Movie Review: ‘The Color Purple’

Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks are among the cast for the new movie, adapted from the Tony-winning stage musical.

(L to R) Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery and Fantasia Barrino as Celie,'The Color Purple,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In theaters on December 25th, ‘The Color Purple’ represents just the latest adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book following Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated 1985 drama and the 2004 stage play musical from which this new movie draws its inspiration.

Both the first movie and the stage musical are tough acts to follow, to say nothing of the impactful original novel. But, under the direction of Blitz Bazawule, the new film proves to be a powerful story driven by some excellent performances.

Does ‘The Color Purple’ sing?

Fantasia Barrino as Celie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic,'The Color Purple,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Lynsey Weatherspoon. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Though it has a lot to live up to, ‘The Color Purple’ does indeed work, breathing fresh, impressive life into the story as it did on stage.

It doesn’t hurt that the cast offer memorable performances, successfully selling the music side while also delivering on the dramatics. This is, at times an uncomfortable film to watch –– by design, since it tells the story of women facing horrific repression and racism while managing to push through.

Produced by Oprah Winfrey (who co-starred in the original), the latest take on the tale will have you reaching for the tissues and punching the air, sometimes at the same time.

'The Color Purple’: Script and Direction

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.

(L to 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´. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

While Marcus Gardley’s script makes some tweaks to both| Alice Walker’s novel and Marsha Norman’s musical book, they make sense for this merging of two formats and keep the new musical movie feeling of a piece with both previous versions.

You’ll be gripped by Celie’s story as she deals with an unwanted forced marriage to man who effectively treats her like a servant while satisfying himself elsewhere to separation from her beloved sister and all the other indignities loaded upon her.

Yet, aside from a couple of bravura sequences (one which takes place on a giant gramophone record is particularly effective and creative), the direction from Blitz Bazawule –– whose previous work includes thriller ‘The Burial of Kojo’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Black is King’ visual album –– is largely standard, which lets the performers shine.

It must be said, though, that the visual directorial side of the movie is the weakest aspect, largely rescued by the commitment of the people on screen. The big dance numbers are ably directed, but they don’t feel special in general.

‘The Color Purple’: Performances

(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´. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As mentioned, this is a collection of veterans doing excellent work and star-making performances for some of the newer faces.

Prime among them is Fantasia Barrino, who makes her movie debut after success in the music and on stage, where she took over the Celie role in the musical. She’s fantastic here, bringing believable grief, pain, joy and resilience to the screen, her character’s journey giving her plenty to work with.

It’s not just her show, though: Danielle Brooks (of ‘Orange is the New Black’ and ‘Peacemaker’) also does great work as Sofia, making a complicated character (she’s initially presented as a verbally abusive loudmouth, but is given other shades to play as we dig into her story also) soar and fully making the role her own in a movie where there are a host of great turns. A sequence where the consequence of her actions turns out to be particularly tough is a real experience.

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. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Taraji P. Henson, who sang to previously memorable effect in ‘Hustle and Flow’, is here blues singer Shug Avery, the vivacious subject of Mister’s (Colman Domingo) affection but soon becomes even more important to Celie in terms of inspiration and freedom.

The younger Celie and her sister Nettie are brought to winning life by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and ‘The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey, and while their screentime is relatively short, they wring every ounce out of it, setting the foundation upon which Barrino builds.

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. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Around the lead characters orbits a rogue’s gallery and men and others, especially Domingo as Celie’s wayward, dismissive husband, who is more than just a villain –– he has his own issues, including pressure from his father.

Corey Hawkins, as Sofia’s first husband, a man with dreams of opening a juke joint (for music and drinking), is a likeable presence among some much more troublesome male figures. Be under no illusion, though: this is the women’s’ film through and through.

‘The Color Purple’: Final Thoughts

(L to R) H.E.R. as Squeak and Corey Hawkins as Harpo in Warner Bros. Pictures’ bold new take on a classic,'The Color Purple,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Lynsey Weatherspoon. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Balancing the traumatic side of the story with redemption and elation, ‘The Color Purple’ will surely be a player in the awards season, particularly for its lead cast. It manages to tread the line between the original book, the first movie and the stage musical, this is a successful blend of the three and its own thing at the same time.

Is it the best musical of the season? We’ve a feeling the sheer inventiveness of ‘Wonka’ presents a challenge, but for classic old-school belted songs sharing space with deep drama and historical perspective, this one is hard to beat.

‘The Color Purple’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

The Color Purple

"A bold new take on the beloved classic."

PG-132 hr 21 minDec 25th, 2023

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch The Color Purple Online

What’s the story of ‘The Color Purple’?

‘The Color Purple’ is a decades-spanning tale of love and resilience and of one woman’s journey to independence.

Celie (Fantasia Barrino) faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

Who else is in ‘The Color Purple’?

The movie’s cast also includes Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

(L to 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´. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.