The Color Purple 1985: An Oscars Misfire or a Misnomer?

When we look back at the 1985 Academy Awards, it's hard to miss the absence of what could have been a well-deserving contender for the Best Picture Oscar: The Color Purple. Despite the strong year that saw numerous memorable films, The Color Purple failed to win any Oscars, although it received a respectable 11 nominations. This raises the question: should The Color Purple have won the Best Picture Oscar in 1985?

1985: A Year of Diverse Excellence

The year 1985 was a fertile ground for filmmaking, with several powerful and influential films emerging. It was marked by diverse themes and styles, ranging from the nostalgic to the adventurous. Some of the standouts include:

Back to the Future - A timeless adventure that would go on to become a cultural phenomenon, blending science fiction with family drama. Kiss of the Spiderwoman - A gripping drama starring William Hurt and Meryl Streep, set in a Chilean prison. Prizzi's Honor - A quirky caper film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Liza Minnelli and Jack Lemmon. Witness - A thrilling thriller, also featuring Streep, which highlighted the ongoing struggle for freedom of belief in the early 1980s.

Out of Africa and The Color Purple: A Contrast in Nominations

While films like Out of Africa received significant accolades, winning for Best Picture, there were some critical omissions. Out of Africa, while visually stunning, was described as pretty dreary with very pedestrian camerawork despite the gorgeous scenery. The performed aspect of the film, anchored by Meryl Streep's and Robert Redford's strong performances and the exceptional music score, provided its writing and visual appeal. However, it fails to capture the raw emotion and realism that The Color Purple could have achieved if given the recognition it deserved.

The Color Purple, on the other hand, was a powerful adaptation of Alice Walker's novel by Steven Spielberg. Despite the talent involved, including Streep and Spielberg himself, the film fell short in several aspects, most notably in capturing the grit of Walker's story.

Missed Sensibilities and a Flattened Adaptation

The mismatch between Spielberg's sensibilities and the source material is a significant critique of the film. Spielberg's approach to storytelling, while undoubtedly impactful, did not fully align with the raw and emotional depths of Alice Walker's novel. The adaptation, while praised for its excellent performances and music, often failed to translate the raw and emotional intensity of the original work into a cinematic experience that resonated on a deeper level.

Described as very little of the grit in Alice Walker's novel surviving Spielberg's adaptation, the film came across as somewhat superficial, even to those who had read the book. This mismatch of sensibilities led to a film that, while highly regarded for its performances and music, fell short of fully capturing the essence of its source material.

Is This a Passage of Time Misinterpretation?

Looking back at the 1985 Awards, one can't help but wonder if the film's failure to win an Oscar was due to the year's strong field or if it was a missed opportunity. While Back to the Future, among other films, gained more recognition, The Color Purple could have been a more fitting winner given its emotional depth and critical reception.

Nonetheless, it's important to remember that the Best Picture award is not just a matter of artistic merit but also the context in which it is presented. In a year replete with memorable films, it's understandable that a film like The Color Purple, which was not a clear front-runner, might have slipped through the cracks. This underscores the challenges in the selection process and the subjectivity of award-winning tastes.

In conclusion, while The Color Purple 1985 did not win the Best Picture Oscar, it remains a significant and powerful film in its own right. The juxtaposition of strong performances, excellent music, and a profound source material hints at a potential narrative that may have resonated more deeply if it had been recognized in 1985. The lessons learned from its nomination and subsequent lack of award highlight the complexities of film recognition and the enduring appeal of its source material.