The Color Purple

 

   Based on the Broadway musical adaptation of the Alice Walker novel, this new version of "The Color Purple" hits all the rights notes in the music and dancing departments. It also incorporates elements from the original 1985 film, filling out the story.

   The musical numbers and the choreography are terrific but the story drags at times, seemingly waiting for the next number to start. The director, Blitz Bazawule's pacing is slow and somewhat labored but he is in complete control of the musical sequences.

    The cast is wonderful. Fantasia Barrino reprises her role from the Broadway show and she is excellent as the tortured soul, Celie. Danielle Brooks also reprises her role of Sophia from the show and she is a force of nature, stealing every moment she's on screen. As the villain in the film, Colman Domingo is a very frightening "Mister" and shows his versatility as an actor. The film also stars Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery. With a long list of dramatic roles in her resume, she now adds singer and she does a great job. Rounding out the cast is Corey Hawkins as Harpo, H.E.R. as "Squeak", Halle Bailey as the young Nettie, Jon Bastiste as Grady (who, of course, gets a musical number at the piano), Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol' Mr. Johnson (he 's a national treasure), David Alan Frier as the Rev. Avery, and Elizabeth Marvel as Miss Millie.

    Personally, I preferred the dramatic version of the story as I'm not a big fan of movie musicals. They tend to take you out of the story's reality (as happens here too) but you can't deny the wonderful singing and dancing in this version.