'The Color Purple' review: A thrilling musical comedy

Forget the film adaptation of the Steven Spielberg novel, because this is the film adaptation of the Broadway musical.

in the beginning, Violet is an epistolary novel by Alice Walker published in 1982. The work, for which its author won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was brought to the big screen by Steven Spielberg in 1985. If a feature film is named in 11 categories at the Academy Awards, members avoid it. Academy and leaves empty-handed amidst general misunderstanding.

Then, in 2005, Violet It becomes a musical on Broadway and throughout the United States in which Fantasia Barrino plays Celie. That's the work now being brought to the screen, with Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey producing this new feature film.

As in the original film, we follow Celie (Fantasia Barrino), who has been forcibly married to Albert Johnson (Colman Domingo) and separated from her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey, Disney's new Little Mermaid). She will become friends with Shrug Avery (Taraji P. Henson, impressive), a famous singer and her husband's lover, as well as with Sophia (Danielle Brooks, seen in… Orange is the new black) is married to Harpo (Corey Hawkins), one of the Johnson children.

The screenplay by playwright Marcus Gardley occasionally deviates from the novel and the Broadway production, but the musical's key scores are deftly taken and rearranged in a more sustained way – particularly the excellent score. of course not!, Which acquires an unexpected novelty.

Produced by Blitz Bazawule, especially known for his collaboration with Beyoncé Black is kinglives up to the poignant and inspiring story, by director and cinematographer Dan Lustson (II, III, IV). John Wick) Infusing brilliant images with exceptional brightness and energy.

All that's left to do is hope that this emotional rereading of this landmark work doesn't fail to win an Oscar again.

Violet It hits theaters on December 25.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5