Movie Description
Four African American women commiserate about the men in their lives after one of them is abandoned by her philandering husband. A well-received adaptation of Terry McMillan's best-selling 1992 novel.
| Credits | | Cast: | Dennis Haysbert, Gregory Hines, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Wesley Snipes |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Letterboxed - 1.85:1
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - English
Dolby Surround - French
Additional Release Material:
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus, Released theatrically in the USA December 22, 1995.
The film was very profitable for 20th Century Fox, as the budget was $15 million -- and grossed $65 million domestically.
Color by DeLuxe.
The film was named best picture of the year at the 27th annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony. In addition, Angela Bassett was named best lead actress and Loretta Divine best supporting actress.
Upon its release, "Waiting to Exhale" created a firestorm of controversy within the African-American community. While scores of Black women went to see it in droves (often more than once), many Black men claimed it was an unrealistic, male-bashing film that promoted negative stereotypes about them. As a result, debates over the film were held over the Internet, "Waiting to Exhale" discussion groups met across the country, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey devoted TWO shows to the movie, all to discuss the issues raised by the film.
Additional cast: Jazz Raycole (Onika); Brandon Hammond (John Jr.); Kenya Moore (Denise); Wren T. Brown (Minister); Theo (On Air Deejay); Ken Love (Deejay at the Hermosa); Graham Galloway (Fireman); Starletta DuPois (Savannah's Mother); Shari L. Carpenter (Savannah's Assistant); and Thomas R. Leander (Interviewer).
Additional credits: Joseph Ray (2nd assistant director); Thomas C. Ford (special effects coordinator); Carlton Kaller (music editor); Roni Wheeler Poole, Walter W. Parry Jr. (assistant directors); Chris Carpenter (sound re-recordist); Rawn Hutchinson, Brandon Sebek (stunt co-ordinators).
Original soundtrack album available on Arista Records, executive produced by Babyface.
"Wey U" performed by Chanté Moore.
"All Night Long" performed by SWV.
"Love Will Be Waiting at Home" performed by For Real.
"Sittin' Up in My Room" performed by Brandy.
"And I Gave My Love to You" performed by Sonja Marie.
"How Could You Call Her Baby" performed by Shanna.
"Kissing You" performed by Faith Evans.
"Somewhere There Is a Love" performed by De De O'Neal.
"I'm Gonna Make You My Wife" performed by The Whispers, composed by Wayne Bell.
"Love Theme from `Romeo and Juliet'" composed by Nino Rota.
"Lovin' You" performed and composed by Minnie Riperton.
"It Might Be You" performed by Roberta Flack, composed by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Dave Grusin.
"Happy Birthday to You" composed by Mildred and Patty Hill.
Rated BBFC 15 by the British Board of Film Classification.
Copyright 1995 20th Century Fox Film Corporation.
Editorial Reviews
"....[Angela Bassett] turns in quite a powerful performance..."
Lipman
"...An exhilarating blast...[with a] strong cast..." -- Rating: B+
Tucker
"...An appealing cast and skilled and imaginative direction by Forest Whitaker....Bassett again proves her gifts with a performance at once fiery and delicate..."
Variety - Godfrey Cheshire (12/18/1995)
"...Pleasant....Grounded in a smooth, wall-to-wall soundtrack written by Kenneth 'Babyface" Edmonds....WAITING TO EXHALE is easy listening for the eyes..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (12/22/1995)
"...This is a debut directing job by Forest Whitaker, and somehow the tone of the film resembles his own acting: measured, serene, confident..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (12/22/1995)
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