Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romantic drama film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.The film was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. It's a handsome production, too, with the glorious Arizona sun turning the skin of the characters to burnished gold. her best friend, Bernadine (Angela Bassett), the wife of a successful businessman who dumped her after 11 years of marriage for his white bookkeeper. Getting to Happy is the sequel to Waiting to Exhale by author Terry McMillan. Gloria has taken happiness and security for granted. His clothes in his car You feel entitled to flirt with a single guy who doesn't know you're married (he doesn't) behind your husband's back because you settled in the prime of your life. Savannah meets the guy she's been playing telephone tag with There are some superb supporting performances, including stellar cameos from Wesley Snipes and Gregory Hines. | About waiting-to-exhale 2 points 3 points 4 points 3 years ago This feels like an attempt to bargain your way into an affair. Waiting to Exhale. "Getting Happy," which was … to their own realizations about their lives over the past year. In a sense, though, "Waiting to Exhale" is more significant for what it represents than for what it is. Unlike some recent women's films, though, "Waiting to Exhale" isn't a talky hen party where the much aggrieved girlfriends sip herbal tea and hash out what it means to be women. The novel follows the lives of four African-American friends in Phoenix, Arizona in 2005. A revolving door of men, but in the end, she's pregnant And, initially, this seems to be measured almost exclusively in terms of relationships. Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romance film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.The film was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Me | Legal Book Review: Waiting to Exhale Waiting to Exhale is a wondrous, explicit representation of four middle-class African American females in the late twentieth century and their tumultuous relationships with men, relationships, and a number of both personal and professional problems that each of them endures. Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, … Collectively, their dream -- as the title states -- is to achieve some degree of genuine satisfaction; that is, to breathe. The long-term marriage established a lifestyle that both … Bernadine Harris : [Arguing about money at John's office] Who do you think started this damn company, huh? is an important book because it is characterized by relatable female protagonists. Seriously. Robin (Lela Rochon) has also built a substantial career in the business world, but can't seem to stay away from bad boys who dip into her purse when she's not looking, while Gloria (Loretta Devine) has given up on men and focuses on raising her teenage son, Tarik (Donald Adeosun Faison). Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romance film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.The film was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Led by Spike Lee, John Singleton, Carl Franklin and the Hughes brothers (among others), the movement has most often relegated black women to the margins. Then, finally, they can breathe for real. McMillan’s . The final settlement is much better -- Bernadine gets $1.5 million, the house, a second house in Mexico, $500,000 in stocks and bonds, and the Mercedes station wagon. The renaissance in black filmmaking has been mostly a man thing -- at least in terms of subject matter. Her ex- comes by, and comes out and says he's been bisexual for McMillan's hit novel helped dispel the myths that black folks don't buy books or that white folks won't buy books by black folks. Robin has an all-American case of shopaholism. to the curb. her for another woman -- a white woman. Of the four, the ravishing Bernadine is the least sympathetic, if for no reason other than the fact that her sole aim is getting as big a divorce settlement from her ex as possible. From the hairstyles, clothes and cars to fingernails and makeup, the film is a master list of signifiers about black life and, in particular, relations between the sexes. Waiting to Exhale, at area theaters, is rated R for language, adult situations and partial nudity. She loves men's bodies (especially if they've got muscles), but her choice of playmates isn't so hot. The four lead actors all give solid, impressive performances. The life of the average African American is burdened with a variety of social problems some, but not all of which, stem from … are quite flammable, we learn. The film was adapted fromthe 1992 novel of the same namebyTerry McMillan.Lela Rochon,Loretta Devine,Dennis Haysbert,Michael Beach,Gregory Hines,Donald … Hit the jump for the book synopsis for Getting to Happy and the Waiting to Exhale trailer. She finally comes to the realization that the married man is never But being at the wrong place at the wrong time can change everything. In one scene, Savannah agrees on a blind date for New Year's Eve, and after a few minutes in the arms of a studly, expensively dressed, obviously successful (and apparently available) young man, she nestles her head against his shoulder and fantasizes that finally she has found a safe harbor from the storm. years, but isn't bi- anymore. Since its release it has impacted countless women across the country, especially … The men here are mostly losers who sponge off their women, lie, do drugs and cat around. Desktop notifications are on   | Turn off, Get breaking news alerts from The Washington Post. Waiting to Exhale (1992; film 1995) follows four Black middle-class women, each of whom is looking for the love of a worthy man. A decade later, author Terry McMillan's own husband would come out as gay, leading to a very public and acrimonious divorce. Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, … The one standout is the appropriately named Devine. When Waiting to Exhale came out, the Los Angeles Times hailed it as a “social phenomenon.” I am inclined to agree. In fact, some may feel that there isn't enough of this sort of exchange, that there is too much going on for the girls just to sit and rap. In essence, the story is fairly conventional, even a little soap-operatic. 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