Everything old is new again, it seems. In an industry that traditionally shies away from musicals, we’ve seen not one but two hit theaters during December. Wonka wowed audiences last week. This Christmas, The Color Purple joins the party, presenting a musical take on the classic Alice Walker novel. The songs are big, the choreography is bigger and it seems musicals are back, baby. Will The Color Purple shimmer in the spotlight? Or does this note fall flat? Read on.
The Color Purple tells Celie’s (Fantasia Barrino) story. Forced to grow up at a young age, she’s sold into marriage as a teenager to Mister (Colman Domingo), forcing her to part with her only true friend, her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey). Over the decades to follow, she makes friends and changes lives, but through all the difficulty, she never strays from herself. Taraji P Henson, Danielle Brooks, Corey Hawkins, Ciara, H.E.R. and David Alan Grier co-star in the movie. Blitz Bazawule directs The Color Purple from a screenplay by Marcus Gardley.
This ensemble is packed from top to bottom. Several performances are wonderfully worthy of raves. However, I would be shirking my job if I didn’t bring special mention to Fantasia Barrino in the lead role.
Best known to many for winning Season 3 of American Idol (and her resulting music career) Barrino comes to this film after playing the role on Broadway. She brings a quiet and sensitive portrayal, but everything changes when those musical numbers begin. Her music numbers stop the show. She dominates and very much owns the screen. The role is credited as Barrino’s screen debut, but you wouldn’t know it. She’s confident in her portrayal, and it’s a thing of beauty to see.
While this cast is full of standouts, another worthy of mention is Taraji P. Henson as jazz singer Shug Avery. Henson finds an electric chemistry with Barrino, and together, both performers find an easy confidence. Henson’s character and vocal work shine, allowing her to dominate every scene she appears in. In my humble opinion, Henson’s name should be mentioned a lot more than it has been this Awards Season. Make it happen, Hollywood.
You wouldn’t know it from the marketing, but The Color Purple is a big, brash, Old Hollywood-style musical. Director Bazawule crafts a film that brings a true love for the musical medium. It doesn’t shy away from bringing not only a sense of nostalgia but also a genuine love for the form.
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At the same time, though, the movie subtly brings a beautiful abstraction to this classical genre. It is riveting to watch this creative team craft the music numbers to not only further the story but ensure we know exactly who these characters are. The sequences are occasionally a bit quirky, but the originality spotlights the characters in a way a traditional musical structure isn’t always able to.
As a musical fan going way back, this critic is ecstatic to see Hollywood diving headfirst into the often-ignored musical medium. In that, The Color Purple shines as beautiful theater fare during this festive period. Catchy songs and beautiful performances come together with riveting complexity to put this classic story in front of a new generation of audiences.
The Color Purple opens in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day.
Check out our other movie review here.
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