‘The Color Purple’ Oscar Buzz Might Be Artificial, Test-Screened Four Times Already

The general reactions I had gathered about “The Color Purple,” when it was test screened in the fall of 2022, was that it wasn’t a very good movie.

For all of the “buzz” the film, and Fantasia Barrino’s performance, seem to be getting, I just can’t see this one breaking out in big ways. Barrino is also, supposedly, outshone by Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson. That’s been the general consensus I’ve had for months now.

A trailer for “The Color Purple” was released earlier this summer. It did not resemble Spielberg’s overcooked 1985 film — in fact, this latest version is a musical. Warner Bros is obviously very confident about this film’s Oscar chances since they have decided to open ”The Color Purple” in theaters on December 25, 2023. They’re banking hard on it.

What I will say is that “The Color Purple” has test-screened four times already, never a good sign, with the earliest showings being in September and October of 2022. Reactions were mixed at the time. I would have never suspected it to be released during the thick of awards season.

And yet, here we are in fall of 2023 and practically every pundit has it in their Best Picture predictions. With a bunch of contenders having just premiered at Venice, Telluride and TIFF, it’ll be a hard hill to climb for ‘Color Purple’ to make any dent this awards season.

I can’t say the trailer was that convincing either. Dan Laustsen’s photography came off as unimpressive. The whole thing looked stale, but, hey, I can’t say my tastes have ever aligned that well with the Academy’s, but ‘Color Purple’ will need good reviews to build Oscar buzz.

As mentioned, Spielberg already made a film out of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel, which garnered many Oscar noms, including one for Best Picture. However, this one is based on the 2005 musical with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

It’s directed by a fella named Blitz Bazawule (“Black Is King,” “The Burial of Kojo”) and produced by Oprah Winfrey, 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.