Spielberg's worst job (spoilers) (You really haven't watched this yet??)
He did a really bad job specifically with the actors (the cinematography, for instance was fantastic). They are really good but it's noticeably the director had them follow a script in a way that is touching when read on a book but feels awkward when taken to the screen. There was a lack on sequence and reacting naturally on certain situations. They "overacted" often (Jim Carry style, but dramatic) as if pushing too far to make the audience react emotionally.
For instance, when Albert is leaving to meet Shug for the first time he repeatedly returns to get a different item he forgets. No problem with that except that if someone iss assisting him -Celie- is not just going to have him return three times for the items he forgets, she -anyone- would just give him all three items at once. And let's not forget she's not exactly into making a fool of him.
What about the repeated arm stretching scenes? Nettie did it when she left, spitting some over-forced line; Celie did it in the same fashion when she was leaving... Who stretches their hand like that when overwhelmed?? Darth Vader does. Those stretching out arms scenes might look good while reading the book, but not on the screen.
What about when Shug approaches the chappel singing. Could a single person singing volume really overtake an entyre choir, and behind closed doors, and 300 yards away?? Come on.
It's like Spielberg tries too hard to move you with these tricks rather than actually moving you. I was left with the feeling he could do better than that (and he did in other movies).