Carey... and she has a 3 week growth of mustache !". Ironically, she and the others all give strong performances.

And isn't of a little convenient that he savior femme is the most beautiful creature on the planet without make-up AND she's a lesbian. Hmmmm...

My biggest problem is the bleakness combined by director Lee Daniels with a lot of music video slickness. I don't like the combo. But for critics, this could be a great way to alleviate white guilt. It should have been tougher, better, and smarter.

But it will be profitable.