This is definitely an intriguing story and the casting was magnificent. There wasn't a weak performance in the film. And that also speaks to the quality of the material, both the book and the screenplay. I think the problem with the movie is the director. Demme is not the kind of director who can generate convincing conflicting emotions in his creations. And, in a film like this, that's a fatal flaw. That's all this story is about--conflicting emotions. And Demme's inability to demonstrate that failed his cast, crew and the audience. Beloved is one of the greatest American novels and it deserved so much more than this director was able to give.
