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Cire_Warren
Reviews
The Color Purple (2023)
Not Your Mother's Color Purple but You Will Love It Just the Same
Like I said in the title, this is not your mother's 'Color Purple'. The reimagined film takes adaptations from the play with great visuals and songs to accompany it. Oh and the songs, they the perfect length - they get you moving but don't overstay their welcome.
Disclaimer, I love the original 1985 film adaptation from Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg. In that film you feel the characters and their sorrows which makes the ending all the more sweet! In this version there is more depth to the characters, it is not a bitter and there seems to be more understanding or forgiveness.
Now there are many things I enjoy in the original screenplay much better but this film does do somethings to freshen the characters and perhaps even portrays them better. The Sophia and Harpo story is much better told here. Sofia's made a bigger character as she faces so many ups and downs. For my money Danielle Brooks steals the movie with her interpretation of Sofia! The second thing that really shined for me is the reimagined relationship between Celie and Shug, in the original movie it was done with much more undertone and Mister seemed not to notice but you will have to see how different this film portrays it and if you're like me you will think it was done justice. The final big thing I thought this film did better than the original was the portrayal of Mister. Mister is a deeper character here and perhaps you understand what life events have shaped him into the character he is, why he did the things he had and his continued evolution.
Ultimately you will still leave the theater happy to visit the characters you know and be uplifted in retelling of their story with some lines you recognize and others you will be wanting to quote tomorrow.
Fair Play (2023)
Expecting More
You find a couple working at the same company keeping their relationship secret. They're happy and look to move things to the next level then a job opportunity comes up and changes everything. One has to feel happy for the other while the other tones their buzz from their exciting workday to placate their significant other. Jealously and resentment soon boils over in the dog-eat-dog world of finance.
For me I found the characters and the story easy to relate to. I became engaged with the characters and found myself guessing what will happen next but ultimately felt left unsatisfied. It was almost as if they wrote the script and could not decide on how it ended so they quickly put together the film's end. Regardless of the writing, Phoebe Dynevor was a scene stealer and this was a very different role then I am used to seeing Alden Ehrenreich in but thought he did a great job!
Shrinking (2023)
You'll want to cry then laugh!
I love dramas but some times when you add comedy the recipe does not turn out well but not for this show! Probably one of the only 'dramadies' where I really feel something but then literally laughed out loud right after! Ford and Segal are GREAT and the supporting cast...they're amazing, I found myself hating then loving Christa Miller's character!
A grieving widower (Segal), who is a shrink struggles helping others with their problems because he doesn't have even have his figured out. Legal takes a new approach to treating his patients but what he doesn't expect is that it helps him work on his relationships in his life.
Still Up (2023)
You Got Mail with iPhones (well, kind of)
What if you take "You Got Mail" and gave them iPhones so the main characters can FaceTime each other? Oh and Meg had insomnia so she only called Tom at night? This quirky romantic comedy has interesting characters and takes you on a ride of two people who have a complicated relationship but relies on each other! Outside of the main characters the supporting cast are amusing and provide an extra giggle. Some of the antics you have to suspend disbelief for but I found myself always wanting to know what happens next plus the ultimate question of will love conquer all, will they be happy together?