[FILM REVIEW] THE COLOR PURPLE Review (2024)

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 Dave Aba Arthur, Adentinpo Thomas, Ailani Flowers, Alex First, Aunjaune Ellis-Taylor, Blitz Bazawule, Brad Raymond, Central Coast Radio, Ciara, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Danielle Brooks, David Alan Grier, David Griffiths, David Vaughn, Deon Cole, Elizabeth Marvel, Emana Rachelle, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Jamaal Avery Jnr, Jon Batiste, Kyle McGrath, Lee Griffiths, Louis Gossett Jr., MaCai Arrington Griffin, Marcus Gardley, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Stephen Hill, Tamela J. Mann, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J. Smith, The Color Purple, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Tiffany Elle Burgess, USA

Summary: A woman faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

Year: 2024

Cinema Release Dates: 25th January 2024 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), 26th January 2024 (UK), 25th December 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Blitz Bazawule

Screenwriter: Marcus Gardley

Cast: Aba Arthur (Abena), Jamaal Avery Jnr. (Young Harpo), Halle Bailey (Young Nettie), Fantasia Barrino (Celie), Jon Batiste (Grady), Danielle Brooks (Sofia), Tiffany Elle Burgess (Olivia), Ciara (Nettie), Deon Cole (Alfonso), Colman Domingo (Mister), Aunjaune Ellis-Taylor (Mama), Ailani Flowers (Lil Cat), Louis Gossett Jr. (Ol Mister), David Alan Grier (Reverend Avery), MaCai Arrington Griffin (Bub), H.E.R. (Squeak), Corey Hawkins (Harpo), Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery), Stephen Hill (Henry (Buster) Broadnax), Tamela J. Mann (First Lady), Elizabeth Marvel (Miss Millie), Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (Young Celie), Emana Rachelle (Corrine), Brad Raymond (Big Slim), Terrence J. Smith (Adam), Adentinpo Thomas (Mary Ellen), David Vaughn (Postman (Mr Edmonds))

Running Time: 141 minutes

Classification: M (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 12-A (UK), PG13 (USA)

OUR THE COLOR PURPLE REVIEWS

David and Lee Griffiths’s The Color Purple Review

David’s rating Out Of 5

Lee’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle McGrath’s The Color Purple Review

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s The Color Purple Review

Starting in Georgia in 1909 and spanning 38 years, The Color Purple is based around the struggles of African American Celie Harris.

With her sister Nettie, Celie is brought up by their abusive father Alfonso (their mother died some time ago).

Alfonso marries off Celie to an equally obnoxious local farmer and father of three, Albert “Mister” Johnson, who had designs on the prettier of the sisters.

Celie, who Alfonso beats, simply takes her punishment, while Nettie flees to parts unknown.

Nettie promises to write to Celie every week, which she does, but Alfonso hides those letters, so Celie can’t see them.

Celie is impressed by the defiance and spunk shown by Sofia, who marries Mister’s son Harpo.

Mister has long shown more than a passing interest in the daughter of the local preacher, jazz singer Shug Avery, who visits him when she is back in town.

That is when Shug becomes aware of Celie’s dire situation and like Sofia tries to empower Celie.

Still, given Celie’s innate good nature, she finds it difficult to stand up for herself in the wake of seemingly overwhelming odds.

The Color Purple is a coming of age, period musical drama, directed by Blitz Bazawule.

The screenplay by Marcus Gardley, who cut his teeth writing for TV, is based on the stage musical of the same name.

As someone who generally loves stage musicals, I struggled with The Color Purple as a movie musical.

I say that despite appreciating the music and dance numbers per se. In fact, I thought both were strong and dynamic. The singing was rousing and impressive.

I simply felt that the score and choreographed dancing frequently interrupted the narrative flow and, in large measure, didn’t reflect the tenor of the plot.

What I mean by that is that for the first three quarters of the film the events depicted are deeply distressing and yet the music is fundamentally up tempo.

It is hard to comprehend just how subjugated Celie is and both Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (in the younger role) and Fantasia Barrino play downtrodden with aplomb.

Halle Bailey injects a kind streak into a young Nettie. In fact, I would have liked to have seen more of Nettie’s storyline unfold in The Color Purple.

Danielle Brooks is a dominant figure as the no nonsense Sofia.

Taraji P. Henson brings a zest for life to her portrayal of Shug Avery.

At times Colman Domingo is positively ferocious as Mister, as is Deon Cole as Alfonso.

The cinematography by Dan Lautsen is powerful and evocative.

So, while The Color Purple is deeply moving, I would have preferred it to have retained its essence without breaking into song and dance. While I understand and respect the fact that this is not Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, I still have a greater fondness for the 1985 version.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other The Color Purple Reviews

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