Review of The Color Purple (1985) by Michele S — 10 Jul 2010

"The jail you planned for me is the one you're gonna rot in."-Celie Johnson.

I first saw The Color Purple when I was a teenager. The movie made me laugh, cry, and watch in wonder. I have watched this movie several times and each time, I appreciate it more and more. It was nominated for 11 Oscars and unbelievably Steven Spielberg was not nominated for Best Director. What a shame because he surely deserved a win for this masterpiece.

The Color Purple was based off a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. The movie is set in the early 1900's in Georgia. Whoopi Goldberg, in what I believe to be one of her best performances, plays Celie Johnson. Celie, is a girl who is sexually abused by her own father. He impregnates her twice and both times has the children taken away from her. He later sells her to Albert (Danny Glover) and he marry's her while she is still a young teenager. Albert actually wanted her younger sister Nettie but their father wouldn't give her up (one can only guess what he had planned for her). Due to her lack of appeal and lack of beauty, Albert treats Celie like crap...basically, like his own slave.

Later, Nettie comes to stay with them but it is only a matter of time Albert tries to get his hands on her too. He eventually sends her away because he can't have his way with her. However, before she leaves, she teaches Celie how to read. They promise to keep in touch but as the years go by Celie doesn't hear a peep from Nettie. It's not until many years later (approximately in her 40s) that she is led to a secret stash of letters that Albert kept from her.

This is just a taste of what this movie is about. There are several complex stories among a stellar cast of actors. Many of the key characters struggle through their own hardships but the most pivotal character is Celie. She is the centerpiece of this movie.

Oprah Winfrey plays Sofia and her role in this movie is amazing as well. If memory serves me right, we first see Sofia marching up the street with her man Harpo (Albert's son). She is on her way to meet Albert to let him know they are getting married. Sophia is a head strong woman that doesn't take crap from anyone which later proves to make her life all the more difficult.

"All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house!" --Sofia.

Margaret Avery plays Shug Avery...a former girlfriend of Albert. He even tells his kids how she should have been their momma. When Shug first sees Celie she says, "You sure izzzz ugly!" but despite her rudeness, Celie is in awe of Shug. They later form a special friendship.

-Does Celie ever escape Albert?

-Does Celie ever see her children again?

-Does Celie ever see her sister again?

-What kind of trouble does Sofia get into?

-Does Albert ever realize just how badly he has treated Celie?

This is a movie that should not be passed up. Just writing this review makes me want to watch it again. It's not just a wonderful movie, it's a wonderful experience.