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The Color Purple

PG-13 2023 Musical/Drama 2h 21m


The Color Purple is based on a Broadway musical, which was based on both a movie and a novel (by Alice Walker)—all of the same name. So the story of the movie is not new. Celie (Fantasia Barrino, “American Idol”) and her sister, Nettie, love each other very much. Celie’s father gives her away to Mister, a horrible man who doesn't love her and treats her as a domestic slave. Mister sees to it the sisters are separated. Years pass and horrible things happen to Celie. More years pass and more horrible things happen to Celie. 


In the new version, these horrible things are accompanied by songs. I thought the musical numbers were not memorable. Instead of intensifying the emotion, the songs broke the drama and took me out of the movie. Instead of relating to the characters, I was suddenly watching people “acting.” In the third act when I was cued to cry, I didn’t feel like it. I was touched, but not to the extent I was supposed to be. At the end of Old Yeller, you don’t think “gosh, that’s sad;” no, you cry your eyes out. With The Color Purple, I just thought “that’s sad,” but I wasn’t moved. I swear I’m not heartless! I blame the movie for falling short.


I didn’t dislike the movie; I just didn’t love it. There is nothing “wrong” with it and I wouldn’t give anyone the side eye if they said it was terrific. The cast is top notch. They are great actors and great musicians. However, I didn’t feel connected to them. The notable exception was Danielle Brooks (“Orange Is The New Black”); she was fantastic. Somehow she managed to stay engaging when she was acting and when she would break into song and dance. Although hers is a supporting role, I would nominate her as the MVP of the movie. 

The Color Purple
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

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