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It might have been better served by a filmmaker with a deeper connection to the source material, but The Color Purple remains a worthy, well-acted adaptation of Alice Walker's classic novel. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.
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Rating: PG-13
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Genre: Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Steven Spielberg
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Producer: Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Quincy Jones
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Writer: Alice Walker, Menno Meyjes
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Release Date (Theaters): original
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $93.4M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
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Production Co: Warner Brothers, Guber-Peters Company, Amblin Entertainment
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Sound Mix: Surround
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Color Purple
Critic Reviews for The Color Purple
Audience Reviews for The Color Purple
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This is a rollercoaster - in terms of sweeping emotional impact, but also in terms of approach. Ultimately worth seeing as both a harrowing and tender look at many deep-rooted, everlasting ways that African-Americans - particularly women - were the glue in each other's lives, even if it leaves you longing for deeper dives at times. Though I have yet to read Walker's novel, I experienced some whiplash during the film, and while Spielberg's playful touch was at times tragically effective in establishing contrasts, I felt his influence more than the material demanded (Quincy Jones also assumes some responsibility with his score). I justly asked myself if this would've occurred to me if I didn't know who the director was and the answer was still yes. There are still several sequences throughout that cut like a knife. Yes, a grittier take could've fleshed out some more raw and vital emotions, free of manipulation, but I was still swept up in ‘Purple' on the power of the performances alone. Holy hell, Goldberg, Winfrey, Glover, and Avery are alllll undeniable.
marisol m Super Reviewer -
This was the first time Spielberg made a serious picture about serious issues of American History. Everything about this film is wonderful, production design, script acting, cast, direction; It just captures your heart! It was first film for Whoopi Goldberg whoose performace is direct stardom. Its a shame this got No Academy Awards, then again theres plenty of films that have that result, but this will always remain a classic!
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The Color Purple is a beautiful and strong film that is driven by great performances and a incredible script. Whoopi Goldberg's first acting credit is phenomenal and watching her just puts a smile on our face, and the iconic dinner scene where she finally yells as Danny Glover is possibly the finest acting in her career to this day. Danny Glover is also great, he is cruel and really plays an evil role very well. The story has so many conflicts and yet we still see the film as beautiful, but with so many conflicts why do we see it as beautiful? It's because the main character is a beautiful woman on the inside and never loses hope, and her relationship with her sister is a truly beautiful character study. I see beauty in this film and the characters, and the actors fill the characters perfectly and make them their own. I loved the setting and the costumes, it really all had an innocent feel to it. The Color Purple is one of Steven Spielberg's most personal films as he shows cruelty and racism at its worst, and its just another reminder that Spielberg is one of cinema's greatest visionary's.
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Smart, poignant, honest, subtle, and thoroughly moving. The story reminds me of The Shawshank Redemption, only we are following a southern black woman in the first 4 decades of the 20th century and her prison consists of sexually, physically, and verbally abusive men, complete isolation from the only person who cared about her, and greatest of all, her heart-breaking view of her self. But there is redemption, and it will run deep into your soul. Great cast. Oprah and Whoopi really do transcend themselves, proving they can act with the best of them.
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