December 19, 2023
FILM: THE COLOR PURPLE
DIRECTED BY: BLITZ BAZAWULE
STARRING: FANTASIA BARRINO, TARAJI P HENSON, DANIELLE BROOKS
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
It has been almost 40 years since Steven Spielberg directed the first adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple for the big screen. That much-celebrated film earned 11 Oscar nominations but sadly won none of them. Since then, the book has been adapted for a Broadway stage production which was also very well received. I saw the touring company when it came to Chicago and it pretty much blew me away. Now THAT version has been adapted for the screen directed by Blitz Bazawule, who previously directed only one other feature, Black is King, a visual album by Beyonce that was inspired by The Lion King in 2020. All of this is to say that his version of The Color Purple is unexpectedly truly outstanding in every possible way. It breathes new life into the story and opens it up to a new generation.
The film stretches from 1909 until 1947 and follows Celie, played by Fantasia Barrino, a Black woman forced into marriage with an abusive husband referred to as “Mister” and played chillingly by Colman Domingo. Celie’s relationship with her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) is severed when she refuses Mister’s advances. A heartbroken Celie lives under the cloud of her life with Mister until Shug Avery comes to town. Played by Taraji P. Henson, Shug is a jazz singer that lights up Celie’s world in more ways than one. There is a sexual attraction between the women that gives Celie hope for a better life.
This adaptation of the stage musical is lively from start to finish. The choreography of the many big production numbers is intense and immensely visually stimulating. The production design is stellar and exquisite from the club built on swampland by Mister’s son Harpo to Suga’s opulent home. One of the best sets comes to life when Celie and Suga attend a film and are magically transformed to the stage. The art deco design represents the ultimate in high society and a peak moment for the women. The scene stands in sharp contrast to the dreary world that is Celie’s home with Mister. Costumes, especially those worn by Henson as Suga, are also true knockouts and beautifully capture her larger than life personality.
The cinematography is also sweeping with cameras in almost constant movement. Most of the colors are warm suggesting a charge-filled atmosphere. This is, after all, a free-flowing, fairly fast moving narrative.
The lead performances really do stand out. Fantasia Barrino beautifully re-creates the role that Whoopi Goldberg brought to life in the 1986 film. (Goldberg also has a welcome cameo early in the new film.) Barrino’s quiet reactions to some of the intense events happening around her are nicely modulated. She also builds the character up as we watch her grow and become more of her own woman. Of course, her voice is as great as it was when she won American Idol almost 20 years ago. Henson is lively and sensuous as Shug. She surprises with some high energy during her key production numbers. The big standout here though is Danielle Brooks as Sophie (the role that Oprah Winfrey played in the original film that got her an acting Oscar nomination.) Brooks is a complete force to reckoned with in the role. Adding to her physical abilities (her walk, her dancing, etc.) is her powerful voice. She also goes through a significant arc, which is a heartbreaking and major emotional wallop.
The only quibble I have with the film is that it has one too many final scenes. There is a moment outside a dress shop which could have easily made for a strong and powerful finish but I do understand that there were a few story elements that needed to be resolved albeit perhaps not as dramatically as is created here.
Overall, this is one of the best film musicals in years. It is expertly executed on every level.
The Color Purple opens theatrically on December 25th.
FILM: THE COLOR PURPLE
DIRECTED BY: BLITZ BAZAWULE
STARRING: FANTASIA BARRINO, TARAJI P HENSON, DANIELLE BROOKS
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
It has been almost 40 years since Steven Spielberg directed the first adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple for the big screen. That much-celebrated film earned 11 Oscar nominations but sadly won none of them. Since then, the book has been adapted for a Broadway stage production which was also very well received. I saw the touring company when it came to Chicago and it pretty much blew me away. Now THAT version has been adapted for the screen directed by Blitz Bazawule, who previously directed only one other feature, Black is King, a visual album by Beyonce that was inspired by The Lion King in 2020. All of this is to say that his version of The Color Purple is unexpectedly truly outstanding in every possible way. It breathes new life into the story and opens it up to a new generation.
The film stretches from 1909 until 1947 and follows Celie, played by Fantasia Barrino, a Black woman forced into marriage with an abusive husband referred to as “Mister” and played chillingly by Colman Domingo. Celie’s relationship with her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) is severed when she refuses Mister’s advances. A heartbroken Celie lives under the cloud of her life with Mister until Shug Avery comes to town. Played by Taraji P. Henson, Shug is a jazz singer that lights up Celie’s world in more ways than one. There is a sexual attraction between the women that gives Celie hope for a better life.
This adaptation of the stage musical is lively from start to finish. The choreography of the many big production numbers is intense and immensely visually stimulating. The production design is stellar and exquisite from the club built on swampland by Mister’s son Harpo to Suga’s opulent home. One of the best sets comes to life when Celie and Suga attend a film and are magically transformed to the stage. The art deco design represents the ultimate in high society and a peak moment for the women. The scene stands in sharp contrast to the dreary world that is Celie’s home with Mister. Costumes, especially those worn by Henson as Suga, are also true knockouts and beautifully capture her larger than life personality.
The cinematography is also sweeping with cameras in almost constant movement. Most of the colors are warm suggesting a charge-filled atmosphere. This is, after all, a free-flowing, fairly fast moving narrative.
The lead performances really do stand out. Fantasia Barrino beautifully re-creates the role that Whoopi Goldberg brought to life in the 1986 film. (Goldberg also has a welcome cameo early in the new film.) Barrino’s quiet reactions to some of the intense events happening around her are nicely modulated. She also builds the character up as we watch her grow and become more of her own woman. Of course, her voice is as great as it was when she won American Idol almost 20 years ago. Henson is lively and sensuous as Shug. She surprises with some high energy during her key production numbers. The big standout here though is Danielle Brooks as Sophie (the role that Oprah Winfrey played in the original film that got her an acting Oscar nomination.) Brooks is a complete force to reckoned with in the role. Adding to her physical abilities (her walk, her dancing, etc.) is her powerful voice. She also goes through a significant arc, which is a heartbreaking and major emotional wallop.
The only quibble I have with the film is that it has one too many final scenes. There is a moment outside a dress shop which could have easily made for a strong and powerful finish but I do understand that there were a few story elements that needed to be resolved albeit perhaps not as dramatically as is created here.
Overall, this is one of the best film musicals in years. It is expertly executed on every level.
The Color Purple opens theatrically on December 25th.