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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

TV alert: "A Raisin in the Sun"

Tonight on ABC, Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan star in an adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun.

The film also screened at Sundance this year (out of competition). Most of the reviews are quite positive, which is a relief — I'm always a little worried when a masterpiece gets adapted for TV. But I'm encouraged by comments like this: "[T]hose who can relax into the leisurely pace and lush language will be rewarded with an earnest, moving night at the movies."

Here's the trailer:




Puffy can act! Who knew?

And then there's Audra and Sanaa and Phylicia:

Uh, Sean who?

If you're not familiar with A Raisin in the Sun, go here for a wealth of info. And here's a brief biography of Hansberry, including the largely unmentioned fact that she identified as a lesbian.

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  • clonchi's picture

    hmm

    I heard about this tv movie some time ago, but sadly since I don't live in the states, I'm not gonna get to watch it (yet).

    hope you keep us posted scribe, to see whether it's good or not!

    sue_me's picture

    Cheers for Raisin

    This a wonderful work written by a woman. The play derives some of its inspiration from Hansberry's family's experiences.

    The Hansberry family had to endure hostile neighbors as they sought the freedom to live in a place of their choosing rather than be excluded due to racial covenants -- then legal -- which restricted people of color from certain neighborhoods.

    I like the cast...but the jury's still out for me on Puffy. He seems to have one expression -- pouty. Then again, it's tough for anyone to fill Sidney Poitier's shoes.

    Echodiana's picture

    Rasin in the sun

    It was just a few years ago that A Raisin in the Sun was one of the books i was working on in Literature class. I probably wrote 10 or more essays on the book and as they started the publicity for the movie i realised i had completley forgotten the plot of the story. But i did remember that i had found out in my research that Lorraine was probably a lesbian. And i did really like the book.

    My question though is how come in all the publicity for this movie Sanaa is rarely mentioned. Just Sean, Audra and Phyllicia Rashad. I thought Sanaa had more clout than Sean Combs. She's a good actress.

    pecola's picture

    Sanaa Lathan

    I think Sean "P Diddy" Combs has a pretty strong following--though watching Raisin tonight might mean missing the first run of his latest episode of Making the Band 4--but I was surprised that they didn't highlight Sanaa Lathan more in the commercials. I've seen the commercial numerous times (Combs' delivery of that one line always irks me) and, until today, Sanaa Lathan wasn't in it.

    As if Claire Huxtable Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald weren't enough reason to watch...

    -----

    "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

    Harpy's picture

    A Raisin in the Sun

    Already have it set to TiVo, but probably won't watch it tonight since I cannot stand commercials.  I'm not a fan of Puffy either, but I am expecting him to do well in this role based on the reviews I've seen.

    _________

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    yet-another-lesbian-in-black's picture

    Audra McDonald

    Have to agree - commercials and puff daddy are two things i can normally due without. He looks like he might pull it off though.

    The female cast looks incredible - Audra McDOnald and Phylica Rashad! The emotional potential is almost overwhelming. I've never heard of Sanaa Lathan but then again I live in a cave.

    This is an introduction to Hansberry, glad it was adapted and that you great people at AfterEllen reported ( :

    Hollywood Marie's picture

    So meta!

    I LOVE A Raisin in the Sun; I teach it to my ninth grade English classes every year by playing the cassette (that's all we have)featuring Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee! It's really great. And now, Sanaa Lathan, one of the most attractive women in Hollywood will be starring in it?!?! Is she playing Beneatha? I think Beneatha is one of my favorite characters in literature. I love all the cast (could take or leave Puffy) and can't wait to see it. And I had NO idea Hansberry was probably a lesbian, but I'll be sure to let my classes know. She was quite a person, huh?
    Anonymous's picture

    umm

    p.diddy/puffy/puff daddy/whatever-his-name-is CANT act. proof: the tv promos.
    jeangrey8's picture

    wow..what a cast!

    I absolutely love and have the utmost respect for Phylicia Rashaad..I had a crush on her when she was on the Cosby show..And then to add Sanaa and Audra..also two of my favorite actresses..I really enjoyed this adaptation..Puffy actually did a good job..
    gypsywee's picture

    OK...

    I'm watching it now...the women are AMAZING! :D P. Diddy, a.k.a. Puff Daddy (S.C.), sucks!...and he seems 10 times worse in comparison to the great actresses he's paired with...sad. :p Dude! What were you thinking?!
    luvhouse's picture

    Where's the love for Puffy?

    Wow. I'm amazed how many comments in which Sean Combs is being called out for his perceived lack of acting skills. give a guy a break. here's some food for thought:

    1) Sean Combs not only is a lead actor in the film, but an executive producer, which means he played a key role in getting this film produced and to the screen.

    2) Sean also starred in the original Broadway production in 2004 (with Phylicia, Audra, and Sanaa), which was the SECOND highest grossing broadway production ever.

    3) and lastly, I think he puts it very eloquently, in in his own words, in regards to his role in the film and it's message, quoted from an article in the Baltimore Sun by Greg Baxter:

     "Someone like myself who lives under a celebrity cloud attracts different expectations," Diddy said. "With this, there will be many expectations, and there's definitely the Sidney Poitier factor. But as long as I do service to the work, that's fine. People may tune in to see how good or bad I am, but then they'll get sucked into the story. And it's such a legendary story. There is that risk, and that's what excited me about the whole project."

    the entire article can be found here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/bal-to.raisin25feb25,0,2865441.story

    amazing film. amazing actors. amazing playwright. yeah for Afterellen.com for covering it.

    p.s. the man produced Mary J. Blige's What's the 411?!........for that, I can't really fault him.

     


     

    pecola's picture

    Giving Credit

    I'll give him credit--that was a much better performance than I had anticipated. Much, much better. That's not to say that he wasn't outshone by Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald or Sanaa Lathan, because he absolutely was, but he far exceeded my expectations for his performance.

    But the women...wow...Sanaa Lathan's performance was inspired (though, that might have something to do with the fact that the last time I saw her, she was stealing kidneys on Nip/Tuck, so by comparison, anything looks inspired)...I'm convinced Phylicia Rashad could find a way to entertain me reading the phonebook...and Audra McDonald--oh how her talents are wasted on Private Practice--that scene in the backroom of the salon was Emmy worthy, in my book!

    That was great. I hope they'll produce a DVD.

    -----

    "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

    luvhouse's picture

    Audra

    I agree, Audra Mcdonald is amazing. A few years back, she got an emmy nom for her role in HBO’s Wit. Emma Thompson was nominated as well. Both of their performances were outstanding.  

    I lost interest in Private Practice midseason. I love Kate Walsh, so bummed how bad the show was. It did get renewed for a second season, so hopin that they will have some better storylines! If not, I think they should send Kate back to Grey's Anatomy and she should take Audra with her.   

     

     

    Anonymous's picture

    The 2008 adaption of ARITS

    I'm sorry I missed the adapted television version of one of ultimate fav playwrights Ms. Hansberry. I'm pretty sure a dvd will come out soon. I was surprised Sean starred in the theatre version and turn around to star in the TV version.  Kudos for him being passionate about. It also sheds a new light on things (confirms on rumors about him from  theautobiography from one Video girls in Video Vixen). But that's another story in itself.

    In high School, I researched all the info my petite hands could get about Lorraine Hansberry and I did come across some articles about her sexual identity .She may have identified as Lesbian. It was known, however, of her connection with  Lesbian ladies of Daughter of Bilitis, who from what I read, were her friends.

    It's just so sad to have lost an important African-American female playwright at such a young age when at that were so few.

    I'm glad to read all of your thoughts about her,actors performances and the play.

    Yes,it is hard to fill Sidney Poitier's shoes in ARITS. He is such a fierce actor. Poitier's movie Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is at the top of my list of favorite Black classic movies .

    Enough of me rambling

     

     

    Peachblossom720's picture

    I was surprised that Sean

    I was surprised that Sean Combs did so well.  His weakest moments were when he had to deliver short monologues, but he did manage to transcend his P-Diddy persona. 

    It was a very good movie.  It really didn't seem like it was three hours long.  It kept my attntion the whole time.

    Traveler's picture

    Hansberry/"Raisin"

    This is a bit late but I just came across an interview with one of the producers who talks about Ms. Hansberry. There's some replies at the end that are also well worth reading.

    http://www.bilerico.com/2008/02/gay_producer_craig_zadan_on_raisin_in_th...