If a film is going to be part really good and part really bad, is it better for the good part to be at the beginning or the end?
If it is in the beginning, the audience is probably hooked throughout - even during the "bad" part - in hopes that the film sticks the landing...and when it doesn't, the audience will walk out with a bad taste in it's mouth.
If the good part is at the end, there's a chance that the audience will give up on the film during the bad part before they get to the good part.
Such is the experience with THE COLOR PURPLE, the film version of the Broadway Musical that is based on the 1985 Stephen Spielberg film that is based on the book by Alice Walker (did you follow that)?
The first 2/3 of this 2 hour and 21 minute opus is disjointed, narratively adrift with characters that have no depth and musical numbers that felt like they were just highlights from the Broadway show - not full fledged numbers. I found myself at the hour and a half mark, looking at my watch wondering how much longer I would need to sit through this and was dismayed that there was almost another hour yet to go!
But...at about the 1 hour 45 minute mark, this film finds it's footing and the last 35-40 minutes are very good indeed.
This might because that it is that point in the story that the character that Oscar Nominated (for Best Supporting Actress) Danielle Brook's character takes center stage - and it is a strong, human performance that, then, jolts the lead character of Celie (former American Idol Fantasia Barrino) to move from the background to the foreground and she shines in her time in the spotlight at the end.
But...boy...it's a joureny to get there.
The problem of the first part of the film has to be laid at the feet of Director Blitz Bazawale (THE BURIAL OF KOJO) who neuters such strong performers as Colman Domingo and Taraji P. Henson into uninteresting one-note characters while laying on MTV-style cutting of musical numbers that are begging to be shown "Broadway style". The only redeeming factor of the first part of this film is the performance of Halle Bailey (Ariel in the recent THE LITTLE MERMAID) as the young Nettie. She brings a spark and excitement to her character - a spark and excitement that, quite frankly, was missing in her portrayal of Ariel.
So if you can slog your way through the first 2/3 of this film, you'll be rewarded with strong moments/performances and musical numbers that actually feel like you are experiencing a Broadway performance.
But, it might just be too little, too late.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
If it is in the beginning, the audience is probably hooked throughout - even during the "bad" part - in hopes that the film sticks the landing...and when it doesn't, the audience will walk out with a bad taste in it's mouth.
If the good part is at the end, there's a chance that the audience will give up on the film during the bad part before they get to the good part.
Such is the experience with THE COLOR PURPLE, the film version of the Broadway Musical that is based on the 1985 Stephen Spielberg film that is based on the book by Alice Walker (did you follow that)?
The first 2/3 of this 2 hour and 21 minute opus is disjointed, narratively adrift with characters that have no depth and musical numbers that felt like they were just highlights from the Broadway show - not full fledged numbers. I found myself at the hour and a half mark, looking at my watch wondering how much longer I would need to sit through this and was dismayed that there was almost another hour yet to go!
But...at about the 1 hour 45 minute mark, this film finds it's footing and the last 35-40 minutes are very good indeed.
This might because that it is that point in the story that the character that Oscar Nominated (for Best Supporting Actress) Danielle Brook's character takes center stage - and it is a strong, human performance that, then, jolts the lead character of Celie (former American Idol Fantasia Barrino) to move from the background to the foreground and she shines in her time in the spotlight at the end.
But...boy...it's a joureny to get there.
The problem of the first part of the film has to be laid at the feet of Director Blitz Bazawale (THE BURIAL OF KOJO) who neuters such strong performers as Colman Domingo and Taraji P. Henson into uninteresting one-note characters while laying on MTV-style cutting of musical numbers that are begging to be shown "Broadway style". The only redeeming factor of the first part of this film is the performance of Halle Bailey (Ariel in the recent THE LITTLE MERMAID) as the young Nettie. She brings a spark and excitement to her character - a spark and excitement that, quite frankly, was missing in her portrayal of Ariel.
So if you can slog your way through the first 2/3 of this film, you'll be rewarded with strong moments/performances and musical numbers that actually feel like you are experiencing a Broadway performance.
But, it might just be too little, too late.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)