Of all of the celebrated properties on the market, The Colour Purple may go down in historical past because the one with probably the most accolades. Alice Walker’s 1982 novel obtained the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and three years later, it was tailored right into a Steven Spielberg movie, which garnered 11 Oscar nominations (however no wins).
Twenty years later, it was made right into a Broadway musical, which acquired 11 Tony nominations, with one win for Finest Actress for LaChanze. A 2015 revival gained Finest Revival of a Musical and Finest Actress for Cynthia Erivo, which is saying one thing within the yr the place Hamilton gained nearly every part else.
Now, that musical has been was a giant display screen extravaganza that, if there’s any justice, may also get many award nominations and wins. (Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey — who starred within the 1985 movie — function two of the producers for this movie.)
A narrative spanning greater than 4 a long time within the early-to-mid 1900s, it primarily follows Celie, who as a younger teenager (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi) is abused by her father, Alfonso (Deon Cole), and Mister (Colman Domingo), a person she is pressured to marry. She is separated from her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) quickly thereafter, not understanding if she is alive or lifeless.
Because the years go, the grownup Celie (Fantasia Barrino) turns into meek beneath the thumb of Mister, solely to have her senses woke up by two brash ladies: Sofia (Danielle Brooks), who takes no guff from anybody, together with her husband, Harpo (Corey Hawkins); and Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson), a singer with whom Mister has had an on-and-off affair for years. Impressed by their boldness, Celie slowly emerges out of her shell, hoping to make a lifetime of her personal sometime.
Directed by Blitz Bazawule and written by Marcus Gardley, the movie is a spectacular feast for the senses from minute one. As an alternative of being shot on a soundstage, a lot of the film was filmed outdoors in Georgia, which supplies the story an genuine really feel. That is particularly noticeable throughout the many musical numbers, which use the pure parts in unbelievable methods and improve the texture of the story, which takes place principally in rural areas.
The songs themselves — by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray — vary from barnburners, epitomized by the soul-stirring “Hell No!,” to tearjerkers just like the title music, and every part in between. Though it’s not a sung-through musical (that means one with none dialogue outdoors of songs), Bazawule and his workforce tempo the movie in such a means that the songs and non-music scenes circulation collectively extraordinarily nicely.
The story stays as resonant at present because it was 40 years in the past, as each injustice the ladies of the movie endure by the hands of overbearing males hits dwelling onerous. However as a substitute of a miserable slog via a life with out a lot hope, the bonds that the ladies share shine a lightweight via the darkness. And the songs enable them to precise themselves in a means that their present actuality might not, lending the music much more significance.
Barrino is usually recognized for her music profession, though she is reprising the position she performed in two completely different productions of the musical. She places in a mind-blowing efficiency, enjoying Celie’s vary of ages with ease, imbuing the half with nice emotion, and, in fact, giving a grasp class in singing. Everybody else within the movie is as much as her stage, with Brooks and Henson particularly deserving of awards consideration as nicely.
This yr just isn’t hurting for Oscar-quality movies to refill the poll, however The Colour Purple instantly shoots to close the highest of these in consideration. The truth that one other iteration of a well known story can ship the products simply as a lot as the unique e-book demonstrates the facility of Walker’s story, and of everybody concerned within the movie.
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The Colour Purple opens in theaters on Christmas Day.
