Review: ‘The Color Purple’ Sings a New Song on Screen
When the lights dimmed, and the first notes of The Color Purple swelled through the theater, I braced myself. As a Broadway critic, I’m all too familiar with the pitfalls of translating the stage to screen—especially with a musical as emotionally textured and spiritually resonant as this one. Blitz Bazawule’s 2023 adaptation doesn’t just aim to bring the Broadway revival to the big screen; it attempts to reimagine it entirely, filtering the soul of the stage production through a richly cinematic lens. And for the most part, it works—though not without a few missteps that remind us how distinct these storytelling worlds truly are.
[Warning: spoilers from The Color Purple are below!]
The Color Purple is a story that deserves retelling
What struck me first was the boldness of Bazawule’s vision. He infuses the film with dreamlike sequences and surreal visual metaphors—Celie’s (Fantasia Barrino) imagination taking flight in fantastical moments that could never exist on a proscenium. The film opens not with a grand ensemble number, but a quiet, intimate focus on Celie, setting the tone for a story that tries to stay rooted in personal truth while bursting into song. Numbers like “Hell No” and “I’m Here” are staged with undeniable power, capturing the theatrical electricity that made the Broadway revival such a sensation. Yet other transitions feel rushed or disjointed, as if the film is constantly deciding whether to lean into musical theater or cinematic realism. The result can be emotionally uneven, especially for those familiar with the deliberate pacing and emotional buildup of the stage version.
Still, the performances are a marvel. Fantasia Barrino returns to the role of Celie with a maturity and quiet intensity that anchors the film. On stage, her portrayal was deeply felt; on screen, her subtle facial expressions and silences carry a weight that fills the frame. When she finally sings “I’m Here,” it’s not just a showstopper—it’s a spiritual climax, earned through every beat of suffering and growth. Danielle Brooks, as Sofia, is magnetic. Her performance is both larger-than-life and deeply grounded, a beautiful echo of her Tony-nominated turn on Broadway. Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery brings undeniable charisma, though her performance occasionally veers into theatricality that feels mismatched with the film’s more grounded tone. There’s a sense that the camera doesn’t always know how to frame her larger-than-life presence—a challenge not uncommon when stage actors or Broadway-scale performances hit the screen.
A significant change from the Broadway musical
Perhaps the film’s most controversial choices lie in its treatment of the relationship between Celie and Shug. On stage, their romantic and queer connection was portrayed with increasing openness and emotional depth. In the film, while the tenderness remains, it’s somewhat softened—suggesting intimacy without fully embracing it. This choice may have been made for broader appeal, but it mutes one of the most transformative relationships in Celie’s journey. The script, by Marcus Gardley, condenses much of the narrative, and while this gives the film a tighter structure, it comes at the cost of some of the story’s emotional nuance and character development.
Visually, however, The Color Purple is stunning. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen paints Georgia in hues of heat and memory. Bazawule uses space and color almost choreographically, turning fields, porches, and juke joints into emotional landscapes. At times, the film feels like a living memory play—echoes of Bazawule’s earlier work in The Burial of Kojo reverberate here in the way fantasy and trauma intermingle. These sequences elevate the film to something that feels spiritual, even operatic.
In the end, The Color Purple is not a perfect adaptation, but it is a deeply passionate one. It understands the emotional architecture of the Broadway musical and honors it, even as it reshapes it. For Broadway lovers, it may feel like a more commercial, streamlined cousin of the revival. But in its finest moments—especially in the performances of Barrino and Brooks—it delivers something that transcends both stage and screen: a raw, joyous celebration of Black womanhood, survival, and self-worth. It reminds us why this story endures, and why, in any form, Celie’s voice must continue to be heard.
Stream The Color Purple now on HBO Max. Have you watched this film yet? Let us know what you thought @bsb.insider on social media!
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