Taraji P. Henson has been one of the most vocal actresses in Hollywood at the moment. The Hidden Figures star gained recognition for her role in Hustle & Flow, and David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She has since starred in a number of films such as The Karate Kid.
Henson recently opened up about many of the issues she faced while filming the musical adaptation of The Color Purple. The novel by Alice Walker was first adapted by Steven Spielberg, which has since gained many criticisms for its portrayal of Black people. Henson called him out for one element in the film, which the filmmaker has admitted to in the past.
Taraji P. Henson Called Out Steven Spielberg For Mishandling The Color Purple A still from The Color Purple (2023) | Credits: Amblin Entertainment/Ow Films/Sgs...
Henson recently opened up about many of the issues she faced while filming the musical adaptation of The Color Purple. The novel by Alice Walker was first adapted by Steven Spielberg, which has since gained many criticisms for its portrayal of Black people. Henson called him out for one element in the film, which the filmmaker has admitted to in the past.
Taraji P. Henson Called Out Steven Spielberg For Mishandling The Color Purple A still from The Color Purple (2023) | Credits: Amblin Entertainment/Ow Films/Sgs...
- 5/23/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
You know that feeling of watching someone ice skate for the first time? Or when a little kid finally tries riding their bicycle without training wheels? That's sort of the feeling I get watching Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation of "The Color Purple."
Make no mistake: Spielberg's 1985 film version of Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, which he directed from a script by his eventual "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" co-writer Menno Meyjes, is quite lovely to look at; it's a Spielberg picture so that much goes without saying. Whoopi Goldberg is similarly splendid as the grown-up Celie Harris-Johnson, a queer Black woman living in early 20th-century Georgia who endures horrific abuse at the hands of the men in her life yet finds kindness, support, and love from the Black women around her.
It's not that Spielberg had never tackled a "serious" adult movie before that,...
Make no mistake: Spielberg's 1985 film version of Alice Walker's 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, which he directed from a script by his eventual "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" co-writer Menno Meyjes, is quite lovely to look at; it's a Spielberg picture so that much goes without saying. Whoopi Goldberg is similarly splendid as the grown-up Celie Harris-Johnson, a queer Black woman living in early 20th-century Georgia who endures horrific abuse at the hands of the men in her life yet finds kindness, support, and love from the Black women around her.
It's not that Spielberg had never tackled a "serious" adult movie before that,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
On March 16, Taraji P. Henson won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards. All eyes were on The Color Purple star as she celebrated with her costars. Known for her dynamic acting career including Empire and Hidden Figures, the 53-year-old continues to build her legacy in Hollywood.
Taraji P. Henson at the NAACP Awards on March 16, 2024 | Unique Nicole/WireImage
Henson looked like a bright spring flower in her daffodil-colored gown from Del Core’s spring 2024 ready-to-wear line. The strapless dress skewed sculptural with a sheer corset bustier and 3D petals. Little crystals sparkled on the bodice, which cascaded down her hips to an understated train.
Taraji P. Henson at the Shrine Auditorium in LA | Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald styled Henson’s lemon-colored look. The Hollywood Reporter recently featured the pair in March’s “25 Most Powerful Stylists” issue,...
Taraji P. Henson at the NAACP Awards on March 16, 2024 | Unique Nicole/WireImage
Henson looked like a bright spring flower in her daffodil-colored gown from Del Core’s spring 2024 ready-to-wear line. The strapless dress skewed sculptural with a sheer corset bustier and 3D petals. Little crystals sparkled on the bodice, which cascaded down her hips to an understated train.
Taraji P. Henson at the Shrine Auditorium in LA | Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald styled Henson’s lemon-colored look. The Hollywood Reporter recently featured the pair in March’s “25 Most Powerful Stylists” issue,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Ali Hicks
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Danielle Brooks knows The Color Purple’s Sofia inside out. She spent a year as the boisterous wife in the Broadway revival in 2015, and boasts that she knows everything from the character’s Zodiac sign to the color socks she wore. A decade before her fiery onstage performance, a 15-year-old Brooks admired Felicia P. Fields as Sofia in its initial run on Broadway, whose defiant demeanor made her vulnerable to racial violence. Despite her lifelong ties to the role, she still had to prove herself for the big budget movie musical.
- 2/26/2024
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
Pedro Pascal arrives at the 2024 SAG Awards (Photo Provided by SAG)
Members of the Screen Actors Guild honored their own at the 2024 SAG Awards held on February 24, 2024 and streaming live on Netflix. The 2024 awards recognized the best performances in film and television of 2023, with Oppenheimer continuing to rule the season with three SAG Awards wins.
The Oppenheimer ensemble won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast award, and Cillian Murphy was named the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role winner. Robert Downey Jr took home a SAG win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category.
On the television side, Succession, The Bear, and Beef cast members were big winners. And The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal pulled off a surprise win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series category over three Succession actors and Billy Crudup from The Morning Show.
Members of the Screen Actors Guild honored their own at the 2024 SAG Awards held on February 24, 2024 and streaming live on Netflix. The 2024 awards recognized the best performances in film and television of 2023, with Oppenheimer continuing to rule the season with three SAG Awards wins.
The Oppenheimer ensemble won the Outstanding Performance by a Cast award, and Cillian Murphy was named the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role winner. Robert Downey Jr took home a SAG win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category.
On the television side, Succession, The Bear, and Beef cast members were big winners. And The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal pulled off a surprise win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series category over three Succession actors and Billy Crudup from The Morning Show.
- 2/25/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Oppenheimer won the award for best performance by a cast in a motion picture at the 2024 SAG Awards, which were handed out Saturday night.
The film also scooped up two other awards, for leading actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr.
Leading actress honors went to Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for The Holdovers.
On the TV side, The Bear won three awards, including best ensemble in a comedy series. Star Jeremy Allen White won the nod for best performance by a male actor in a comedy series, while Ayo Edebiri won the female actor award in the same category. Another awards favorite, Succession, was named best drama series ensemble, but lost out in the other categories in which it was nominated.
Elsewhere, Beef took two awards: Ali Wong won the award for best performance by...
The film also scooped up two other awards, for leading actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr.
Leading actress honors went to Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for The Holdovers.
On the TV side, The Bear won three awards, including best ensemble in a comedy series. Star Jeremy Allen White won the nod for best performance by a male actor in a comedy series, while Ayo Edebiri won the female actor award in the same category. Another awards favorite, Succession, was named best drama series ensemble, but lost out in the other categories in which it was nominated.
Elsewhere, Beef took two awards: Ali Wong won the award for best performance by...
- 2/25/2024
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Quick Answer: The Color Purple (2023) can currently be streamed online with a Max subscription and purchased on Amazon Prime Video.
Stream 'The Color Purple' on Max
Music has always been a part of The Color Purple in every capacity, whether on the stage or on the screen. Now, that well-rounded and immersed music in the 2023 edition is available to watch on Max.
“A lot of musicals...
Quick Answer: The Color Purple (2023) can currently be streamed online with a Max subscription and purchased on Amazon Prime Video.
Stream 'The Color Purple' on Max
Music has always been a part of The Color Purple in every capacity, whether on the stage or on the screen. Now, that well-rounded and immersed music in the 2023 edition is available to watch on Max.
“A lot of musicals...
- 2/16/2024
- by Kyle Lamar Rice
- Rollingstone.com
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has some criticism for her movie The Color Purple.
The 54-year-old actress, who received an Oscar nomination for King Richard and wide acclaim for her performance in this year’s film Origin, had a small role in the new movie musical as Celie’s mom.
In a new interview with Buzzfeed, Aunjanue was asked for her thoughts on the backlash the movie received for erasing queer romance. The relationship between Celie and Shug Avery is much more prominent in the book and stage musical than it was in either film adaptations.
Keep reading to find out more…
“The Color Purple is a book about Black lesbians. Whether the choice was made to focus on that or not in the cinematic iterations of The Color Purple, it’s still a movie about Black lesbians. People can try to say the story is about sisterhood, but it’s a story about Black lesbians.
The 54-year-old actress, who received an Oscar nomination for King Richard and wide acclaim for her performance in this year’s film Origin, had a small role in the new movie musical as Celie’s mom.
In a new interview with Buzzfeed, Aunjanue was asked for her thoughts on the backlash the movie received for erasing queer romance. The relationship between Celie and Shug Avery is much more prominent in the book and stage musical than it was in either film adaptations.
Keep reading to find out more…
“The Color Purple is a book about Black lesbians. Whether the choice was made to focus on that or not in the cinematic iterations of The Color Purple, it’s still a movie about Black lesbians. People can try to say the story is about sisterhood, but it’s a story about Black lesbians.
- 2/16/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Directed by Blitz Bazawule from a script by Marcus Gardley, Alice Walker’s novel comes to life on the big screen once again with this stage-to-screen adaptation of the classic coming-of-age story. Fantasia Barrino leads the cast in her feature film debut as Celie, who, despite a life of hardships (from personal to societal), finds strength and solace in sisterhood. Featuring an A-list ensemble including Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., and more, the Oscar-nominated “The Color Purple” makes its streaming debut on Max on Friday, Feb. 16. You can watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.
How to Watch 'The Color Purple' When: Friday, February 16, 2024 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com About 'The Color Purple'
“The Color Purple” takes on a new hue as Brenda Russell, Allee Willis,...
How to Watch 'The Color Purple' When: Friday, February 16, 2024 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com About 'The Color Purple'
“The Color Purple” takes on a new hue as Brenda Russell, Allee Willis,...
- 2/16/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Renewed at Disney+
Lightning will strike twice: following a successful, acclaimed first season, Disney+ has officially renewed “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” for a second season.
Adapted from Rick Riordan’s book series of the same name, the series follows the title protagonist Percy (Walker Scobell), a 12-year-old modern demigod who is just coming to terms with his newfound supernatural powers when Zeus (the late Lance Reddick) accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri), Percy begins a journey across America to find it and restore order to Olympus. Season 1 also starred Virginia Kull, Glynn Turman, Jason Mantzoukas, Megan Mullally, Timm Sharp, Dior Goodjohn, Charlie Bushnell, and more.
Watch the trailer for “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” below:
According to Disney CEO Bob Iger in the latest quarterly earnings call, Season 1 has...
Lightning will strike twice: following a successful, acclaimed first season, Disney+ has officially renewed “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” for a second season.
Adapted from Rick Riordan’s book series of the same name, the series follows the title protagonist Percy (Walker Scobell), a 12-year-old modern demigod who is just coming to terms with his newfound supernatural powers when Zeus (the late Lance Reddick) accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri), Percy begins a journey across America to find it and restore order to Olympus. Season 1 also starred Virginia Kull, Glynn Turman, Jason Mantzoukas, Megan Mullally, Timm Sharp, Dior Goodjohn, Charlie Bushnell, and more.
Watch the trailer for “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” below:
According to Disney CEO Bob Iger in the latest quarterly earnings call, Season 1 has...
- 2/9/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Warner Bros. PIctures’ The Color Purple will make its streaming debut on Max on February 16.
The Blitz Bazawule-directed musical adaptation stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Danielle Brooks.
Adapted from the novel and Broadway musical, the film takes on the classic story of love and resilience. Torn apart from her sister Nettie (Bailey) and her children, Celie (Barrino) faces many hardships in her life, including an abusive husband simply called Mister (Domingo). With the support of sultry singer Shug Avery (Henson) and stand-her-ground stepdaughter Sofia (Brooks), Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.
Bazawule directs from a screenplay by Marcus Gardley, whose script is based on the novel by Alice Walker and based on the musical stage play, book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray,...
The Blitz Bazawule-directed musical adaptation stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Danielle Brooks.
Adapted from the novel and Broadway musical, the film takes on the classic story of love and resilience. Torn apart from her sister Nettie (Bailey) and her children, Celie (Barrino) faces many hardships in her life, including an abusive husband simply called Mister (Domingo). With the support of sultry singer Shug Avery (Henson) and stand-her-ground stepdaughter Sofia (Brooks), Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.
Bazawule directs from a screenplay by Marcus Gardley, whose script is based on the novel by Alice Walker and based on the musical stage play, book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray,...
- 2/9/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Taraji P. Henson has joined the cast of Peacock’s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist in the series regular role of Vivian Thomas, a savvy businesswoman and Chicken Man’s (Kevin Hart) mistress.
The series reunites Henson with Hart who have collaborated on multiple projects including the films Think Like a Man and Not Easily Broken. Additionally, Fight Night also brings Henson back together with Terrence Howard and Craig Brewer, with whom she collaborated on Hustle & Flow and Empire, among other projects.
Set in Atlanta, Fight Night tells the infamous story of how an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life but an entire city’s destiny.
As Deadline exclusively revealed on Wednesday morning, Dexter Darden will star as the legendary boxer in the limited series. In addition to Henson,...
The series reunites Henson with Hart who have collaborated on multiple projects including the films Think Like a Man and Not Easily Broken. Additionally, Fight Night also brings Henson back together with Terrence Howard and Craig Brewer, with whom she collaborated on Hustle & Flow and Empire, among other projects.
Set in Atlanta, Fight Night tells the infamous story of how an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life but an entire city’s destiny.
As Deadline exclusively revealed on Wednesday morning, Dexter Darden will star as the legendary boxer in the limited series. In addition to Henson,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Danielle Brooks is definitely overjoyed at her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for The Color Purple, after all the many, many years of hard graft she has put into her craft. However, she can’t help but wish the film had more nominations than just her own. On Tuesday morning, the nominations announcement came for Brooks and Brooks alone.
“I of course wish that my sister Fantasia [Barrino] could have had that moment as well, as our leading lady,” Brooks told Deadline after receiving the news. “She was phenomenal. But I’m grateful that I also get to share these moments with Colman [Domingo] for another movie [Rustin].
Barrino and Brooks both starred in the Broadway production of The Color Purple and reprised those roles in this Blitz Bazawule-directed film. The Color Purple follows Celie (Barrino) as she contends with abuse from all sides, including from her husband (Domingo), but finally...
“I of course wish that my sister Fantasia [Barrino] could have had that moment as well, as our leading lady,” Brooks told Deadline after receiving the news. “She was phenomenal. But I’m grateful that I also get to share these moments with Colman [Domingo] for another movie [Rustin].
Barrino and Brooks both starred in the Broadway production of The Color Purple and reprised those roles in this Blitz Bazawule-directed film. The Color Purple follows Celie (Barrino) as she contends with abuse from all sides, including from her husband (Domingo), but finally...
- 1/23/2024
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
“The Color Purple,” which took home the awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble and Best Music at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, will finally be available to watch from the home. The film becomes available to rent/purchase on digital platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV on Jan. 16, and will release on 4K Uhd, DVD and Blu-ray on Mar. 12
Buy Now: The Color Purple On Prime Video $19.99
The digital and physical releases include dozens of special features including three featurettes with the director Blitz Bazawule, filmmakers and the star-studded cast about the making of the film, in addition to behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage showing the process of transforming Alice Walker’s novel into a musical.
Fantasia Barrino, who starred as Celie in the 2007 Broadway production of “The Color Purple,...
“The Color Purple,” which took home the awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble and Best Music at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, will finally be available to watch from the home. The film becomes available to rent/purchase on digital platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV on Jan. 16, and will release on 4K Uhd, DVD and Blu-ray on Mar. 12
Buy Now: The Color Purple On Prime Video $19.99
The digital and physical releases include dozens of special features including three featurettes with the director Blitz Bazawule, filmmakers and the star-studded cast about the making of the film, in addition to behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage showing the process of transforming Alice Walker’s novel into a musical.
Fantasia Barrino, who starred as Celie in the 2007 Broadway production of “The Color Purple,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
Tensions come to a head in the Easter dinner scene from Blitz Bazawule’s musical adaptation “The Color Purple.” In this moving moment from the film based on Alice Walker’s novel and the beloved Broadway production of the same name, Celie (Fantasia Barrino) confronts Mister (Colman Domingo), the brute farmer she was married off to by her father as a teen, and the years of abuse she’s endured at his hands. Meanwhile, Sofia (Danielle Brooks) breaks down in tears and gratitude for Celie staying by her side while Sofia was locked up in jail after refusing to work for the mayor’s wife.
Also gathered from the ensemble at the table are Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson as bluestress Shug Avery, Oscar winner Jon Batiste as Grady, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, and Oscar winner H.E.R. as Mary Agnes.
The acclaimed film, one of the biggest Christmas Day openings ever,...
Also gathered from the ensemble at the table are Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson as bluestress Shug Avery, Oscar winner Jon Batiste as Grady, Corey Hawkins as Harpo, and Oscar winner H.E.R. as Mary Agnes.
The acclaimed film, one of the biggest Christmas Day openings ever,...
- 1/12/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Oprah and the stars of The Color Purple gathered together for a screening of the musical Wednesday night, hours after scoring a coveted SAG best ensemble nomination — and also used the occasion to put aside any notion of rumored tension between them, even if subtly.
Kerry Washington moderated a Q&a with Oprah — who produced the Warner Bros. movie alongside Steven Spielberg — and actresses Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino after the credits rolled at the DGA Theater in West Hollywood.
Henson had nothing but praise for Oprah, saying she not only “knows how to produce,” but that she brought “the pride that she has in this project” to set and it “poured into us.”
“I mean, she called and was like, ‘If there’s anything I can help you with, let me know,'” Henson recalled Oprah telling her. “And I said, ‘Well since you asked (Laughs...
Kerry Washington moderated a Q&a with Oprah — who produced the Warner Bros. movie alongside Steven Spielberg — and actresses Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino after the credits rolled at the DGA Theater in West Hollywood.
Henson had nothing but praise for Oprah, saying she not only “knows how to produce,” but that she brought “the pride that she has in this project” to set and it “poured into us.”
“I mean, she called and was like, ‘If there’s anything I can help you with, let me know,'” Henson recalled Oprah telling her. “And I said, ‘Well since you asked (Laughs...
- 1/11/2024
- by Pamela McClintock and Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Did you know that the “P” in Taraji P. Henson stands for Prolific? Just kidding. It actually stands for Penda, which in Swahili means “hope/love.”
But prolific might actually be too small a word to contain the wealth of Henson’s ambitious, wide-ranging career: Oscar-nominated blockbusters, must-see TV, a primetime musical (NBC’s “Annie Live!”) and movies known for their eminent re-watchability.
Now, as the tantalizing, tender-hearted Southern belle Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule’s musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Henson is capping a banner year in which she could have become an Egot recipient with her 2023 work alone: her Emmy-nominated performance as Quinta Brunson’s cash-strapped mom on “Abbott Elementary”; being a principal on the “Purple” soundtrack; and making her first foray as a Broadway producer with the critically acclaimed “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” B
ut when it was suggested that she’s versatile enough to...
But prolific might actually be too small a word to contain the wealth of Henson’s ambitious, wide-ranging career: Oscar-nominated blockbusters, must-see TV, a primetime musical (NBC’s “Annie Live!”) and movies known for their eminent re-watchability.
Now, as the tantalizing, tender-hearted Southern belle Shug Avery in Blitz Bazawule’s musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Henson is capping a banner year in which she could have become an Egot recipient with her 2023 work alone: her Emmy-nominated performance as Quinta Brunson’s cash-strapped mom on “Abbott Elementary”; being a principal on the “Purple” soundtrack; and making her first foray as a Broadway producer with the critically acclaimed “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” B
ut when it was suggested that she’s versatile enough to...
- 1/9/2024
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
Oprah Winfrey is shutting down any speculation involving an apparent feud with Taraji P. Henson amid revelations that “The Color Purple” cast did not originally have food or trailers provided to them on set during rehearsals. Oprah was a producer on the new film, decades after originating the role of Sofia and earning an Oscar nomination for the 1985 adaptation. Henson stars in the new version as Shug Avery and spent a bulk of her press tour talking about how she had to fight to ensure she got paid fairly and that her castmates had access to simple requests like food, drivers to set and more.
“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” Oprah told Entertainment Tonight. “Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film. Championing not only the behind the scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed. So whenever I...
“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji,” Oprah told Entertainment Tonight. “Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film. Championing not only the behind the scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed. So whenever I...
- 1/8/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Oprah says that there is no bad blood between her and The Color Purple actress Taraji P. Henson, who has over the past few weeks shared her poor experiences with things like pay and on-set accommodations on the film, as well as other projects.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Winfrey addressed online speculation over Henson’s treatment on the film after the award-winning actress opened up about her pay equity struggles while on the press tour for The Color Purple. Winfrey, who is a producer on the film and appeared in the original 1985 non-musical version directed by Steven Spielberg, told the outlet she “heard I was trending yesterday” after more comments from Henson, this time in The New York Times, about transportation to set and trailers while filming the movie.
“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji. Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Winfrey addressed online speculation over Henson’s treatment on the film after the award-winning actress opened up about her pay equity struggles while on the press tour for The Color Purple. Winfrey, who is a producer on the film and appeared in the original 1985 non-musical version directed by Steven Spielberg, told the outlet she “heard I was trending yesterday” after more comments from Henson, this time in The New York Times, about transportation to set and trailers while filming the movie.
“People are saying that I was not supporting Taraji. Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film.
- 1/8/2024
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taraji P. Henson said in a recent interview with The New York Times that she and her co-stars on “The Color Purple” got “a lot of stuff on that set” because she fought for it behind the scenes. One such example was rides and security to the film’s Atlanta set, as the production allegedly offered the cast rental cars at first and expected the actors to drive themselves to set.
“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?” Henson said. “So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.
“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?” Henson said. “So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.
- 1/7/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Taraji P. Henson fought for 'The Color Purple' cast to be given drivers.The 53-year-old actress - who portrays Shug Avery in the musical adaptation of Alice Walker's classic novel - has criticised producers for giving her and her co-stars rental cars to drive themselves to the set for filming, arguing it was an "insurance liability" and would be "dangerous" for them.She told The New York Times newspaper: “They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people.“What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car? So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.
- 1/7/2024
- by Viki Waters
- Bang Showbiz
Taraji P. Henson is no stranger to hustle. Throughout college, she spent most post-class evenings singing, dancing, and waiting tables on a D.C. cruise ship and her early mornings as a receptionist at The Pentagon to help cover her Howard University tuition. Henson still wears many hats as the owner of the haircare line Tph by Taraji, the founder of the mental wellness nonprofit Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, and most recently as the brazen Shug Avery in the blockbuster musical The Color Purple.
“I just had my house remodeled: I have an infrared sauna,...
“I just had my house remodeled: I have an infrared sauna,...
- 1/6/2024
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
‘The Color Purple’: Read The Screenplay By Marcus Gardley That Finds A New Way In To An Iconic Story
Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with The Color Purple, directed by Blitz Bazawule and written by Marcus Gardley. The music-filled film boasts a stacked cast including Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Corey Hawkins and more.
Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name was originally adapted into a feature by Steven Spielberg in 1985 in a film that starred Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The story was then adapted into a musical created by Marsha Norman, which ran on Broadway from 2005-2008 and got a revival in 2015. That musical was then adapted for the screen by Gardley, whose credits included writing on The Chi and the Z: The Beginning of Everything, and the Warner Bros movie was born, with Winfrey and Steven Spielberg back from the original film as producers.
The story centers on...
Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name was originally adapted into a feature by Steven Spielberg in 1985 in a film that starred Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The story was then adapted into a musical created by Marsha Norman, which ran on Broadway from 2005-2008 and got a revival in 2015. That musical was then adapted for the screen by Gardley, whose credits included writing on The Chi and the Z: The Beginning of Everything, and the Warner Bros movie was born, with Winfrey and Steven Spielberg back from the original film as producers.
The story centers on...
- 1/4/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The recap of the film The Color Purple starts in 1909 Georgia, sisters Celie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi) and Nettie (Halle Bailey) sit in a tree, engaging in a clapping game called "Huckleberry Pie" before heading to church with the rest of the town for their Sunday service featuring "Mysterious Ways."
The Color Purple Movie RecapCelie, pregnant with her second child by her father Alfonso (Deon Cole), gives birth to a son, Adam. However, Alfonso takes the baby away and gives him to another family, similar to what happened with Celie's previous baby, a daughter named Olivia.
Working at a shop, Celie spots Olivia with another woman, but when she tries to speak to the baby, Alfonso orders her to keep working. From a distance, Celie hopes for a future reunion with Olivia during "She Be Mine." Despite their struggles, Celie and Nettie find solace in each other as depicted in "Keep It Movin'.
The Color Purple Movie RecapCelie, pregnant with her second child by her father Alfonso (Deon Cole), gives birth to a son, Adam. However, Alfonso takes the baby away and gives him to another family, similar to what happened with Celie's previous baby, a daughter named Olivia.
Working at a shop, Celie spots Olivia with another woman, but when she tries to speak to the baby, Alfonso orders her to keep working. From a distance, Celie hopes for a future reunion with Olivia during "She Be Mine." Despite their struggles, Celie and Nettie find solace in each other as depicted in "Keep It Movin'.
- 1/2/2024
- by Mark Hughes
- Anime blogspot
In a cinematic landscape filled with talent, certain performances stand out. From the quiet intensity of Greta Lee in Past Lives to the commanding presence of Taraji P. Henson in The Color Purple, this collection of actors make up some of my favorite performances of the year of films I saw. Each actor brings a unique energy and emotional depth to their roles to not only define their characters but elevate them.
These are not in any particular order.
Greta Lee & Teo Yoo, Past Lives
Lee beautifully navigates the delicate emotional journey put forth in Celine Song’s script. She embodies Nora’s quiet longing with a subtlety, her expressive eyes and gentle smile hinting at the depths of unsaid feelings. When faced with the ghosts of the yesterday, Lee unleashes a rawness that both devastates and resonates, reminding us of the vulnerability it takes to confront the paths not taken.
These are not in any particular order.
Greta Lee & Teo Yoo, Past Lives
Lee beautifully navigates the delicate emotional journey put forth in Celine Song’s script. She embodies Nora’s quiet longing with a subtlety, her expressive eyes and gentle smile hinting at the depths of unsaid feelings. When faced with the ghosts of the yesterday, Lee unleashes a rawness that both devastates and resonates, reminding us of the vulnerability it takes to confront the paths not taken.
- 12/31/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
In an exclusive debut, “OWN Spotlight (The Color Purple Interviews)” kicks off its Season 1 Episode 1, featuring a captivating conversation between Oprah Winfrey and the esteemed Oscar and Emmy nominee, Taraji P. Henson. Set to air on OWN at 10:00 Pm this Saturday, the episode delves into Henson’s transformative role as blues singer Shug Avery in the reimagined version of “The Color Purple.”
Oprah guides viewers through an insightful exploration of Henson’s connection to the iconic character and the significance of bringing this timeless narrative to a new generation. The interview promises to unveil the layers of Henson’s performance, the challenges faced during the reimagining process, and the broader cultural impact of “The Color Purple.”
Tune in for an intimate and illuminating conversation between two powerhouse women, shedding light on the artistry and cultural resonance of “The Color Purple,” only on OWN at 10:00 Pm this Saturday.
Release...
Oprah guides viewers through an insightful exploration of Henson’s connection to the iconic character and the significance of bringing this timeless narrative to a new generation. The interview promises to unveil the layers of Henson’s performance, the challenges faced during the reimagining process, and the broader cultural impact of “The Color Purple.”
Tune in for an intimate and illuminating conversation between two powerhouse women, shedding light on the artistry and cultural resonance of “The Color Purple,” only on OWN at 10:00 Pm this Saturday.
Release...
- 12/30/2023
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Taraji P. Henson Praises ‘The Color Purple’ Vocal Coach for Helping Her “Unlock Some Thangs Vocally”
Taraji P. Henson has given fans a glimpse into the vocal training she went through to prepare for her role as Shug Avery in The Color Purple.
On Instagram Wednesday, the actor reshared a video posted by her vocal coach Stevie Mackey, in which they worked on her show-stopping performance of “What About Love?” for the Blitz Bazawule-helmed musical movie now in theaters.
In her caption, Henson called Mackey “the man behind #ShugAveryvoice,” adding that her coach helped her “to unlock some thangs vocally.”
“We worked so hard,” she added, telling Mackey, “you helped give me the confidence I needed to breathe life into #shugavery I Love You Forever And I Am Forever Grateful.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by taraji p henson (@tarajiphenson)
In The Hollywood Reporter‘s cover story featuring The Color Purple‘s stars Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, as well as producer...
On Instagram Wednesday, the actor reshared a video posted by her vocal coach Stevie Mackey, in which they worked on her show-stopping performance of “What About Love?” for the Blitz Bazawule-helmed musical movie now in theaters.
In her caption, Henson called Mackey “the man behind #ShugAveryvoice,” adding that her coach helped her “to unlock some thangs vocally.”
“We worked so hard,” she added, telling Mackey, “you helped give me the confidence I needed to breathe life into #shugavery I Love You Forever And I Am Forever Grateful.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by taraji p henson (@tarajiphenson)
In The Hollywood Reporter‘s cover story featuring The Color Purple‘s stars Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, as well as producer...
- 12/28/2023
- by Tatiana Tenreyro
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warning: This story includes spoilers from the 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple.
With The Color Purple being a musical remake of the 1985 film, there are certainly many scenes that hearken back to the original. But in one scene, there’s a face that brings it all full circle.
Early on in the film, Whoopi Goldberg, Oscar-nominated for her role as Celie in the original, is cast as a midwife who helps young Celie, played by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, give birth to her second child. The role is brief but has delighted audiences in previews.
Oprah Winfrey, who starred alongside Goldberg in the original and is a producer on the new film, told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that Goldberg was cast in part for fan reaction.
“[We] just thought it was a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years, for the diehards,...
With The Color Purple being a musical remake of the 1985 film, there are certainly many scenes that hearken back to the original. But in one scene, there’s a face that brings it all full circle.
Early on in the film, Whoopi Goldberg, Oscar-nominated for her role as Celie in the original, is cast as a midwife who helps young Celie, played by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, give birth to her second child. The role is brief but has delighted audiences in previews.
Oprah Winfrey, who starred alongside Goldberg in the original and is a producer on the new film, told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that Goldberg was cast in part for fan reaction.
“[We] just thought it was a wonderful Easter egg for audiences who have appreciated the film over the years, for the diehards,...
- 12/28/2023
- by Nekesa Mumbi Moody
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The film adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical arrived in theaters on Christmas Day and has already grossed an impressive $25 million. The new film is the latest step in the story’s journey and provides a new take on Alice Walker’s classic tale that began impacting people’s lives when the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was released in 1982. Since then, Celie’s story has gone from the page to the big screen to Broadway and is now back in cinemas. In the new Max documentary “Oprah & The Color Purple Journey,” premiering on Thursday, Dec. 28, Oprah Winfrey, who was one of the original film’s stars, chronicles the impact that “The color Purple: has had over the past 41 years. You can watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.
How to Watch 'Oprah & The Color Purple Journey' When: Thursday, December 28, 2023 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.
How to Watch 'Oprah & The Color Purple Journey' When: Thursday, December 28, 2023 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.
- 12/28/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Venerated TV host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey will sit down with Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino — who star in the big-screen musical adaptation of The Color Purple — for a trio of OWN Spotlight specials set to air in January.
Each hour-long presentation will feature a candid conversation centered around the actress’ respective roles as Shug Avery, Sofia and Celie in the new film executive-produced by Oprah and directed by Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King, Cherish the Day). “The women reflect on the making of the highly anticipated movie,” the logline reads, “how it changed their lives...
Each hour-long presentation will feature a candid conversation centered around the actress’ respective roles as Shug Avery, Sofia and Celie in the new film executive-produced by Oprah and directed by Blitz Bazawule (Black Is King, Cherish the Day). “The women reflect on the making of the highly anticipated movie,” the logline reads, “how it changed their lives...
- 12/28/2023
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
On December 25, 2023, Warner Bros. Pictures released “The Color Purple,” a musical coming-of-age drama directed by Blitz Bazawule. Critics have responded well to the film, which holds fresh at Rotten Tomatoes with an 89% rating. Golden Globe nominee Fantasia Barrino makes a powerful screen debut as Celie, the role that made Whoopi Goldberg a star in 1985. This musical remake combines elements from the original movie, Alice Walker‘s novel and the Broadway musical. It is produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.
The large ensemble includes Danielle Brooks, who has earned Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards nominations for her turn as Sofia, Emmy nominee Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery and Emmy winner Colman Domingo as Mister. Through Celie’s real life hardships and colorful imagination, her journey is chronicled from childhood to adulthood as she discovers her inner strength and how the bonds of sisterhood can overcome any obstacle.
The large ensemble includes Danielle Brooks, who has earned Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards nominations for her turn as Sofia, Emmy nominee Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery and Emmy winner Colman Domingo as Mister. Through Celie’s real life hardships and colorful imagination, her journey is chronicled from childhood to adulthood as she discovers her inner strength and how the bonds of sisterhood can overcome any obstacle.
- 12/28/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Nearly 40 years ago, costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck worked as a wardrobe supervisor on Steven Spielberg‘s “The Color Purple,” collaborating with mentor Aggie Guerard Rodgers on a film that would ultimately become a classic. “My job was to clothe a lot of the background ladies and day players and assist Aggie in the fittings,” Jamison-Tanchuck told IndieWire. “It was Whoopi Goldberg’s first major film, and Oprah Winfrey‘s, and the two of them were just incredible. And of course Steven’s directing, and Quincy Jones’ music — how can you go wrong? There are such fun memories from working on that film.”
When director Blitz Bazawule called Jamison-Tanchuck to ask if she would create costumes for a new movie of “The Color Purple” adapted from the Tony-winning musical, she jumped at the chance. “I thought, what an extraordinary opportunity to come full circle,” she said. “I thought it was such an honor.
When director Blitz Bazawule called Jamison-Tanchuck to ask if she would create costumes for a new movie of “The Color Purple” adapted from the Tony-winning musical, she jumped at the chance. “I thought, what an extraordinary opportunity to come full circle,” she said. “I thought it was such an honor.
- 12/27/2023
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Color Purple,” the film musical adaptation of the beloved novel by Alice Walker, produced by Steven Spielberg … the director of the 1985 film version … and Oprah Winfrey. In theaters since December 25th.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Fantasia Barrino is Celie, a star-crossed Southern black woman who is stuck in America during the bad old Jim Crow days of the first half of the 20th Century. She survives in a family – in which her father Alfonso (Deon Cole) rules with a harsh and iron hand – by bonding with her beloved sister Nettie (Halle Bailey). When Celie is married off to her equally harsh “Mister” (Colman Domingo), she gives shelter to Nettie, but Mister separates the sisters, severing Celie’s only connection to love. She relies thereafter on her developed bonds with Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and the counterintuitive daughter of the local preacher, blues singer...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Fantasia Barrino is Celie, a star-crossed Southern black woman who is stuck in America during the bad old Jim Crow days of the first half of the 20th Century. She survives in a family – in which her father Alfonso (Deon Cole) rules with a harsh and iron hand – by bonding with her beloved sister Nettie (Halle Bailey). When Celie is married off to her equally harsh “Mister” (Colman Domingo), she gives shelter to Nettie, but Mister separates the sisters, severing Celie’s only connection to love. She relies thereafter on her developed bonds with Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and the counterintuitive daughter of the local preacher, blues singer...
- 12/27/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Blitz Bazawule could care less about The Color Purple’s recent award nominations. The film’s director isn’t worried about the movie-musical’s Best Picture snub at the Golden Globe or wowed by the musical’s five Critics Choice nominations and three mentions on the Oscars’ shortlist for its music. He understands the significance of such accolades, but says he prefers to focus on how viewers will receive the Broadway musical adaptation.
“I honestly do not pay attention to any of it,” Bazawule tells Rolling Stone, the day the Critics Choice nominations were announced.
“I honestly do not pay attention to any of it,” Bazawule tells Rolling Stone, the day the Critics Choice nominations were announced.
- 12/25/2023
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
The Color Purple Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Fantasia Barrino
Director: Blitz Bazawule
The Color Purple Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The musical numbers are exciting for their energy and emotion. The cast assembled for this film is exceptional for fitting the roles of both a period drama and a Broadway-style musical. Despite the lengthy running time, the music is able to keep up the pace, and the drama unfolds with a heartfelt sincerity.
What’s Bad: The most concerning aspect of the film is how it stages its darker nature of r*pe, teenage pregnancy, s*xual abuse, and racism with a coat of upbeat musical numbers to break up the somberness. The musical numbers also elongate scenes longer, despite the film being less lengthy than the 1985 film.
Loo Break: When...
Star Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Fantasia Barrino
Director: Blitz Bazawule
The Color Purple Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
What’s Good: The musical numbers are exciting for their energy and emotion. The cast assembled for this film is exceptional for fitting the roles of both a period drama and a Broadway-style musical. Despite the lengthy running time, the music is able to keep up the pace, and the drama unfolds with a heartfelt sincerity.
What’s Bad: The most concerning aspect of the film is how it stages its darker nature of r*pe, teenage pregnancy, s*xual abuse, and racism with a coat of upbeat musical numbers to break up the somberness. The musical numbers also elongate scenes longer, despite the film being less lengthy than the 1985 film.
Loo Break: When...
- 12/24/2023
- by Mark McPherson
- KoiMoi
Choreographer Fatima Robinson fused hip-hop, dance, African history, tap, jazz and even Jamaican moves as she crafted the musical numbers in “The Color Purple,” but there was one person in particular whose energy she wanted to capture: Beyoncé.
Director Blitz Bazawule blends Alice Walker’s text and the Broadway musical to reimagine the classic as a vibrant movie musical. “American Idol’s” Fantasia Barrino plays Celie, a woman who slowly finds her voice with Shug Avery’s (Taraji P. Henson) help. Shug isn’t just Mister’s (Colman Domingo) lover, she is a lounge singer from the big city. Preceding her arrival is a buzz of excitement in the “Shug Avery’s Comin to Town” number. But her big moment is the juke joint performance of “Push da Button,” and for that, Robinson wanted everything about it to “feel incredible.”
The juke joint was a place where people went to...
Director Blitz Bazawule blends Alice Walker’s text and the Broadway musical to reimagine the classic as a vibrant movie musical. “American Idol’s” Fantasia Barrino plays Celie, a woman who slowly finds her voice with Shug Avery’s (Taraji P. Henson) help. Shug isn’t just Mister’s (Colman Domingo) lover, she is a lounge singer from the big city. Preceding her arrival is a buzz of excitement in the “Shug Avery’s Comin to Town” number. But her big moment is the juke joint performance of “Push da Button,” and for that, Robinson wanted everything about it to “feel incredible.”
The juke joint was a place where people went to...
- 12/23/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
One of the indelible images of Taraji P. Henson over the years was the moment where she was in the audience, nominated for an Emmy, and lost to Viola Davis. Instead of the typical “good sport” nod and clap we’ve come to expect from actresses, Henson jumped out of her seat and gave Davis a big hug as she went on stage to accept her honor.
So when Henson’s tears went viral this week over the lack of pay equity for black actresses, and her struggle at age 53 to rise in the pay ladder despite accolades that include an Oscar nomination and starring in box office (and Oscar-nominated) successes like Hidden Figures, her fellow actresses came out to lift her up.
“Not a damn lie told,” Gabrielle Union tweeted while expressing her love for Henson. Viola Davis simply tweeted “This!” while Octavia Spencer, posted “I’m sad to see @tarajiphenson so visibly upset.
So when Henson’s tears went viral this week over the lack of pay equity for black actresses, and her struggle at age 53 to rise in the pay ladder despite accolades that include an Oscar nomination and starring in box office (and Oscar-nominated) successes like Hidden Figures, her fellow actresses came out to lift her up.
“Not a damn lie told,” Gabrielle Union tweeted while expressing her love for Henson. Viola Davis simply tweeted “This!” while Octavia Spencer, posted “I’m sad to see @tarajiphenson so visibly upset.
- 12/22/2023
- by Nekesa Mumbi Moody
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taraji P. Henson is responding to the rumors that she’s in a feud with Oprah Winfrey, the producer of her new movie The Color Purple.
The Oscar-nominated actress is playing Shug Avery in the new movie musical, which Oprah produced after starring as Sofia in the original movie almost 40 years ago.
A video of Taraji and Oprah on top of the Empire State Building is going viral as fans believe it shows evidence that the two stars are in a feud.
Now, Taraji is speaking out.
Keep reading to find out more…
“It is so important for black women and All women of color to support each other. It is also imperative to have women of color in decision making positions across All industries. Thank you for responding to my message with the compassion, understanding and support that I’ve received.
The Oscar-nominated actress is playing Shug Avery in the new movie musical, which Oprah produced after starring as Sofia in the original movie almost 40 years ago.
A video of Taraji and Oprah on top of the Empire State Building is going viral as fans believe it shows evidence that the two stars are in a feud.
Now, Taraji is speaking out.
Keep reading to find out more…
“It is so important for black women and All women of color to support each other. It is also imperative to have women of color in decision making positions across All industries. Thank you for responding to my message with the compassion, understanding and support that I’ve received.
- 12/21/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Plot: A young black woman in the South overcomes decades of cruelty to find her voice and live the life she always dreamed of.
Review: Some may have been wary at the thought of a musical remake of Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (based on Alice Walker’s novel). With its themes of rape, incest, abuse and cruelty, it didn’t seem like a natural pick to get an “all singing, all dancing” big-budget musical remake. Still, it works much better than it should, thanks to a creative director, a terrific cast and a surprisingly adaptable story to a different kind of genre.
In truth, I didn’t feel like I would like it for about the first twenty minutes of Blitz Bazawule’s The Color Purple. The grim story kept me at arm’s length, and the song wasn’t doing it for me. But, after a little while,...
Review: Some may have been wary at the thought of a musical remake of Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (based on Alice Walker’s novel). With its themes of rape, incest, abuse and cruelty, it didn’t seem like a natural pick to get an “all singing, all dancing” big-budget musical remake. Still, it works much better than it should, thanks to a creative director, a terrific cast and a surprisingly adaptable story to a different kind of genre.
In truth, I didn’t feel like I would like it for about the first twenty minutes of Blitz Bazawule’s The Color Purple. The grim story kept me at arm’s length, and the song wasn’t doing it for me. But, after a little while,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Henson, who plays Shug Avery in a new musical version of The Color Purple, broke down during a press interview for the film as she outlined the disparity
The Color Purple star Taraji P Henson has vocally condemned Hollywood’s race and gender pay gap, breaking down in tears as she said: “The math ain’t math-ing.”
Henson was speaking on Gayle King’s radio show on Sirius Xm, and was asked by King if she was considering quitting acting. Henson replied: “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious about what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tried of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired.”...
The Color Purple star Taraji P Henson has vocally condemned Hollywood’s race and gender pay gap, breaking down in tears as she said: “The math ain’t math-ing.”
Henson was speaking on Gayle King’s radio show on Sirius Xm, and was asked by King if she was considering quitting acting. Henson replied: “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious about what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost. I’m tried of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired.”...
- 12/21/2023
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Taraji P. Henson, who launched her acting career in the late Nineties, landed an Oscar nomination in 2009 for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and earned legions of fans by playing Cookie Lyon on Empire, spoke out about how demoralizing the pay structure in Hollywood can be in a new interview. When Gayle King asked the actress why she would consider giving up acting, as she told Elle last month, the actress, who plays Shug Avery in the new musical adaptation of The Color Purple, broke down in tears.
“I...
“I...
- 12/20/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
The rough edges of Stephen Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation have been softened but the evocative energy of this movie-musical’s three female leads is magical
This heartfelt movie-musical of The Color Purple sugars the pill and softens the blow, planing down the original’s barbed and knotty surfaces, taking away some of the shock of violence and tragedy and tilting the experience more towards female solidarity and triumph over adversity. But that’s perhaps part of a creatively emollient process that began in 1985 with Steven Spielberg’s powerful if bowdlerised screen version of the Alice Walker novel; the film was then transformed into a hit Broadway musical in 2005, which is now the template for this new adaptation.
There’s certainly an absolute powerhouse trio of female leads here, supercharging the action with their fierce charisma. Fantasia Barrino plays courageous abuse survivor Celie (the part originally played by Whoopi Goldberg); Taraji P Henson...
This heartfelt movie-musical of The Color Purple sugars the pill and softens the blow, planing down the original’s barbed and knotty surfaces, taking away some of the shock of violence and tragedy and tilting the experience more towards female solidarity and triumph over adversity. But that’s perhaps part of a creatively emollient process that began in 1985 with Steven Spielberg’s powerful if bowdlerised screen version of the Alice Walker novel; the film was then transformed into a hit Broadway musical in 2005, which is now the template for this new adaptation.
There’s certainly an absolute powerhouse trio of female leads here, supercharging the action with their fierce charisma. Fantasia Barrino plays courageous abuse survivor Celie (the part originally played by Whoopi Goldberg); Taraji P Henson...
- 12/19/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
When you watch a movie like "The Color Purple," it's almost more difficult to criticize because of how well-meaning it is, and how good its intentions are. The story of the Black woman Celie as she grows up in the still extremely harsh and racist American South in the 1900s started as an Alice Walker novel before being adapted for the big screen by Steven Spielberg in 1985, eventually leading to a Broadway musical that's now being dramatized all over again on the big screen for a Christmas Day release. It's not that this story is new, per se, though a new generation may yet be discovering it through its musical version as opposed to Spielberg's '80s-era take. The concepts and ideas at the core of this story remain arresting, vital, and heartbreaking, but the way those concepts are executed in this big, sometimes splashy and sometimes grim musical are messy at best,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Josh Spiegel
- Slash Film
For a story so filled with trauma and sorrow — violence, suffering, racism, child abduction, spousal abuse — the second screen adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel, The Color Purple, is a surprisingly joyful experience. The prevailing takeaway is its resounding themes of spirituality, self-discovery, redemption and resilience. Based on the 2005 Broadway musical that was revived to great acclaim 10 years later, the production marks a confident move onto a much larger canvas for Ghanaian multimedia artist Blitz Bazawule. It nods graciously to the imprint of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film while vigorously forging its own identity.
The connection to the earlier version is partly built in by having Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones back on board as producers (alongside stage producer Scott Sanders). It’s also evident in the color palette of those shimmering Amblin skies, in two songs from the movie incorporated into the Broadway score and in an unbilled cameo early on.
The connection to the earlier version is partly built in by having Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones back on board as producers (alongside stage producer Scott Sanders). It’s also evident in the color palette of those shimmering Amblin skies, in two songs from the movie incorporated into the Broadway score and in an unbilled cameo early on.
- 12/19/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
From left: Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia Barrino, and Danielle Brooks in The Color PurplePhoto: Warner Bros.
About 70 minutes into The Color Purple, there’s a scene that doesn’t appear in many Hollywood studio musicals. A big number set on a gorgeous soundstage with a full brass band showing two...
About 70 minutes into The Color Purple, there’s a scene that doesn’t appear in many Hollywood studio musicals. A big number set on a gorgeous soundstage with a full brass band showing two...
- 12/19/2023
- by Murtada Elfadl
- avclub.com
Blitz Bazawule’s big-screen adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple and its 2005 musical theater production is basically echo-chamber karaoke. The film knows the words and tunes but, with rare exception, lacks the passion and the perspective to make them truly resonate.
Walker’s book charted the emotional, sexual, and implicitly political coming of age of an African-American girl named Celie, whose life in rural, early-20th-century Georgia is several tiers below hell. She’s borne two children by a man, Alphonso, who beats and rapes her, and whom she knows as her father. And then a barbaric farmer known as Mister comes calling. He has eyes for Celie’s sister, Nettie, but Alphonso pawns off Celie instead, women being, in the eyes of these men, chattel-like property with inarguable coital benefits.
The book is written in epistolary style, with Celie addressing an unseen God throughout.
Walker’s book charted the emotional, sexual, and implicitly political coming of age of an African-American girl named Celie, whose life in rural, early-20th-century Georgia is several tiers below hell. She’s borne two children by a man, Alphonso, who beats and rapes her, and whom she knows as her father. And then a barbaric farmer known as Mister comes calling. He has eyes for Celie’s sister, Nettie, but Alphonso pawns off Celie instead, women being, in the eyes of these men, chattel-like property with inarguable coital benefits.
The book is written in epistolary style, with Celie addressing an unseen God throughout.
- 12/19/2023
- by Keith Uhlich
- Slant Magazine
Alice Walker started the phenomenon with her Pulitzer-winning 1982 book, and three years later Steven Spielberg turned it into a movie that got 11 Oscar nominations. In 2005, it took on new life as a Broadway musical, and in 2015 that musical got a Tony- and Grammy-winning revival.
Along the way it made big film and stage stars out of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, the latter now making her feature starring debut as Celie in the new film version of the musical she led 18 years ago on Broadway. The Color Purple is indestructible, and that is also a good word to describe director Blitz Bazawule’s and screenwriter Marcus Gardley’s take that breathes exciting life into the story for new and older generations but also, to quote an original song from this film, really finds a way to “Keep It Movin’.”
Musicals have gone through a tough time recently.
Along the way it made big film and stage stars out of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino, the latter now making her feature starring debut as Celie in the new film version of the musical she led 18 years ago on Broadway. The Color Purple is indestructible, and that is also a good word to describe director Blitz Bazawule’s and screenwriter Marcus Gardley’s take that breathes exciting life into the story for new and older generations but also, to quote an original song from this film, really finds a way to “Keep It Movin’.”
Musicals have gone through a tough time recently.
- 12/19/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
For Blitz Bazawule‘s film “The Color Purple,” makeup department head Carol Rasheed was tasked with creating realistic looks for Black characters in the South spanning four decades. “In the early 1900s it kind of varied,” she says of women’s makeup. “You have somebody like Shug back in that time wearing reds, and that was considered to be a loose woman. I had to think about that and bringing it up to a current situation with the re-imagined ‘Color Purple.'” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
Rasheed’s work began with a focus on the four main characters: Celie (Fantasia Barrino), Shug (Taraji P. Henson), Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and Mister (Colman Domingo). “I went through so many iterations of lip colors, just mixing and trying to get the right shade of red for Celie. My goal was to make sure all the women in the movie had a different shade of red.
Rasheed’s work began with a focus on the four main characters: Celie (Fantasia Barrino), Shug (Taraji P. Henson), Sofia (Danielle Brooks) and Mister (Colman Domingo). “I went through so many iterations of lip colors, just mixing and trying to get the right shade of red for Celie. My goal was to make sure all the women in the movie had a different shade of red.
- 12/15/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
“I can’t believe it,” says Fantasia Barrino when responding to her recent Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy/Musical Actress. She stars as Celie in Blitz Bazawule‘s musical film adaptation of “The Color Purple.” “When I left Broadway, I had done interviews and I said I would never go back. I meant it. I was so young. My life was all over the place. I felt like I was carrying my cross and Celie’s cross. That was heavy.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
Barrino credits Bazawule for luring her back to the character she had distanced herself from. “He said, ‘I’m gonna give Celie an imagination,'” she recalls. “He said, ‘Fantasia, my mother is Celie.’ Every person that goes through anything traumatic, they have an imagination. We don’t just wallow in that. I told him then, ‘I’m in.’ I knew that wasn’t going to be easy.
Barrino credits Bazawule for luring her back to the character she had distanced herself from. “He said, ‘I’m gonna give Celie an imagination,'” she recalls. “He said, ‘Fantasia, my mother is Celie.’ Every person that goes through anything traumatic, they have an imagination. We don’t just wallow in that. I told him then, ‘I’m in.’ I knew that wasn’t going to be easy.
- 12/15/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
On Dec. 16, 1985, Warner Bros. unveiled Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of The Color Purple at its premiere in New York. The film went on to garner 11 Oscar nominations, including for best picture, at the 58th Academy Awards. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
To those who think of Steven Spielberg solely as the creator of sci-fi adventure movies or high-tech horror films, The Color Purple will come as an exhilarating surprise. It’s a film filled with tenderness and love, the enduring love of two sisters cruelly separated in their childhood, the love of one of them for two infants taken from her at birth. Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it tells us quite simply that every thing and everybody needs love, and that putting our faith in love will make everything come out all right.
While I wish with all my heart that I were sanguine enough to believe this,...
To those who think of Steven Spielberg solely as the creator of sci-fi adventure movies or high-tech horror films, The Color Purple will come as an exhilarating surprise. It’s a film filled with tenderness and love, the enduring love of two sisters cruelly separated in their childhood, the love of one of them for two infants taken from her at birth. Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it tells us quite simply that every thing and everybody needs love, and that putting our faith in love will make everything come out all right.
While I wish with all my heart that I were sanguine enough to believe this,...
- 12/15/2023
- by Arthur Knight
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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