‘The Color Purple’ Reactions Start to Leak Out … Danielle Brooks: Oscar Winner?

One of the last Oscar contenders left this awards season was screened last night in Los Angeles. “The Color Purple” (12.25.23) had a guild screening, There aren’t a lot of names I recognize tweeting out reactions, just one notable pundit.

In attendance was The Playlist’s Gregory Ellwood and he had this to say about the upcoming Warner Bros musical:

Already a standing ovation for The Color Purple while the credits are running… Danielle Brooks and Taraji are truly great…the direction…I…um…choices. Fantasia has some great moments in second half. That voice! Script, direction, editing don’t help her.

I can’t really find any other pundits or critics that attended this screening. Almost all of the reactions point out Danielle Brooks’ performance as a major highlight … I’m not supposed to see “The Color Purple” until next Monday 11.20.23.

There was also a press screening in Brazil, which didn’t go well at all. The critics there hated it.

“The Color Purple” is directed by Blitz Bazawule (“Black Is King,” “The Burial of Kojo”) and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R, Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Fantasia Barrino.

Warner Bros. released a trailer in October.

“The Color Purple” has test-screened four times and reactions were mostly positive. Fantasia Barrino’s performance hasn’t been raved as much as Taraji P. Henson and Brooks’ star-making turn. That’s been the general attendee consensus for a few months now.

Given the amount of glowing praise her performance has been getting, I’d be very surprised if Brooks doesn’t land in the final five for Best Supporting Actress.

The Supporting Actress field is fairly weak this year, so it’s hers for the taking. Who’s actually going to get nominated? That category is currently a ghost town. Emily Blunt for “Oppenheimer” is definitely in. I’d also bet some good money Da’vine Joy Randolph’s performance in “The Holdovers.” Who else? Julianne Moore in “May December”? Jodie Foster in “Nyad”?

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