Where do I even begin. I actually wish I could watch The Color Purple (2023) again (and again) before writing this so I can draw in more details, yet I can’t wait because there is so much to take away. So, apologies in advance if I jump around too much or too fast with all these thoughts bursting inside of my mind and heart.
First just a note: see this in the theater before it disappears if you can – it’s THAT WONDERFUL. I also recommend NOT (re)watching the 1985 movie so you can enjoy the journey with fresh eyes. And quite frankly, try not to compare the 1985 film to the 2023 film. This is a film adaption of the MUSICAL, based on the novel, NOT a remake of the 1985 film.
THE BEAUTY
Let’s start with the silent wonder: the visuals. The movie has one of the most beautiful imageries I have seen in any movie in decades, and almost reached the high bar The Greatest Showman set for a musical – the difference is The Color Purple does all the beauty in a realistic portrayal, while The Greatest Showman had that hint of fantasy factor as it should. The trees, the beach, the water, the flowers – everything had that extra glow, extra pop of happiness and brightness. Which in a way is so important with the underlying darkness the characters face throughout life…yet as they say, “Life can never break your soul.” Plus I loved the SHINING sun and bright blue skies as they sing “the sun ain’t shining..” But it wasn’t just the beauty that was remarkable: I can’t remember mud in the rain being portrayed in such a realistic, perfect way – not sloppy normal mud, but drenched mud that you still could see the rain drops falling on, and the shades of brown that made it just right in that moment – actually made it beautiful to look at even in the darkest time. As one person said in an interview, the director really did know how to make everything look like a painting. Oh and don’t forget to stay for the credits just to see all the wonder in the quilts.
Fantasia/Celie
After watching the movie I listened to an interview on NPR and found out I was not the only one that compared Fantasia’s American Idol journey to that of her character Celie. For me, it was thinking of her performance of Summertime, sitting on the stage, that really set her apart on American Idol in 2004, even as, among other things, she was facing the barriers being illiterate and thus not being able to read the lyrics to assigned songs she might not have known yet. In the interview on NPR, Fantasia said she hated all the comparisons the first time when performing the role on Broadway but embraced it now with more lived experiences. I admired Fantasia when she won American Idol: I embrace her talent as an actor even more now As the main character in the story, Celie is SO quiet and subdue, yet its so critical to watch Fantasia’s facial expressions and body movement: you see SO much in less then a second when her cheek moves without too much of a smile, or she moves her hand across her mouth.
Taraji P. Henson/Shug Avery
Ok, let me just be upfront. Taraji P. Henson is one of my favorite actors of the 21st century. I loved her character on Person of Interest and never forgot the scene where they killed her off (fan favorite!). I was thrilled when she played Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures (J was even more excited to see the three smart women). And I never missed an episode when Taraji joined up (again) with my other favorite 21st actor, Terrance Howard, in the series Empire. Plus I adore her alumni support for Howard University. So as much as I was interested in seeing The Color Purple and smiled at the thought of Fantasia being in it, it was my must-see girl Taraji that made me super super excited to see the movie in the theater. And she did not disappoint at all. She is gold as Shug Avery, with that confidence and demanding presence yet caring and tender side too, never blinking at who she is or what she does. Shug telling Celie to stand up for herself so mater factually is spot on. We also have seen how seductive Taraji can be in Empire, but she brings it to a new level with song and dance as Shug. The Push a Button number was perfection but more on that below. I realize most of us were surprised with wonder when finally seeing Taraji sing, but this movie, this character, was exactly where she belonged to show the world what she grew up doing. And I hope we see more of it!
By the way, was it a coincidence or on purpose that her character in Hustle & Flow also was named Shug?
“I want you to be a story for me…
That I can believe in forever“
Finally we see the love story. What can I say. I am so thrilled they put Celie and Shug’s relationship in full spotlight in this movie. As a 10-year-old, there was no hint of that love when watching the 1985 film in the theater, so it was an extra special treat to see the multi-layered connection between these two characters. And that’s the thing: it wasn’t their sexual orientation or gender identity that mattered, it was seeing Celie realizing someone besides her sister actually cared about her…especially after years of not hearing from Nettie.. Just a few seconds, but I loved at the very end of “Push A Button” when Shug ends up in front of Celie instead of Mister, who is right next to Celie, and we see Shug playfully put her finger on Celie’s face/cheek as if she was the one Shug wanted to push a button with. Moving to a 13000 foot lens, it seems like there was more worry about the audience reaction to the relationship (in 1985), then how the characters reacted to it in the storyline (basically no push back at all to Shug being with Celine, nor about being with multiple partners. That said, there were some negative reactions to the Shug/Celie relationship. Facial expressions are everything in this movie, and it was clear how bewildered and hurt Mister was, although we don’t quite know if he was hurt that Shug wanted Celie or that Celie showed feelings back towards Shug.
Sofia and other thoughts
Danielle Brooks was great as Sofia, with that combo of positivity and brawl. I love the storm in the scene with the jail by the way. I also enjoy the subtle ways they portrayed certain moments like the sexual abuse, or stopping the shaving because of the beep of Shug’s car instead of Shug coming up to take the razor from Celie. It’s there but not in your face for a broader audience age wise. As I write this, I realize that I am not putting much, if any, spotlight on the men in the story. Which if you think about it, is exactly what it should be, since this is a story of three women that raise each other up. The actors that played Mister, Harpo, Buster, the Reverend, etc. all were great in portraying their characters. Yet this is about the women, not the men, and thus, it seems right that they were indeed “supporting” characters. I cannot think of a better way to bring The Color Purple onto the stage – or in case, the stage version onto the screen, and I think every song, every dance sequence, every background imagery and lighting and prop were spot on in telling the story as it is. Bringing such rays of hope and love and confidence in the midst of such oppression. It took me a week to finish this “review”, and in that time the movie is now available online: I immediately purchased it so that I can hit play any time I want: I hope others share in that love of this movie.
Every day the sun don’t shine, but oh
Keep On Movin’
Keep it movin’, keep it movin’
It’s up to you the way you chose to go
Keep it movin’, keep it movin’
Nothing’s gonna take you down, oh
Just let it go
Life can never break your soul
Intrepid Oaks 