80s Movie Review - The Color Purple

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 147 minutes
Year: 1985
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Laurence Fishburne

Description: A black Southern woman struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades.

Review: Right after “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, director Steven Spielberg turned into a different direction, by adapting the novel “The Color Purple” to film. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, but won none.
We follow the story of Celie, a young black Southern woman. She has to deal with an abusive father. She gives birth to two of his children, whom he then takes away from her. Celie is forced into marrying a much older brute and she is separated from her sister. The one person she loves more than anything.
When you look at the synopsis, the story can easily go into too much sentiment an become overly dramatic. Spielberg manages to dose the drama, making it dramatic but not too sentimental.
It surprising to see Whoopi Goldberg, who was a stand-up comedian before this, in such a strong performance. This is her best role to date. The same goes for Oprah Winfrey, as the broken Sofia. Really strong as well.
It’s not Steven Spielberg’s best movie, but it’s a movie worth mentioning and viewing.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 19: Selma

Director: Ava DuVernay
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Tim Roth, Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Description: A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Review: Racism is an issue that will always be a part of our society, even in a civilized world. And that’s why the Martin Luther King biopic “Selma” is still relevant, to this day. There will always be a certain inequality between people of a different race or religion. In “Selma” we meet Martin Luther King two years after his “I had a dream” speech.
“Selma” centers around the Alabama town Selma. Together the people wanted to fight for equal rights and the right to vote, for everyone. Formally the black people were allowed to vote. But in reality it was a lot more complex. We see this in one of the first scenes of the movie. Where a woman has to get through an impossible test to proof she has the right to vote.
Director Ava DuVernays shows with her script many situations with injustice. This is something you just can’t ignore. But the most interesting part is how she portrayed her leading character. King is a loyal idealist. But along the way we see his imperfections. Very well done and King is well portrayed by David Oyelowo.
“Selma” is a great picture based on one of the most inspiring men in American history.

Rating: 4,5/ 5