cinemajesty Movie Review: "The Color Purple" (1985)Director Steven Spielberg receives the award-winning novel by Alice Walker from 1982 translating into capable dramatic story-arcing suspense moments between Father-Daughter-relations to harsh to be portrayed in Up-Town-New-York-City nerighborhood, nevertheless explored by Adrian Lyne directing Glenn Close and Michael Douglas in "Fatal Attraction" (1987), in an fictional Southern child-abuse drama, indulging on how to make a living in rural all-black neighborhood apart from the slave-owning traditions of the pre-civil-war 19th century North America, when Spielberg creates acting beats throughout, especially Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover in superior play-mode, rescue the "Best-Picture" Academy-Award-nominated from a close-to-sure failure of being a prevailing motion picture after more than 30 years, which clearly becomes the vehicle of a growing-up director after directing genre classics "E.T.-the Extra-Terrastrial" (1982) and a second installment of "Indiana Jones" starring Harrison Ford and Cate Capshaw in Hollywood season 1983/1984 with George Lucas executive producing."The Color Purple" can be enjoyed as another sunday afternoon relaxing movie with emotional challenges in atmospheric cinematography and moody Southern décor by avoiding I must say a preferable book-read in stealing away from times of over-flowing visuals from screens all around us.© 2018 Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

rat_202 Often labelled as Spielberg's first 'serious' film. What was Jaws, a comedy? But I understand. Watching this, in the 80's it didn't feel like what 'A Film by Steven Spielberg' should be. No aliens, Nazis or sharks. But even as a nine-year old, I found myself really getting involved in the story. I just couldn't stop watching. So yeah, it's a Spielberg film in that respect. Danny Glover gives one his best performances as the cruel 'Mister.' Jeez, after this my sister and I hated him! Oprah Winfrey is impressive in her debut as the fiery Sofia, and Margaret Avery is wonderful as Shug, the beautiful singer who gives Celie something she is sorely lacking - love and friendship. But ultimately, this is Whoopi's movie, and while she's good in Ghost, this is the movie she really should have won the Oscar for. Ah, yes the Oscars. This movie famously received eleven nominations (though not one for Director) and went home empty-handed. There are reasons for this. Margaret Avery's OTT Oscar campaign was ill advised, but Spielberg's omission seems vindictive. I think the Academy hadn't forgiven his somewhat presumptuous move of inviting a camera crew to watch his reaction to the Oscar nominations for Jaws, expecting to see his name on there. But the real message they were sending was 'Stick to blockbusters, Steve. Leave the serious films to the big boys.'That year, Out Of Africa took the big prize, and it's an overlong film with nothing to say. It wasn't until Schindler's List that the world finally appreciated what a truly great filmmaker Spielberg is, yet the evidence is all here. No, the film isn't perfect. Spielberg's love of sentimentality creeps in at times, and John Williams is very notable by his absence. The explicit lesbian scenes of the book are also markedly toned down. But there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than in the company of The Color Purple.

CinemaClown From the director of Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark & E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, The Color Purple finds Steven Spielberg stepping away from his usual forte to try his hand at stories dealing with serious subject matters and although it isn't as refined & accomplished as his later features, it's still a brave attempt that's emotionally dense & powerfully moving at times.Set in rural Georgia during the early 20th century, The Color Purple centers on an oppressed black woman as she struggles through life enduring rape, incest, poverty, sexism & domestic violence but eventually finds her self-worth & identity with the help of two strong female companions. Her tale spans 40 years, covering the abuses she suffers and the transformation she undergoes.Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film finds the visionary filmmaker outside of his comfort zone yet determined to broaden his area of expertise, and he makes fine use of his skillset to deliver a tale that's rich in emotions, characters & dramatic depth. A few trademarks still make their way into the final print, it even manages to find some humour in what's a discomforting experience, and it's well narrated.The era-appropriate props & rural location provide the story its required timeline, Cinematography makes controlled use of camera, color tones & lighting to capture each scene in wonderful detail, Editing begins the story on a gripping note but it starts wandering in the middle and is lethargic in the final hour, while its background score marks one of the rarest occasions when a Spielberg film wasn't scored by John Williams.Coming to the performances, The Color Purple packs a strong cast in Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery & Desreta Jackson. The film marks the acting debut for both Goldberg & Winfrey, and both ladies are terrific in their respective roles, especially Goldberg who is the heart & soul of this movie. The rest of the supporting cast is no slouch either and pretty much everyone does well with what they are given.On an overall scale, The Color Purple is an emotionally absorbing cinema that isn't an easy sit but what it puts on the screen is powerful, disturbing & thought-provoking stuff. Sure it's sentimental at times, runs a tad too long, and ends up overstaying its welcome, but it's also worthy of respect for what it attempts to bring to light. A scathing critique of sexism & a celebration of sisterhood, The Color Purple may not reverberate with all but it will nonetheless manage to leave its imprint on the viewers. Worth a shot.

Morten_5 Far from reaching the level of excellence of Alice Walker's original novel, the movie is still a good one, with great and heart-warming performances from Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery. When the movie was released in 1985, it was a very unusual thing with an all African-American cast and a story devoted completely to the lives of non-Caucasians in the US. "The Color Purple" is still in many ways a milestone and movie that deserves being watched.