‘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.

Paul Schrader Turned to AI for ‘Three Guns at Dawn’ After Black Actors Rejected Its Criminal Characters: “We’re Making Them!”

For Schrader, AI solves the curious practical filmmaking problem he had. How about just creating Black people? No casting calls, no agents, no actors turning down the roles.

Zach Cregger Distances Himself From ‘Gladys’ Prequel, Not Writing or Directing, Only Producing

Originally, Cregger was reported to be directing “Gladys.” He then dropped out. He was also supposed to co-write the script with Zach Shields, and apparently now he isn’t.

Telluride’s “Secret” A24 Movie Is Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes Doc

The mystery surrounding Telluride’s secret A24 screening now appears to have been solved. Did anybody guess Nathan Fielder and Elizabeth Holmes?

Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love’ Starts Quietly, Builds Into Something Colossal and Transcendent [Venice]

The film runs 164 minutes. What a stunner this turns out to be. “Possible Love” keeps getting stranger and deeper the longer it goes. And by the end, the film has moved somewhere almost transcendent.

Telluride to Screen “Surprise” A24 Movie Tonight! 174-Minute Runtime, Tight Security — No Phones Allowed

Some major guessing games are currently going on regarding Telluride’s surprise movie, playing later today at 6 PM MT, which has sparked some fun theories among industry insiders and journalists.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Good/Great Movies That Don't Deserve Their “Rotten" Scores

These 31 titles clearly have their share of detractors — that’s why they’re “rotten” — and I expect some people to question a few of these picks. That’s fine. However, I believe most are strong films, worth reevaluating.

‘Dune: Part Three’ Reportedly “Blew Away" Warner Bros. With Rough 3-Hour Cut as New Teaser Stuns

Today, “Dune: Part Three” tickets went on sale, this time non-premium formats were made available, and it was all accompanied by a brand-new teaser—and the footage is stunning.

What is David Fincher’s Best Film? 100+ Critics Say, No Contest, It’s ‘Zodiac’

We managed to gather 118 ballots from critics, programmers, filmmakers, and scholars. Each was asked to submit a single title, the one they believe to be the best of Fincher’s filmography.

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Glimpses of the Moon’ (Apparently) Starts Production This Month in Italy

Coppola has described “Glimpses” as a “strange 30s-style musical.” No cast has been announced. The film is a loose adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel, “inspired” by Leo McCarey’s “The Awful Truth.”

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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