1985’s The Color Purple is a film beloved by many over the years. Its themes of identity resonated with audiences over time. With the original being nominated for 11 Academy Awards, it was a matter of time before it was remade. 15 years later, The Color Purple has been modernized for the next generation. Having never seen the original film, my expectations were non-existent. Its musical moments created one of the most joyous theater experiences of 2023. Those newly introduced sensibilities help the heavier story beats go down much easier.
L-R: Phylicia Pearl Mpasi as Young Celie and Halle Bailey as Young Nettie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic, THE COLOR PURPLE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Eli Ade. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The story follows the life of Celie (Fantasia Barrino) spanning through the early 1900s. This includes her childhood with her sister Nettie (Hallie Bailey) and their eventual separation. Once Celie is given to Albert “Mister” Johnson (Coleman Domingo), her life changes for the worse. In an abusive, loveless marriage, Celie discovers how to find her independence in an oppressive world. The results deliver an empowering and emotionally stirring story of finding your voice. Such a strong narrative ambition is thanks to two key factors: the casting and musical numbers.
Center: Danielle Brooks as Sophia in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic, THE COLOR PURPLE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Eli Ade. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Every actor slips into their respective roles with ease. Fantasia Barrino (Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story) is a powerful conduit with amazing vocal chops. When she is not belting out a musical number, she remains very compassionate. There is a warmth to her performance that makes you care about her outcome. That is especially true in scenes with “Mister”, which can be difficult to watch at times. You know Celie will get her moment of independence and agency, but at what cost? Domingo (Rustin) is consistently unsettling and keeps viewers on edge throughout. His villainous turn makes Barrino’s soul-stirring musical numbers leave a larger impression. As effective as Barrino is, (especially towards the third act) the supporting performances steal the show.
Taraji P. Henson (Four Brothers), Danielle Brooks (Peacemaker), Corey Hawkins (The Tragedy of Macbeth), and Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) steal every scene they are in. Each actor’s purpose is to be a cog within Celie’s journey and they deliver. Simultaneously, they are all given individual and powerful moments to shine. While effective with the drama, they have some of the best musical sequences. They’re joyous, and lively while informing audiences about their hopes and ambitions. Each one more than earns a chance to compete for next year’s Academy Awards.
Director Blitz Bazawule (Black is King, The Burial of Kojo) comes from a music-centric background and coming from that background allows the musical set pieces to be electrifying. Those moments alone make this remake very worthy of the big-screen experience. When those sequences are not occurring, the screenplay succumbs to numerous cliches. For some, those moments could work as respectful tributes to the source material. Others (like those who have not seen the original film) may feel those moments detract from the joy and emotional depth of the musical sequences. Such feelings could make some view the remake as a narratively disjointed affair and, while exciting, the film’s lengthy 140-minute running time tends to drag in places.
L-R: Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic, THE COLOR PURPLE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Ser Baffo. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The performances mostly succeed at maintaining the narrative momentum. It’s the moments of characters’ anguish that do not land as intended. Moments between Barrino and Coleman are meant to be consistently tense. While both actors deliver the tensity, their dynamic starts to feel repetitive. Viewers know Celie will eventually escape, but the journey to get there feels overlong. Fans of the original may be willing to forgive the repetitive nature of these moments. Others could find them as nothing more than padding to the next set of musical numbers. Such choices still won’t detract from some viewers having an enjoyable experience.
Colman Domingo as Mister in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic, THE COLOR PURPLE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Ser Baffo. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2023’s The Color Purple is a perfect release for the holiday season. Audiences care about these characters and want them to succeed. The joyous musical numbers helped me forgive some of the more melodramatic momentums. The production design, songs, and performances create something special. Each actor does what they can with the melodrama, but manages to remain engaging while predictable. At the same time, it will leave some yearning between the musical numbers. Regardless of the melodrama, The Color Purple is an exuberant and emotional experience. Those willing to go along for the ride will have a special experience this holiday season.
In theaters December 25th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official Warner Bros. Pictures The Color Purple webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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