Oscars: 5 reasons why Danielle Brooks (‘The Color Purple’) will win Best Supporting Actress
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Like many Oscar addicts, I’ve been struggling with my early predictions in all four of the acting categories. Based on what I’ve seen, read and heard, there don’t appear to be any bonafide locks in any of the acting races. Even the early frontrunners are in potentially precarious positions. It feels like someone could suddenly come out of nowhere, and take a commanding lead.
Well, I’m pleased to announce that we finally have a shoo-in for at least one of 2023’s Academy Awards for acting. Many will be skeptical. But remember that many were similarly skeptical when I touted Jamie Lee Curtis in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” for Oscar recognition around this time last year.
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And realize that I only make this proclamation after seeing the highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical “The Color Purple.” Here are five reasons why Danielle Brooks will win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
1. She steals every scene that she’s in.
And by stealing scenes, I mean that she robs them blind. From her first appearance in the film, it’s as if the camera can only see her. Her luminous line delivery. Her fierce facial expressions. Her sassy sashays. It’s like watching lightning strike. It’s fast and it’s ferocious — but wow, does it take your breath away. With the way that she shines in even the shortest of scenes, Brooks just leaves you breathless.
2. Musical performances have been doing extremely well in this category.
Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2002’s “Chicago.” Jennifer Hudson in 2006’s “Dreamgirls.” Anne Hathaway in 2012’s “Les Miserables.” Ariana DeBose in 2021’s “West Side Story.” All four of them sang, dance and dazzled in their respective films. All four of them seized the spotlight from their leading co-stars. And all four of them were served statuettes for Best Supporting Actress. Brooks follows the same formula — right down to a T. Now expect her to accept the T — as in trophy.
3. She has a killer song.
We usually expect any serious Oscar candidate to have a killer scene. Since “The Color Purple” is a musical, Brooks’ killer scene is actually a song. The way that she belts out “Hell No!” during a pivotal plot point for her character Sofia is nothing short of heavenly. Can a killer scene (or song) get any better than this? All I can say is … Hell No!
4. “The Color Purple” will be a major Oscar contender.
I’ll admit that I had my doubts before seeing it. But you can color me convinced. The rich characterizations. The superb production values. The show-stopping musical numbers. And the sheer emotional impact. “The Color Purple” will hit Oscar nominations across the board — including for Best Picture. It doesn’t hurt that the project has big names like Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey attached to it. Winfrey portrayed Sofia in Spielberg’s 1985 film adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Alice Walker. Winfrey received a well-deserved Supporting Actress Oscar nom, but it was Anjelica Huston who was honored for “Prizzi’s Honor.” Almost 40 years later, Winfrey’s honor will be Brooks’ Oscar.
5. Brooks will be unbeatable at the SAG Awards.
While I can’t yet guarantee that Brooks collects all of the precursors, the SAG Award has her name on it. And my take on this race is that SAG = Oscar. Who else can beat her? Emily Blunt is outstanding in “Oppenheimer” and finally on track for her first shot at the Oscar. But to put it Bluntly, the part lacks the pizzazz for her to pick up the prize. Da’Vine Joy Randolph more than holds her own with Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers.” Her joy will be in her first nomination. Jodie Foster could hail her first Supporting Actress bid since “Taxi Driver” nearly 50 years ago. Unfortunately, the “Nyad” current isn’t quite strong enough to carry her to victory. And then there’s Brooks’ “The Color Purple” cast mate Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery. She’s a bigger name. Has a bigger part. And is a previous Oscar nominee (for 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”). Taraji is also terrific beyond words. So why not her? This is a curious case of an Oscar prediction, so I’ll just put it this way. In a race between Shug’s sugar and Sofia’s spice, it’s the latter who voters will find more nice. That means Brooks’ turn in “The Color Purple” will take “Purple” — and turn it into Oscar gold.
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