The Color purple (2023) Movie Review

The Colour Purple (2023) Movie Review

Steven Spielberg’s 1985 Oscar nominated film (11 nominations to be exact), ranks among one of his best films from the 1980s and when you scroll through his filmography on his IMDB page, that’s really saying something. It’s a gorgeous film that captures the bigotry of the American south over four decades, as we follow one woman’s journey, the people she meets and the hate she is faced with.  The film has my personal favourite performance from the great Whoopi Goldberg as our lead, Celie Johnson, with support work from Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburne. When it was announced in early 2020 that a remake was happening, I was mad. Why touch such a great film from one of the best living filmmakers. Little did I know this was in fact, an adaptation from the Broadway stage play, that’s based on the original film. Still following? Part of the reason I was on board was the return of Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Quincy Jones as Executive Producers, showing their support for this revival.

The enthusiastically acclaimed Broadway revival opened in late 2015 and ran through early 2017, winning two 2016 Tony Awards—including Best Revival of a Musical. It has become an international sensation, capturing the heartbreak and beauty in Spielberg’s original film, bringing it to a new audience. The film adaptation of this musical has garnered the same critical praise, with an impressive 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, and grossing an impressive $67 million at the worldwide box office, with an Oscar nomination also for Dannielle Brooks as best Supporting Actress playing the role of Sofia, the role previously played by Oprah. The film follows the basic premise of the original 1985 flick, a woman faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. In addition to Danielle Brooks, the film also stars; Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Halle Bailey, Ciara, H.E.R and many, many more! As someone who wasn’t open to a remake of this flick, I was pleasantly surprised by the finished product.

The film was delightful to watch. Whilst it has some heavy themes and does take a look at a troubling time in America’s history, the film still manages to provide moments of levity, and also gives us a hopeful look at this particular story. The addition of music adds a level of drama that wasn’t felt in Spielberg’s original. Mainly because music evokes a different type of emotion than pure cinematic drama. As mentioned, there’s a level of levity here that we didn’t receive in the original, that gives this remake a completely different feel and overall effect. It's almost unfair to compare the both of them, as they work better as companion pieces to one another. Start with Spielberg’s original 1985 classic, and then follow it up with the 2023 musical remake.

The cast here are all wonderful also. The talented Broadway cast included the likes of oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo and Jennifer Holiday, so when you add this into the act it’s a remake of an all-time classic, with two heavy hitters in it with Oprah and Whoopi, there were some massive shoes to fill. However, the cast of this 2023 adaptation do it seamlessly, with some truly memorable performances, particularly from Danielle Brooks as Sofia, earning herself a very well-deserved Academy Award nomination for best supporting Actress. In addition to this, we also have A-lister Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, showcasing her musical talents in addition to her acting chops. Relative newcomer Fantasia Barrino as Celie was also fantastic and Halle Bailey, who appeared as Aerial in the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, also has a small role here as young Nettie, proving that she is one hell of a talent and a young superstar to keep watching. The whole cast here are just terrific and add to the film’s overall enjoyment.

‘The Colour Purple’ is a worthy remake, adjusting story elements oh so slightly, to create a completely different filmgoing experience. The musical elements were a welcomed addition to the story, really elevating the material and also evoking a different sense of emotion from me. The cast are all wonderful and handle the musical elements with elegance and poise. This is a must own for musical theatre fans and those who were sceptical as its remake should also definitely check this one out. Secure your copy today from Sanity on DVD or Blu-Ray, you won’t want to miss it so, hurry whilst stocks last!

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here