Retro Rewind: ‘Eve’s Bayou’

Published: Saturday 13th May 2017 by David

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature launched to celebrate TV and cinema’s brightest moments.

Today, almost twenty years after its arrival, we revisit the stellar African-American movie ‘Eve’s Bayou‘.

In it, Jurnee Smollett, Samuel L. Jackson, Meagan Good, Diahann Carroll and Lynn Whitfield pull viewers through a maze of magic, memory and murder to tell the story of a young girl who places a curse on her father when she discovers his involvement in something sinister.

However, all may not be as it seems.

‘Eve’s Bayou’ below…

The movie stood tall as the directorial debut of the director Kasi Lemmons and earned $14 million at the box office following its release on November 7th 1997.

The New York Times had this to say about it, and Jackson’s performance, following its release:

Every element of the film — from the turbulent, stormy performances to the rich cinematography (which includes black-and-white computer-enhanced dream sequences) to the setting itself, in which the thick layers of hanging moss over muddy water seem to drip with sexual intrigue and secrecy — merges to create an atmosphere of extraordinary erotic tension and anxiety.

 

Mr. Jackson has never played a character quite this avid. And in a performance that requires him to infuse the role of perfect father and dream lover with a demonic charge, Mr. Jackson makes Louis at once irresistibly lovable and slightly terrifying.

Your thoughts?

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  1. KING MELANIN May 13, 2017

    THIS MOVIEIS A CLASSIC GEM! LOVE SEEING JURNEE SMOLL

  2. KING MELANIN May 13, 2017

    THIS MOVIE IS A CLASSIC GEM! LOVE SEEING JURNEE SMOLLETT IN ANYTHING!!!

  3. MUSICHEAD May 13, 2017

    One of my favorite movies ever. I remember Jurnee getting a lot of Oscar buzz for this movie but it didn’t materialize. I was already in love with her but this movie made me love her even more. Sam Jackson and Lynn Whitfield also turned in outstanding performances. I think I might watch it again this weekend.

  4. Kanyade May 17, 2017

    what a GREAT film.

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