The Color Purple

It's about life. It's about love. It's about us.

THE COLOR PURPLE (15)

D: Steven Spielberg

Warner Bros./Amblin (Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Quincy Jones, Jon Peter & Peter Gubers)

USA 🇺🇸 1985

152 mins

Drama

W: Menno Meyjes [based on the novel by Alice Walker]

DP: Allen Davieu

Ed: Michael Kahn

Mus: Quincy Jones

PD: J. Michael Riva

Cos: Aggie Guarard-Rodgers

Whoopi Goldberg (Celie), Danny Glover (Albert), Margaret Avery (Shug Avery), Oprah Winfrey (Sofia), Willard Pugh (Harpo), Akosua Busia (Nettie), Adolph Caesar (Old Mister), Rae Dawn Chong (Squeak)

Steven Spielberg's first 'mature' film, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker tells the life story of an African-American woman during the early part of the 1900's, as she face struggles from both society and within her own family.

All the performances are absolutely fantastic and director Spielberg presents the story incredibly well, though it isn't what you would come to expect from a director whose previous films would be described as far more fun than they would be serious. Some might say that he wasn't the obvious choice to direct this film, but producer Quincy Jones is said to have insisted upon it.

The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and went away empty-handed, making it the biggest 'Oscar loser' of all time. It's unfortunate, it really deserved something, as the screenplay and cast ensemble are excellent.

A very well made piece of work.

8/10

Danny Glover & Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple

THE COLOR PURPLE (12)

D: Blitz Bazawule

Warner Bros / Amblin / OW Films (Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders & Quincy Jones)

US 🇺🇸 2023

141 mins

Musical/Drama

W: Marcus Gardley [based on the stage musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray & Marsha Norman and the novel by Alice Walker]

DP: Dan Laustsen

Ed. Jon Poll

Mus: Kris Bowers

PD: Paul D. Austerberry

Cos: Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

Fantasia Barrino (Celie Harris-Johnson), Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery), Danielle Brooks (Sofia), Colman Domingo (Albert ‘Mister’ Johnson), Corey Hawkins (Harpo Johnson), H.E.R. (Mary ‘Squeak’ Agnes), Louis Gossett, Jr. (Ol’ Mister Johnson), Halle Bailey (Nettie Harris), Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (Young Celie)

Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer-Prize winning novel was originally brought to the screen by Steven Spielberg in 1985, becoming both a critical and commercial success, as well as a surprising and shocking record for receiving the most Oscar nominations (11) without a single win.

Twenty years on, the novel was adapted into a stage musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray & Marsha Norman and this is a big screen adaptation of that work, rather than the source novel itself.

The story follows the life of Celie, a young black woman in the early 1900s Deep South. Abused by her father, she is forced into a marriage to Albert ‘Mister’ Johnson, who treats her equally severely.

As the years pass, she strikes a kinship with various other women, including blues singer Shug Avery, and reconnects with her sister Nettie.

Personally, I think the story works far better as a serious drama than it does a musical, but some of the songs are fine, including the excellent “Miss Celie’s Blue’s (Sister)” which was written for the 1985 film and repurposed here.

The casting and performances are exceptional from the entire cast, with Fantasia Barrino a standout in her theatrical debut, Danielle Brooks, reprising her role from the theatrical production, and even Louis Gossett, Jr, delivering his best performance since his Oscar-winning turn in An Officer & A Gentleman 41 years prior.

As an adaptation of the stage musical, it’s a solid piece of work, but it really doesn’t hold a candle to the 1985 film.

6/10

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi & Halle Bailey in The Color Purple (2023)