By Donald Lee
Eagle Guest Columnist
If you have not yet seen the action, thriller, “Proud Mary,” starring Taraji P. Henson,
one of my favorite actresses, what are you waiting on? Henson does her thing as a hit woman working for a Boston-based crime family, headed by the character, Benny, played by Danny Glover.
The film, released in theaters nationwide on Jan. 12, is filled with action and wastes no time getting down to business. Henson’s character, Mary, is seen just beyond the credits’ appearance stealthily entering the home of her target. With a silencer attached to her pistol, she snuffs out the life of her intended target. Immediately after the kill, she makes her way to another part of the home and discovers a young boy — oblivious to the slaying of his father — as he plays a video game.
Mary, who’s made a career of killing without remorse, is stunned by her discovery. Watching the boy, Danny (played by Jahi Di’Allo Winston), through a crack in his bedroom door, Mary eases away and makes her exit, but not before grabbing a framed picture of the boy on her way out.
The moment she sees 12-year-old Danny, her heart becomes heavy and that unshakable feeling grates at her conscience. A year passes, and Mary comes across Danny again and he’s been injured.
She ultimately takes him in to her home, a life-altering move. Mary begins to see herself taking on a parental role, desiring to leave the criminal underworld but being faced with the reality that that’s a covenant — if it is to be — that can only be broken through the shedding of blood.
Movie-goer Danny Lee says he loved “Proud Mary,” adding, “That movie is everything — probably the best movie I have ever seen.”
Mahittible Bettis, another movie-goer, gives the film two thumbs up. “My son and I saw it on MLK Day,” she says. “We really enjoyed it. I hated to see it end.”
If you’re looking for great entertainment, in which you’re kept at the edge of your seat, “Proud Mary,” which is rated R, is sure to give you your money’s worth.
I’ll admit, the movie, shot on a $14 million budget, took in a little less than that in its opening weekend and has grossed just under $20 million since. But those numbers belie Henson’s and her supporting cast’s powerful performances.
Also noteworthy is that Screen Gems, a division of Sony Pictures, has been criticized for doing very little to promote the movie. As in any soon-to-be-released movie, album, or anything else, a sufficient amount of marketing to introduce the product is an absolute necessity.
Henson and Glover are two of Hollywood’s brightest stars. And the two of them squaring off in a showdown is worth the price of admission.
Again, if you haven’t seen “Proud Mary,” head to a theatre near you and check it out. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it.
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Donald Lee is co-author of “Married to Commitment,” a book on relationships and commitment, and he’s a free-lance editor and columnist. Lee may be contacted for comment by calling him at (225) 773-2248 or e-mailing him at leedonaldj@gmail.com. Also, check out the trailer for “Married to Commitment” on YouTube.
