The Color Purple is a remake of the 1985, Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey-backed movie of the same now. It tells the tale of two sisters, Celie and Nettie, separated by force as they try to find their way back to each other, all while they try to navigate their lives.Â
With an outstanding ensemble cast led by Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo, The Color Purple brought out some good, strong feelings and some good tunes.
I have always been a big fan of musicals and The Color Purple has already vaulted its way into being one of my favorites. The songs were incredibly catchy, they served a purpose to the plot outside of just showcasing people’s talents, and the choreography was so lively I found myself swaying in my seat to the beat.Â
Fantasia Barrino as adult Celie in particular stands out. She comes from a singing background but she never felt like she couldn’t hang with the more established actresses and actors around her. She played Celie in the stage musical, and you can tell she knew the character and how best to play her.
I loved watching how Celie’s character grew throughout the movie. A lot of that praise goes to Barrino, but the surrounding cast also helped it. Halle Berry and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi set the tone as the young Celie and Nettie. Taraji P Henson and Danielle Brooks stole the show and ate every second of screen time they had. Colman Domingo was despicable but also such an enigma on screen that I couldn’t look away, even when he did heinous things.
The story was beautifully told as well. At some points I found myself struggling to keep up with some plot points, but I never found myself bored at all. Having some good music and good choreography helps, but I found myself invested in Celie’s story. From the horrific things done to her growing up to her developing relationships with Henson’s Shug Avery and Brooks’ Sofia, her growth was masterfully portrayed. At times I felt like Nettie was left in the shadows too much, but the ending with her was very sweet so I can’t complain at the end of the day.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Color Purple is a beautiful musical rendition of the 1982 novel and 1985 movie of the same name. The ensemble cast is strong, but Fantasia Barrino stands out. The music was fun, the pacing was fast, and all in all, this was a great watch.
4/5
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