Akeelah and the Bee
LINKS:
— Overview
— Cast and Crew
— Photo Pages
2005 was all about winning. Cinderella Man, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Dreamer, Glory Road (okay, that was early 2006)—coming out on top was a major part of all these stories. 2006 is shaping up a little differently.
Not because Glory Road taught us that winning doesn’t change quite everything—no, we already knew that. No, this spring’s crop of movies just places more of an emphasis on competing. After I watched Take the Lead, for instance, I walked out of the theatre and asked my wife, “Wait a minute! Who actually won the contest?” Quite frankly, winning just didn’t matter.
This is not to say that Akeelah and the Bee is not about winning. It is. But it is also about competing, competing well, and competing fairly.
Keke Plamer is stunningly captivating as a nearly invisible inner-city middle-schooler named Akeelah. When her principal browbeats her into competing in the school’s first spelling bee—and she wins—she catches the attention of a former spelling-bee whiz who’s looking for a competitor to coach. Mom’s not so thrilled. But the course is set, and it’s no surprise that Akeelah makes it all the way to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, after a few hiccups along the way and a run-in or two with both Mom and the coach.
And in terms of formula plot, that’s about all you need to know.
But, ah, what a joy it is to see Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne on screen together again as Akeelah’s mother and coach, even in supporting roles. The direction is tight and fine, and the script manages to deliver a number of clever and pleasant surprises on the way to the Finals.
And in the end, Akeelah reminds us that how we get to the finals is every bit as important (and fun) as getting there—or winning.
— Overview
— Cast and Crew
— Photo Pages
— Overview
— Cast and Crew
— Photo Pages
2005 was all about winning. Cinderella Man, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Dreamer, Glory Road (okay, that was early 2006)—coming out on top was a major part of all these stories. 2006 is shaping up a little differently.
Not because Glory Road taught us that winning doesn’t change quite everything—no, we already knew that. No, this spring’s crop of movies just places more of an emphasis on competing. After I watched Take the Lead, for instance, I walked out of the theatre and asked my wife, “Wait a minute! Who actually won the contest?” Quite frankly, winning just didn’t matter.This is not to say that Akeelah and the Bee is not about winning. It is. But it is also about competing, competing well, and competing fairly.
Keke Plamer is stunningly captivating as a nearly invisible inner-city middle-schooler named Akeelah. When her principal browbeats her into competing in the school’s first spelling bee—and she wins—she catches the attention of a former spelling-bee whiz who’s looking for a competitor to coach. Mom’s not so thrilled. But the course is set, and it’s no surprise that Akeelah makes it all the way to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, after a few hiccups along the way and a run-in or two with both Mom and the coach.And in terms of formula plot, that’s about all you need to know.
But, ah, what a joy it is to see Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne on screen together again as Akeelah’s mother and coach, even in supporting roles. The direction is tight and fine, and the script manages to deliver a number of clever and pleasant surprises on the way to the Finals.And in the end, Akeelah reminds us that how we get to the finals is every bit as important (and fun) as getting there—or winning.
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)CONTINUE:
— Overview
— Cast and Crew
— Photo Pages
posted by Greg Wright at 7:10 PM
3 Comments:
This wasn't really a review, but more of a synopsis with a top and tail. I'd like to know why the mother is against Akeelah entering spelling bees -- would she prefer her daughter concentrate on her gymnastics or her failing math homework? Is she concerned too much education would spoil her girl's "place" in the community pecking order? And what does the reviewer think about that conflict? I would have thought the mother-daughter issues were more surprising and interesting than knowing there were run-ins with the coach (there always are in flix like this)...
That's a pretty fair "review" of my "review"! But there's really not a lot more to say about the movie. It's very straightforward, and not complex at all in the usual sorts of ways. Akeelah's relationship with her mother is no more complicated and no less forumulaic than her relationship with her coach.
But that's part of the charm of the movie. It relies on realism and good acting to take what could easily be a tired formula and turn into something truly enjoyable.
Seeing is believing. Don't take my word for it!
Thanks for commenting!
I would lkike to know where the quote Fishburne used to help Akeela get faith in herself came from and who wrote it. Knowing that would have added to the movie in my opinion.
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