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Amblin Entertainment
Domain Entertainment
Not part of a collection.
A bold new take on the beloved classic.
A decades-spanning tale of love and resilience and of one woman's journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Brent Marchant
Feb 19, 2024 · via TMDB
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve routinely made it clear that I’m not a big fan of movie musicals. In addition, less known is the fact that I’ve also never been particularly enamored with the original dramatic version of this story (1985), a picture in which director Steven Spielberg still had his training wheels on when it came to making serious cinematic fare. With those admissions in mind, then, it would appear that this latest iteration of the classic Alice Walker novel would have two prejudicial strikes against it going in, and that assessment would be accurate, as these qualifications sincerely reflect my characterization of this alternative take on this beloved tale. Director Blitz Bazawule’s musical adaptation of this tale about a young African-American woman (Fantasia Barrino) struggling to find happiness under harsh conditions in early 20th Century Georgia is plagued by an array of issues, including an ill-fitting fusion of this story in a Broadway format/context, an uneven distribution of production numbers throughout the course of the narrative, numerous over-the-top (and frequently silly) surreal song and dance sequences (many of which look like they’ve been plucked fresh from a Baz Luhrmann movie), understandable but nevertheless-disappointing plot and character development alterations, and some serious miscasting choices (such as the usually-reliable Colman Domingo, who’s decidedly out of place in the role of Mister). This combination of misfire elements makes for somewhat disappointing viewing for those who adored the book and original screen version and does little for winning over innately lukewarm supporters of the material (like me). Granted, the film gets better as it goes along (probably because there are fewer musical numbers in the second half than the first), and its ensemble cast, for the most part, is quite compelling, including Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, David Alan Grier, Corey Hawkins and Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks. However, on balance, this is one of those projects where things probably would have been better off left alone.
r96sk
Feb 8, 2024 · via TMDB
A film of quality, this. <em>'The Color Purple'</em> is a blast, what is a noteworthy thing for me to say given I'm not a lover of musicals; though, to be fair, I'm way more into them in recent years since doing reviews... have learnt to appreciate 'em! This has good music alongside an extremely deep narrative, one that hits the feels directly. I've never seen or read any version of this story previously, but this is a great introduction to it. The performances are stellar. Danielle Brooks is outstanding, a real emotive showing from her throughout - top notch! I also seriously enjoyed (despite the character, who is iffily 'redeemed') Colman Domingo in this 2023 picture. He and Brooks are actors I've loved in television (<em>'<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Is_the_New_Black" rel="nofollow">Orange Is the New Black</a></em> and <em>'<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_the_Walking_Dead" rel="nofollow">Fear the Walking Dead</a>'</em>, the latter isn't the best show but Domingo is class in it), so it's extremely pleasing to see them star on the big screen. It's somewhat of a crime it has taken me this long in my review to mention Fantasia, who is brilliant - Phylicia Pearl Mpasi is too, btw. Taraji P. Henson, obviously, impresses as well, while Halle Bailey spearheads the rest. Nice to see David Alan Grier also, as well as (like Domingo) another <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_(franchise)" rel="nofollow">TWD</a> alum in Corey Hawkins (whatever happened to Heath?!).
CinemaSerf
Feb 1, 2024 · via TMDB
Sometimes it's better just not to re-imagine/invent/devise a feature that had such a visceral impact not just on the cinema, but on the theatre and, of course - the literary world in the first place. I"m not sure this isn't one of those. It follows the story of the young "Celie" who is essentially sold to a neighbour "Mister" (Colman Domingo) when she's barely into adulthood - for a cow and some eggs. Turns out his hale-fellow-well-met character is a bit deceptive: he's a bit of a misogynist brute who sees this woman as his property. With her now the plaything of another man, her sister "Nettie" becomes the latest object of the desires of their father and in panic she flees to "Celie" for help. Out of the frying pan into the fire, perhaps - she has soon to get away from there whilst the men folk continue as if nothing has happened. The chronology speeds up a bit now and we find ourselves dipping in at various stages of their lives only discover that little has changed and their opportunities are still tied by their apron strings. Until, that is, the arrival of the jazz sensation that is "Shug Avery" (Taraji P. Henson) who brings with her the winds of quite empowering change. Meantime, "Harpo" - the stepson of "Celie" has found himself a rather feisty and independently-minded wife in "Sofia" (Danielle Brooks) and we start to think that perhaps things might just be about to improve. The only abject lesson in racism to feature here occurs around this point demonstrating the cruelty and brutality that made this story abhorrently poignant in the first place. What now ensues instils a growing determination among these women to assert themselves and thrive on their own terms. Can they? What I found this lacked was the earthiness, the grittiness, the squalor of the 1985 screen version. It's also a musical at times but a pretty sterile and overly choreographed one that seemed to be unsure if it wanted to be "West Side Story" or "Washington Heights". There's an ensemble number by a waterfall with the water flowing with almost symmetrical and flawless evenness. Even the scenes of evil are somehow just a bit too de-sensitised. I think possibly the problem for me was that the powerful performance of Fantasia Barrino was just too good, and the power balled from her towards the end presented almost as if there were space for applause afterwards. Domingo is a good actor, too, but again here he just didn't cut it as either the charismatic charmer or the sexually rapacious bully - though he did fare a little better as the story moved on. The soundtrack has some belters and taken in isolation, there are some great performances here from Barrino, Henson and my favourite - Brooks; but I'd sooner watch the original, any day - it has more authenticity in it's impact.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Fantasia Barrino
Celie
Taraji P. Henson
Shug Avery
Danielle Brooks
Sofia
Colman Domingo
Mister
Corey Hawkins
Harpo
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi
Young Celie
Halle Bailey
Young Nettie
Ciara
Nettie
H.E.R.
Squeak
David Alan Grier
Reverend Avery
Deon Cole
Alfonso
Jon Batiste
Grady
Louis Gossett Jr.
Ol' Mister
Tamela Mann
First Lady
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Mama
Elizabeth Marvel
Miss Millie
Stephen Hill
Henry (Buster) Broadnax
Adetinpo Thomas
Mary Ellen
Tiffany Elle Burgess
Olivia
Terrence J. Smith
Adam
Aba Arthur
Abena
Jamaal Avery Jr.
Young Harpo
Emana Rachelle
Corrine
Charles Green
Mayor
L. Warren Young
Domino Player
David Vaughn
Postman (Mr. Edmonds)
Chase Steven Anderson
Ticket Booth Operator
John L. Adams
Sharecropper
Raphael Thomas
Harpo's Buddy
James Carey
Debuty
Whoopi Goldberg
Midwife (uncredited)
Matthew James Gulbranson
Domino Player (uncredited)
Paul D. Austerberry
Production Design
Dan Laustsen
Director of Photography
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
Costume Design
Kelli Jones
Hairstylist
Fatima Robinson
Choreographer
Tangela Large
Dialect Coach
Blitz Bazawule
Executive Music Producer
Stephen Bray
Executive Music Producer
Shellita Boxie
Stunt Double
Floyd Anthony Johns Jr.
Stunts
Blitz Bazawule
Director
Jon Poll
Editor
Bernard Telsey
Casting
Tiffany Little Canfield
Casting
Alice Walker
Executive Producer
Andrew Lary
Executive Producer
Anthony Tittanegro
Executive Producer
Courtenay Valenti
Executive Producer
Kristie Macosko Krieger
Executive Producer
Pete Chiappetta
Executive Producer
Oprah Winfrey
Producer
Quincy Jones
Producer
Scott Sanders
Producer
Steven Spielberg
Producer
Karina Rezhevska
Foley Recordist
Kris Bowers
Original Music Composer
Alicia Keys
Songs
Celeste
Songs
H.E.R.
Songs
Halle Bailey
Songs
Jennifer Hudson
Songs
Jorja Smith
Songs
Mary J. Blige
Songs
Quincy Jones
Songs
Stephen Bray
Songs
Steven A. Morrow
Sound Mixer
Paul Massey
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
David Henning
Visual Effects Producer
Marsha Norman
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Stephen Bray
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Alice Walker
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Menno Meyjes
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Marcus Gardley
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1987 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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