Eve's Bayou (1997) ***1/2

Kasi Lemmons' 1997 directorial debut, Eve's Bayou, is an effective drama with a dark undercurrent, superb cinematography, and wonderful costumes. The performances by the mostly female cast are fantastic across the board (Samuel L. Jackson—who also co-produced—is, of course, really good too). I quite enjoyed the film but I did find the story and the presentation a bit Spielbergian in its approach. That's not a backhanded compliment—I really like Spielberg, but sometimes his work can be a bit saccharine.