‘The Color Purple’ (2023) Movie and 4K Review
The following review was written by Ultimate Rabbit correspondent, Tony Farinella.
It wasn’t that long ago when I had the pleasure of reviewing 1985’s “The Color Purple” on this very website, and I absolutely adored the film. When I heard there was going to be another adaptation, I was eager to see how it was going to turn out, especially because it was going to be a musical. Musicals are tricky, as they need just the right amount of music to make it work. The music needs to really lend itself to the scenes instead of taking over the film entirely. If it’s one song after another without any time to let them breathe, it can take away from the performances on screen. I’m happy to report “The Color Purple” has all of the right ingredients to succeed with flying colors.
The film follows two sisters, Celie and Nettie Harris (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Halle Bailey) who are stuck living with an angry and abusive father named Alfonso, played by Deon Cole. He’s especially hard on Celie, who has two children after being raped by her own father. He separates her from her children, which causes her much distress and agony. It isn’t long before the two sisters are separated after their father gives away Celie to a man by the name of Mister, played by Colman Domingo.
Mister is a farmer who already has three children of his own, and he’s equally as rough on Celie as her father. She’s basically doing everything for him, and she feels defeated from the years of abuse from both her father and her current husband. In addition to this, Mister is also hiding all the letters she receives from her sister Nettie, so they have no contact with one another. Between not being able to see her children or her sister, she feels like life is nothing but misery and pain for her each and every day.
As Celie gets older, she is played by “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino. She definitely has the emotional range as an actress to pull off this incredibly demanding performance. When it comes to the musical numbers, it is second nature to her. Along the way, she gets to know Sofia, played by Danielle Brooks. She is married to Mister’s son, Harpo (Corey Hawkins), and she is not afraid to whip him into shape. This is the first time that Celie has seen a strong female in her life. She is used to women having to take everything from their husbands without being able to defend themselves. It is certainly not the case with Sofia. One day, Celie hopes to be as strong as Sofia. She also meets another strong and confident woman in Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson), a jazz singer who completely captivates Mister.
During this film, we see a journey which starts in 1909 and goes all the way until 1947, and it’s one of two sisters who are bound and determined to meet up with one another again, no matter what it takes. Along the way, even Sofia deals with some hardships of her own and feels defeated and drained by her new circumstances. Celie learns to grow and finds out how to stand on her own two feet. Heck, even Mister learns a thing or two about himself and how he needs to modify his own behavior. Everyone’s character arch is worth watching throughout the course of the film’s two hour and twenty-minute run time.
This is a film that never feels boring, stale, or repetitive because these are fleshed out characters whom, as an audience, you care about and root for throughout the course of the story. For the most part, the film is pretty true to the original 1985 film in terms of its major moments. As a whole, it works on so many levels. It starts with this tremendous cast of actors and actresses from Fantasia Barrino to Taraji P. Henson to Danielle Brooks to Colman Domingo to Corey Hawkins to Gabriella Wilson ‘H.E.R.’. Everyone brings their heart and soul to the project in addition to their lungs. They were very diligent about putting this cast together from top-to-bottom. Ciara also appears as an older version of Nettie.
“The Color Purple” is ultimately a story about sisterhood, resiliency, strength, and the human spirit. I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two films as they are trying to accomplish the same thing while going about it in completely different ways. The music enhances the story and adds a different take to the material while also keeping the essence of Steven Spielberg’s original film alive and well. For my money, this is a perfect film. I was emotional during it, I laughed at the appropriate moments, and the songs stayed with me as well. I wanted to listen to the soundtrack as soon as the film was over, and I played it on repeat.
Remakes of popular films are tough to pull off, especially when it’s from a novel, a nearly forty-year-old film, and a successful Broadway musical as well. However, when the new version is a fan of the original film, you have what is known as a labor of love. If you enjoyed 1985’s “The Color Purple,” you will certainly enjoy 2023’s “The Color Purple.” It is about perspective, though. I believe this film needs to be seen as its own entity. If you are able to do that, you will enjoy the heck out of it.
The filmmakers know the audience cares about these characters, knows them, and wants to see them succeed. It takes you on an emotional journey from start to finish with a tremendous payoff in the end which is very satisfying. You very much live through these characters. You feel their pain, their happiness, and you root for them to succeed. Along the way you laugh, you cry, and you never lose hope. That, in my opinion, is the beauty of a great film like “The Color Purple.” There is a reason why this story has stayed with people for so many years and still resonates with viewers to this day.
* * * * out of * * * *
4K Info: “The Color Purple” is released on a single-disc 4K from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. It also comes with a digital copy of the film. It has a running time of 141 minutes and is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual content, violence and language.
Video Info: There is a beautiful Dolby Vision transfer on the film here, and it looks magnificent. This is a film filled with life and color, and it’s on full-display with this flawless transfer. The HDR really brings out the richness of the picture quality.
Audio Info: We are also treated to a pitch-perfect Dolby Atmos soundtrack here which allows us to enjoy each and every single song the way it was intended to be heard. It stays at just the right bass and volume throughout the film, as it’s never too loud or too soft.
Special Features:
Creating The Color Purple: A Bold New Take on the Beloved Classic
Hell Yes! The Iconic Characters of The Color Purple
In the Flow: Creating The Color Purple’s Biggest Musical Moments
A Story For Me: The Legacy of The Color Purple
Should You Buy It?
If you enjoy the power of cinema, do yourself a favor and pick up “The Color Purple” on the day of its release. It is worth every penny, especially with the special features that are included here along with a Dolby Vision transfer and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. This is also a terrific film that really tugged at my heartstrings. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I put this movie in my 4K player and sat down to watch it. However, I was blown away by its high-energy, its music, the intense drama, and the phenomenal performances. This version of “The Color Purple,” which was directed by Blitz Bazawule, is the kind of movie I wish Hollywood made more of these days. It’s an adult drama that invigorates the spirit and is good for the soul. “The Color Purple” on 4K comes highly recommended as a day one purchase.
**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this film from Warner Brothers to review for free. The opinions and statements in the review are mine and mine alone.
The Ultimate Rabbit 