The Color Purple Reviews

Blitz Bazawule (Black is King) takes on the role Steven Spielberg mastered in 1985 by directing the original The Color Purple. He wears the mantle well, drawing out spectacular performances from the entire cast as they perform this new take of Alice Walker's classic novel as written for the screen by television's Marcus Gardley from the stage play by Marsha Norman.Sisters Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi/Fantasia Barrino) and Nettie (Halle Bailey/Ciara) have nothing but each other. Even as their father dowries Celie to the abusive Mister (Colman Domingo), they vow not to part. But it isn't long before Nettie goes to Celie for sanctuary, only to be thrown out by Mister shortly after for refusing his advances. Thus begins a life of pain and servitude for Celie, who only survives and grows stronger through the presence of the strong-willed Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and independent Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson). With their help, she perseveres, always wondering what happened to her sister while never giving up hope of a reunion.Remakes are often inferior to the originals, with authors frequently and incorrectly seeming to feel that CGI, modernization, or popular actors are sufficient to tell a new story. This film is an exception. The story unfolds better here, with a greater connection to the characters, both good and bad. Superior casting throughout is a great help to this. It is clear that each actor was carefully selected for what was to be a fine performance. Despite this, there are standouts among them. Domingo is wonderfully despicable and loathsome as he is egged on by Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol' Mister. Henson's portrayal of the wayward preacher's daughter who found her way in the blues is spot on, with an unforgettable entrance at Harpo's Juke Joint. A powerful performance from Brooks proves she has star power as she moves toward more meaningful feature-length parts. But even these brilliant performances cannot stand up to Barrino's exceptional evolution of the central character. The cinematography gives a fabulous feel of the turn of the 20th Century Carolina coast, including the growth of the town as time passes. Interior shots show the bleakness of the time, even in the happiest moments and locations. The costumes are on par with this, matching the changing styles over the decades the film covers. The soundtrack works great, with all the songs fitting the moment. However, the choreography does not match well in the earlier numbers. The movements are too plastic and inappropriate to the moment, which is particularly noticeable in a couple of tragic scenes. It lessens the weight of what is happening at the time, deflating the tension and, subsequently, the flow of the film. This is unfortunate in an otherwise stunning motion picture.Like the previous version, The Color Purple is a magnificent but difficult movie to watch, even with the closing payoffs. It is a dusty, dirty road full of rocks and pitfalls to get there, and the filmmakers rightly chose, in most instances, not to take an easier path. With the exception of some questionable choreography, this is a film that proudly screams, "I'm here! I'm here!"