Their Eyes Were Watching God

Oprah Winfrey produced this lush but somewhat bowdlerized adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's landmark novel set in an all-black Florida village during the first three decades of the 20th century. Halle Berry is luminescent as the free-spirited Janie, trapped in back-to-back unhappy marriages. First forced to wed an older man at the age of 16, Janie later finds emotional liberation in the handsome form of young stud Tea Cake (Michael Ealy), but this relationship creates waves of shock and outrage in Janie's small community. On its own merits, this made-for-television production is engaging and entertaining, with handsome production design and a memorable star turn by Berry, who proves she is more than worthy of carrying a serious dramatic production (this is her best work since the Oscar-winning Monster's Ball). But, sadly, style has been emphasized over substance here, and the genuine power of Hurston's novel has been seriously dampened (references to skin color caste issues and class envy within the African-American world of the early 20th century have been removed), while Janie's motivations have been narrowed significantly, erasing the character's complexity to the point where her behavior often just seems flaky. With luck, the film will encourage viewers to seek out the book. A strong optional purchase. (P. Hall)